Inexplicably, the New York Jets won a game today against the 9-4 LA Rams. They and the Jaguars are now 1-13 and the Jags now have the inside track to Trevor Lawrence with the 1st pick in the 2021 draft if they both end up tied in wins. The Jags would pick first due to a weaker schedule strength than the Jets.
Something interesting though that I read earlier today: it may not even matter that it happened. In the history of the NFL back to the 1970 merger, there’s never been two teams finish a season with 1 or fewer wins over a full season. It did happen in 1982 but that was a strike shortened year with the 0-8-1 Colts earning the top draft spot (when John Elway refused to go there) and the Oilers were also 1-8 that year. But that strike denied both teams the chance to play seven more games. So one of those two teams would probably see a victory somewhere again if it was a full year of games played. So history says either the Jags or Jets will win again in the final two week. Jets host the Browns and go to the Pats. Jags host the Bears and go to the Colts. (who they beat in week 1) I wonder who will “win” again and blow the Lawrence lottery? Would Bill Belichick intentionally let the Jets win in week 17 to deny them any shot at the top draft pick? Interesting two weeks left in the season.
As a Jets fan the Platonic form of a Jets season is 7-9. No playoffs, middle 1st round pick. The Jets are not supposed to out and out suck. They are supposed to be mediocre in the true sense of the word.
This season is an aberration. Finishing the season with three wins in a row might make it seem like a normal Jets season. They will have to keep running Darnold out there like the battered child he is. Few teams can destroy a quarterback’s career like the Jets.
Lawrence could still do that but he has sounded more like he’s open lately to helping a team on a rebuild. Not much left for him to do at Clemson either, then you got the virus and the thought process has to be that it’s time to go get paid and forgo the playing for free that he’s done up to this point.
I see Adam Gase is still trying to get the last fumes left out of Frank Gore too. He said he couldn’t do “0-for” if this is indeed his final year. I guess the team was serious about obliging him. Personally, I hope the Jags don’t win another and land TL. They need something good to happen for them. The Jets really do too, but I’m biased.
The Jags will have all of that. A new coach, GM and franchise QB. Yes, they’ve been bad but you have to make changes to get better. This should look like a different team soon enough. Remember when they had to release Tom Coughlin two years ago? When the player’s association comes out and makes a statement like “25% of player grievances filed in the last two years have been against the Jaguars. You as players may want to consider this when you have a chance to select your next club.”
When the NFLPA comes out at you like that, you have to clean house. At least they’re doing that. No, it’s damn OK to get excited about Lawrence with the hopes that the right people will also get put around him. We’ll see how it progresses.
I can’t help thinking of David Carr or this years Joe Burrow. TL is going to get rocked if the Jags don’t get better protections. You don’t think every NFL D Line has been hearing about this kid for 3 years.
