Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: The Jets were happy with just about everything Josh McCown did for them last season. So once free agent Kirk Cousins shunned them for the Vikings, McCown's return was only a matter of time.

It became official on Tuesday afternoon when McCown re-signed with the Jets, according to his agent, Mike McCartney. The 38-year-old McCown returns on a one-year deal, according to an NFL source, that could pay him as much as $10 million. 

The Jets officially announced the deal on Wednesday night.

And that is Part 2 of what SNY has reported is the Jets' Plan B at quarterback. Part 1 is signing 25-year-old Teddy Bridgewater -- and as SNY reported earlier on Tuesday, the Jets are currently engaged in contract talks with the soon-to-be-former Viking.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: The Jets were happy with just about everything Josh McCown did for them last season. So once free agent Kirk Cousins shunned them for the Vikings, McCown's return was only a matter of time.

It became official on Tuesday afternoon when McCown re-signed with the Jets, according to his agent, Mike McCartney. The 38-year-old McCown returns on a one-year deal, according to an NFL source, that could pay him as much as $10 million.

And that is Part 2 of what SNY has reported is the Jets' Plan B at quarterback. Part 1 is signing 25-year-old Teddy Bridgewater -- and as SNY reported earlier on Tuesday, the Jets are currently engaged in contract talks with the soon-to-be-former Viking.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

Three years ago, the Jets seemed to have the makings of the best defensive line in football. They added Leonard Williams to a line that already featured Mo Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, and Damon Harrison. The potential seemed to be huge.

Now Wilkerson, Richardson, and Harrison are all gone, and Williams is coming off a disappointing, two-sack season. So, it makes sense that the Jets will spend a bunch of their $90 million or so of salary cap space in upgrading their defensive line

In ESPN Insider Mel Kiper's eyes, "Broadway Baker" will find his way to the Jets in his latest mock draft. 

Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, has seen his draft stock significantly rise all season. After leading his Sooners team to the College Footbal Playoff with gutsy drives and precision passing all season long, Kiper thinks he is the starter -- and leader -- the Jets need under center. 

READ KIPER'S ANALYSIS BELOW

The Jets know they need a quarterback, and in particular, free-agent QB Kirk Cousins. That is why the team is "willing to pay whatever it takes" to employ him next season, per ESPN's Rich Cimini. 

New York has failed to find their franchise quarterback for years now, as fill-ins, so to speak, continue to come to town with Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg failing to show they are the guy the Jets need. Josh McCown was the latest of those rentals, and he had a career year before an injury unfortunately ended his season. 

This offseason, though, GM Mike Maccagnan has no excuse in Cimini's eyes. He currently has over $70 million in cap space, and could have more than that by the time they can grab Cousins. The Redskins can still franchise tag him, so they could use him in a trade, but that is unlikely. 

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: Kirk Cousins will be the biggest name on the quarterback market this offseason. He will also be the most expensive -- and some would say, best -- option for the Jets.

But he won't be their only option in an offseason when a surprising number of quality quarterbacks will be available. As the Jets try to make their move out of 'Quarterback Hell' -- a place they've resided in for decades, really -- GM Mike Maccagnan will have a plethora of choices, and the tools (a high draft pick and oodles of cap room) to help the Jets get their man.

Whether it's through the draft, a trade, or free agency, there's no excuse for the Jets not to come out of this spring without their quarterback for at least the next five years or so. Here's a guide to the quarterbacks who will likely be available in the coming weeks...

CBS Sports believe 2017 Heisman Trophy winner, QB Baker Mayfield, will find his way to the Jets in their latest mock draft. 

Many mock drafts have Mayfield falling to a mid-first rounder, but Chris Trapasso has the Jets writing him name on their draft card. He led Oklahoma this season to the College Football Playoff, and he could very well be the one to lead the Jets to their first playoff trip since 2010. 

"The New York Post is thrilled with this selection, as it'll provide years of fantastic cover art material," Trapasso writes. "Mayfield is a somewhat unconventional quarterback who might just help the NFL move into the future -- or, what we've seen in college for years -- on offense."

In Bleacher Report's latest mock draft, the Jets select Wyoming QB Josh Allen with the sixth overall pick. 

Standing at 6-foot-5, 233 pounds, Allen's arm strength backs up his height and weight. He is also good with his feet as his stature doesn't hinder his mobility. 

Josh McCown may have had a career year with the Jets, but he isn't the long term solution, and neither is Bryce Petty. Christian Hackenberg hasn't gotten a shot yet, but the Jets clearly don't see him as NFL ready. Allen could jump into the quarterback race this offseason, and come out on top ready for Week 1. 

In The Post's latest mock draft, the Jets select Wyoming's Josh Allen with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. 

The Jets have yet to see Christian Hackenberg on the field, and Bryce Petty wasn't the answer after Josh McCown went down with a season-ending injury. In turn, the Jets take Allen -- a 6-foot-5, 233 pounder who can let it fly. For his size, Allen is extremely mobile as well.

Allen didn't have the best of seasons with the Cowboys as he battled injuries. He finished with just 1,812 yards, a 56.3 completion percentage, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. But in his sophomore season, Allen totaled 3,203 yards, 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. 

Allen would be another quarterback to add to the Jets' competition this offseason. The Jets have not made it clear whether or not McCown will return for another season in Green and White, which is why Allen enters the mix to vie for the starting role. 

Jets quarterback Bryce Petty said he hopes he returns to New York during the offseason despite the odds he wouldn't be the starting quarterback in 2018.

"I try not to put too much thought into things that I can't control," Petty said, according to the New York Daily News' Daniel Popper. "Hopefully it's here. I want to be here. But if it's not, that's okay too. It's a business. Everybody understands that."

Petty, who went 0-3 in the final three games of the season as Josh McCown's replacement, will be entering the final year of his four-year rookie deal and would have a cap hit of $843,425 next season. 

Bent, theJetsBlog.com Follow on Twitter

The end-of-season press conferences earlier this week predictably contained a lot of platitudes about Christian Hackenberg. A common refrain was that the book on Hackenberg is not closed and that the team still considers him to have shown improvement toward realizing his potential.

There is understandable skepticism as to whether the Jets still believe Hackenberg has a future, with some believing the team is reluctant to admit they made a mistake when they drafted the 22-year old with the 50th overall pick two years ago. Jets fans are even more skeptical, with Hackenberg seen as an object of ridicule in some circles...

Jets GM Mike Maccagnan said on Tuesday that he's "excited" about the amount of salary cap space the team has to spend this offseason, suggesting they plan to be very active.

The Jets went 5-11 this year for a second-straight season, but Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles -- who have been overseeing the rebuild -- were rewarded with two-year contract extensions that run through 2020.

However, Maccagnan is not yet setting high expectations for 2018.

Bent, theJetsBlog.com Follow on Twitter

The Patriots predictably disposed of the Jets effortlessly in the season finale, winning 26-6. From the Jets' perspective, the game was fairly meaningless, and they used it to get another look at some of the players whose future roles with the team are uncertain.

Let's break down the offensive performance from Sunday's game...

The Jets finished the 2017 season with a 5-11 record after Sunday's loss to the Patriots. Here's what's going on Tuesday:

Need to know

The Jets cleaned out their lockers yesterday and will now embark upon the first stages of their offseason plan. 

Jets head coach Todd Bowles said the team would be interested in bringing back veteran quarterback Josh McCown for the 2018 season, he told ESPN's Rich Cimini.

"Josh had a great year," Bowles said. "It would be great to have him back. It's business in this league. He has decisions to make, we have decisions to make. Hopefully, they can meet and we'll go from there." 

The 38-year-old McCown went 5-8 in 13 games as the Jets' starting quarterback before he suffered a season-ending hand injury in Week 14 against the Denver Broncos.

Jets head coach Todd Bowles said the team would be interested in bringing back veteran quarterback Josh McCown for the 2018 season, he told ESPN's Rich Cimini.

"Josh had a great year," Bowles said. "It would be great to have him back. It's business in this league. He has decisions to make, we have decisions to make. Hopefully, they can meet and we'll go from there." 

The 38-year-old McCown went 5-8 in 13 games as the Jets' starting quarterback before he suffered a season-ending hand injury in Week 14 against the Denver Broncos.

It looked to finally be time to see Christian Hackenberg make his NFL debut Sunday, but head coach Todd Bowles kept him on the sideline despite a struggling Bryce Petty in the game. 

Hackenberg had been taking first-team reps for the Jets throughout the week at practice, and he even saw half of the first 15 plays during Saturday's walkthrough. However, Bowles didn't think it was Hackenberg's time to play. 

"There's a time to play a lot of guys," Bowles told NJ.com's Connor Hughes. "Wasn't the time yet. Wasn't his time."

The Jets were limited to just two field goals in a season-ending 26-6 loss to the Patriots on Sunday in Foxboro. >> Box Score

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

THE GAME

The Jets (5-10) against the New England Patriots (12-3) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Sunday, Dec. 31, at 1 p.m. ET.

THE WEATHER

Miserable. … OK, it's only miserable if you hate the cold, I guess. The high temperature is expected to be 14 degrees with winds of 10-15 mph. Plus, if you go, you get to deal with miles and miles of traffic on I-95 on the way home, on New Year's Eve no less. Yay?

WHAT IT MEANS

Nothing for the Jets, unless Christian Hackenberg enters, in which case I promise I'm paying attention. I suppose it could mean something for Todd Bowles' future, but really if they haven't made up their minds by now, what are they doing? As for the Patriots, they're still fighting for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and it's highly doubtful they're going to let the Jets stand in their way.

In two starts since taking over for the injured Josh McCown, Bryce Petty has underwhelmed for the Jets. 

Many are hoping to see what Christian Hackenberg might bring to the field, but the Jets are sticking with Petty for their season finale against the Patriots this Sunday. Head coach Todd Bowles says he's seen progress since Petty's first start against the Saints.

"Again, just the confidence," Bowles said. "It hasn't showed in the results and he still rushed some throws here or there, but the confidence of understanding where to go and commanding the offense. That part we've seen. (He) still has to execute all the plays though..."

Jets QB Christian Hackenberg could make his NFL debut on Sunday during the season finale against the Patriots in New England, and teammates Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Kelvin Beachum have faith in the 22-year-old.

"He's got an arm and he makes great throws that are eye-popping sometimes," Seferian-Jenkins told reporters on Wednesday. "If he gets out there and gets an opportunity, I know he'll run with it. He'll do a good job. He's gotten reps throughout the weeks."

Hackenberg will be the backup to Bryce Petty on Sunday, and head coach Todd Bowles said "we'll see" when asked if Hackenberg would get in the game...

Jets head coach Todd Bowles reiterated on Wednesday that Bryce Petty will be the starter for their season finale against the Patriots on Sunday, but left open the possibility of Christian Hackenberg seeing action.

"We'll see," Bowles told reporters when asked if Hackenberg would play.

Hackenberg has yet to take a snap in a regular season game.

Bent, theJetsBlog.com Follow on Twitter

The Jets were competitive again, as they have been in every home game this year, but struggled to generate enough offense or any impact plays on defense. Meanwhile, the Chargers managed to keep their playoff hopes alive in a sloppy game that saw the teams combine for 18 punts. For New York, there's the sense that the conclusion of the season next week will predominantly be a relief to players and coaches alike for the Jets.

Let's break down the offensive performance from Sunday's game:

Quarterbacks

Bryce Petty was once again erratic and is doing little to convince anyone he has much of a future at this level. Statistically, he's been worse than he was last year, and the Jets' resolve to get him to throw downfield more often didn't manifest itself, as he averaged just four yards per attempt for the day and threw just one pass in the third quarter -- the only quarter in which the Jets scored any points.

Jets quarterback Bryce Petty said after Sunday's 14-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers he feels frustrated he isn't able to make the plays he wants to make -- and feels capable of making -- on the field.

Petty, starting for the second straight game since Josh McCown suffered a season-ending injury, completed just 15 of 28 passes for 119 yards with no touchdowns and an interception as the Jets lost for the eighth time in their last 10 games.

"It's frustrating, it's really frustrating," Petty said, according to Newsday's Bob Glauber. "I think that mentally, I know exactly where I want to go with the ball, and it's just my feet are not as relaxed as my mind, if that makes sense. I know exactly where I want to go with the ball, I'm seeing things, and my feet are just a little bit rushed, so it's causing me to be a step too much or a step too late, whatever the case."

With only two weeks left in the season, Jonas Schwartz and Willie Colon finally welcome SNY Jets analyst Ray Lucas to the studio for his first appearance on The Jet Stream podcast. The guys discuss the ups and downs of Bryce Petty's first career start and the future of Muhammad Wilkerson. Later, Rich Cimini of ESPN joins the show to discuss Petty, Christian Hackenberg, and the job status of Todd Bowles.

Click below to listen

Despite the fact second-year quarterback Christian Hackenberg has still not received any first-team reps in Jets practice, his teammates said he has improved while working with the scout team.

"I can see he has a greater command than last year," offensive tackle Ben Ijalana told NJ.com's Connor Hughes. "I feel like he's improving as the weeks progress. It's hard to progress and get get better out of scout team. It requires a lot of focus. The way that it's scripted is for the other side of the ball's success. There's a lot of carryover that you can use for the starting offense and I feel he does that very well."

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

Bryce Petty has already been named the Jets starting quarterback for their game against the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.

Pencil him in for the start in the Jets' finale on New Year's Eve in New England, too.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Bryce Petty will make his fifth career start for the Jets on Sunday in New Orleans because Josh McCown has a broken left hand and because, as Todd Bowles said, "Bryce is the next man up."

That's a nice, tidy coach-speak way of avoiding the obvious truth about that decision: Starting Petty makes very little sense at this point for the 5-8 Jets. They need to see Christian Hackenberg play...

After Jets quarterback Josh McCown suffered a broken left hand in Sunday's 23-0 loss to the Denver Broncos, second-string quarterback Bryce Petty said he feels "ready" to step up for New York's Week 15 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

"I am going to give my heart and soul and prepare for this week for New Orleans," Petty said, according to NJ.com's Connor Hughes. "Whatever happens in the future, happens, but all I can do is worry about things I can control. Whether Josh plays, or whether he doesn't, I am going to go in there prepared and ready to lead this team."

Given McCown's injury is on his non-throwing hand, it is unclear if he will play during the team's final three games of the season. Head coach Todd Bowles said McCown will undergo further tests this week to evaluate his status for the rest of the season.

After Jets quarterback Josh McCown suffered a broken left hand in Sunday's 23-0 loss to the Denver Broncos, second-string quarterback Bryce Petty said he feels "ready" to step up for New York's Week 15 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

"I am going to give my heart and soul and prepare for this week for New Orleans," Petty said, according to NJ.com's Connor Hughes. "Whatever happens in the future, happens, but all I can do is worry about things I can control. Whether Josh plays, or whether he doesn't, I am going to go in there prepared and ready to lead this team."

Given McCown's injury is on his non-throwing hand, it is unclear if he will play during the team's final three games of the season. Head coach Todd Bowles said McCown will undergo further tests this week to evaluate his status for the rest of the season.

Jets quarterback Josh McCown suffered a broken left hand in Sunday's 23-0 loss to the Denver Broncos, head coach Todd Bowles told reporters.

"It just sucks," an emotional McCown, who was brought to tears at the podium, said after the game.

McCown left the game late in the third quarter with the Jets trailing 20-0. He previously left the game in the first half after scrambling for a first down, but returned two plays later.

He walked off the field and underwent X-rays during the game. It is unclear if the injury will end McCown's season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. McCown will undergo further tests, Bowles said.

RB Matt Forte, G Brian Winters, and WR Robby Anderson are all active for the Jets on Sunday in their road matchup against the Denver Broncos. 

Anderson was questionable after being limited in practice due to a hamstring injury, while Forte has been hampered by a knee injury. Winters has dealt with an abdomen issue.

QB Christian Hackenberg, CB Derrick Jones, CB Jeremy Clark, OLB Freddie Bishop, LB Bruce Carter, OLB Ben Ijalana, and OL Jonotthan Harrison are inactive for the Jets.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

THE GAME

The Jets (5-7) face the Denver Broncos (3-9) at Sports Authority field at Mile high in Denver, on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 4:05 p.m. ET.

THE WEATHER:

December in Denver is always a little nicer than I think it's going to be. Temperatures on Sunday should be slightly over 60 with light winds and sunny skies.

WHAT IT MEANS

It means everything to the Jets. They are two games behind the Baltimore Ravens in the race for the last wild-card spot in the AFC with only four games to play, so they can't afford any slip-ups. They also have to hope for some help because just to get to the Ravens, they have to jump over the Chargers, Bills and Raiders, who are all one game ahead of the Jets. It's not going to be easy. It's probably impossible. But the Jets have no shot if they don't win all four of their remaining games.

Jets LB Darron Lee was ruled inactive by coach Todd Bowles ahead of Sunday's game against the Chiefs, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The future will have to wait. Again.

Despite another dispiriting loss, and with the playoffs just about out of reach, Jets head coach Todd Bowles has again resisted making a quarterback change. Rather than turn to 26-year-old backup Bryce Petty or 22-year-old Christian Hackenberg, Bowles said he is again sticking with his regular starter: 38-year-old Josh McCown.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The Jets are not going to make the playoffs, even if they're not ready to accept that. Their denial is understandable, though. The math says they're still in it. They're only two games back with five to go.

But they're also trending in the wrong direction - badly - having lost five of their last six games. They are 4-7, which currently seeds them 12th in the AFC. They'd have to win out and get help from the six teams in front of them. They're not good enough or lucky enough for all that...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - There was a time this summer when it seemed that the only quarterback decision Jets GM Mike Maccagnan would have to make next spring was "Sam Darnold or Josh Rosen?" The Jets were going to stink. They were going to have one of the top two picks in the draft. One of those quarterback prospects would belong to them.

Three months and four wins later, the name of the future Jets quarterback is a little hazier. Darnold and Rosen remain in play, but it may take some maneuvering for the Jets to land them. They have options on the roster and can be players in free agency, too.

So it's a wide-open competition to see who'll be the Jets starting quarterback on Opening Day of the 2018 season. Here's a look at some of the choices they're likely to have...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - There was a time this summer when it seemed that the only quarterback decision Jets GM Mike Maccagnan would have to make next spring was "Sam Darnold or Josh Rosen?" The Jets were going to stink. They were going to have one of the top two picks in the draft. One of those quarterback prospects would belong to them.

Three months and four wins later, the name of the future Jets quarterback is a little hazier. Darnold and Rosen remain in play, but it may take some maneuvering for the Jets to land them. They have options on the roster and can be players in free agency, too.

So it's a wide-open competition to see who'll be the Jets starting quarterback on Opening Day of the 2018 season. Here's a look at some of the choices they're likely to have...

Jets head coach Todd Bowles recently said he won't be switching quarterbacks anytime soon, and current starter Josh McCown agrees with him. 

Despite losing four of their last five games, the Jets are still in the thick of the AFC playoff race as they sit just one game back of the final Wild Card spot. McCown has been leading the Jets' offense all season, and with playoff implications still relevant, he doesn't see a reason to change now. 

"I guess we're both kind of on the same page with that," McCown told NJ.com's Darryl Slater. "There wasn't a scenario where I saw it either. I think it's good to hear it, but we were already on the same page. So I don't know if that was necessarily a new thing." 

The Jets (4-5) take on the Buccaneers (2-6) on Sunday in Tampa, Florida, at 1 p.m. Here's what's going on today:

Need to know

The Jets will practice today at Florham Park where they will provide the final injury report for Sunday's game. So far, nobody has been ruled out for Sunday, but Matt Forté's status is up in the air.

Follow @RVaccianoSNY on Twitter to keep up with all the latest Jets news and rumors from SNY's Ralph Vacciano…

RB Matt Forte (knee), C Jonotthan Harrison (hand), DT Ed Stinson (neck), and DE Muhammad Wilkerson (shoulder, foot) all missed practice on Thursday.

"I don't know if it is serious or not serious," Jets head coach Todd Bowles said, "but anytime someone doesn't practice, it's serious for me."

Forte rushed for a season-high 77 yards and two touchdowns in last Thursday's 34-21 win over the Bills.

The Jets (4-5) take on the Buccaneers (2-6) on Sunday in Tampa, Florida, at 1 p.m. Here's what's going on today:

Need to know

The Jets will practice today at Florham Park. Will any of the five players who missed practice on Wednesday be able to suit up today?

SNY's Ralph Vacchiano will be attending practice later this week. Follow @RVaccianoSNY on Twitter to keep up with all the latest Jets news and rumors.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - The assumption has always been that the Jets will take a look at Christian Hackenberg in an actual game at some point this season. But it's starting to look like that assumption is wrong.

Mike Maccagnan, the Jets GM, insisted on Wednesday that there's no "prerequisite" that he has to see Hackenberg in a game before they decide whether to draft another quarterback in the 2018 draft. And a team source told SNY that there are obviously no current plans to make a quarterback switch while the Jets are in playoff contention - and that even if the Jets drop out of the race at some point it's likely that Hackenberg won't play this season at all.

A lot can change over the final seven games, of course, but the general point remains that the Jets are apparently comfortable making an evaluation of Hackenberg's potential to be their Quarterback of the Future even without ever seeing him in a game.

RB Matt Forte (knee) and DL Muhammad Wilkerson (shoulder/foot) were two of of the five Jets who did not take part in Wednesday's practice. DB Morris Claiborne (foot), DL Ed Stinson (neck) and OL Brian Winters (abdomen) were also absent.

Forte rushed for a season-high 77 yards and two touchdowns in last Thursday's 34-21 win over the Bills.

QB Christian Hackenberg (finger) and RB Lawrence Thomas (concussion) practiced on a limited basis.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive:: Josh McCown is 38 years old and was brought in to be a one-year bridge to whoever becomes the Jets quarterback of the future.

But Mike Maccagnan wouldn't rule out McCown returning as the Jets starter in 2018 at the age of 39.

What once seemed like a ridiculous notion can no longer be easily dismissed -- and it wasn't by the Jets GM in his annual midseason interview with the media. Maccagnan wouldn't commit to anything with any of the quarterbacks on his roster, but he had high praise for McCown as a player and as a person. And he definitely left the door open for a return next year.

Bent, theJetsBlog.com Follow on Twitter

The Jets put together their most complete performance of the season in an impressive 34-21 win over the Bills on Thursday night, rushing for almost 200 yards and racking up seven sacks and three fumble recoveries in the process.

Let's start this week by breaking down the performances on the offensive side of the ball:

Quarterbacks

With the running game working, Josh McCown didn't need to throw much this week, but he was efficient when he did. He threw just seven passes after halftime, completing five. In the first half, while the game was still in the balance, McCown gave the Jets the lead with a touchdown scramble, completing a drive he'd kept alive himself with another third-down run.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

THE GAME

The Buffalo Bills (5-2) at the Jets (3-5) at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 8:25 p.m. ET.

THE WEATHER

It feels like fall has finally arrived, but it actually shouldn't be too terrible for this game. The kickoff temperature should be in the low 60s with minimal winds in the forecast. If you sat through Sunday's slop -- And really, if you did: Why? -- this will feel like a Hawaiian vacation...

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The idea that the Jets would've been in a playoff race was comical back in August. They may have thought they were going to be better than anyone expected, but that's because so many people expected them to finish 0-16.

The truth is, the Jets have squeezed more out of their depleted roster than anyone could have imagined. They've been competitive all season. They were over .500 at one point. Even a 3-5 mark at the halfway point even exceeds expectations.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Jets tried to see the positives through the misery of another game they let slip right out of their hands. They tried to focus on how close they're coming, how that proves they can be a dangerous team, if only they can put everything together before time runs out.

But they know where they are in the schedule. They know they begin the second half of their season against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night.