This is not a time to install the Jets as a favorite to become the first team in NFL history to serve as the home team in a Super Bowl. Alas, perspective prevails.
But perhaps it is time to cease with the mocking and the laughter that has been associated with the mere mention of the Jets for the better part of the last two seasons and begin to take them at least a little bit seriously.
Maybe now that they have won two of their first three games in a season that was supposed to be a loss before it began, the Jets can send the clowns, jugglers and circus elephants away from Florham Park for good.
Yes it is true, the teams the Jets have beaten en route to 2-1 and a game out of first place in the AFC East — the 0-3 Buccaneers and the 1-2 Bills — are not exactly league powers.
But was there a person on this planet who predicted before the season that, through three weeks of the season, the Jets would be far and away better than the Giants, who are in early crisis mode at 0-3 and staring at a game against the 3-0 Chiefs Sunday in Kansas City?
When Jets coach Rex Ryan, formerly the bombastic ring leader of the Florham Park circus who — as if performing a magic trick — has transformed to buttoned-up corporate company man, walked into the press room on Monday to conduct his daily media briefing, he paused and looked around a barren room that included just a few writers and one TV camera, from SNY, the team’s TV partner.
“Explain to me why when we win there’s only one camera in here and when we lose there are about 15 of them?’’ Ryan mused.
When he was informed the press room at the Giants practice facility — where the vultures were circling the carcass left from a 38-0 blowout loss in Carolina — was at SRO capacity, Ryan smiled knowingly, but did not take the bait and follow with a snide comment.
Ryan has reason to smile three games into a season during which he was perceived to be dead coach walking, coaching for his job. He still is on audition for new general manager John Idzik, of course, but the results at the moment favor Ryan signing a contract extension by Christmas.
His team has not come close to playing a complete game yet, but has won two of them. You would not be out of line to suggest the Jets got both of their wins in spite of themselves.
For the cynics and non-believers in the room, it should be noted the Jets were also 2-1 after three games last year, similarly coming off an AFC East win over the Dolphins. And we all know how that turned out (6-10 and organizational tumult).
But there are three significant differences from last 2012 to 2013 that figure to be a sign of better things to come for these Jets.
First, the Jets lost the best player on their roster for the season in the Week 3 Miami game when cornerback Darrelle Revis blew out his knee.
Second, a week later, the Jets lost their best offensive player, receiver Santonio Holmes, for the season to a foot injury.
Third and most important as it relates to this team, is rookie quarterback Geno Smith, still very much a work in progress, has a higher ceiling of talent than former starter Mark Sanchez, who was on the downside last year.
Yes, Smith, with six interceptions and a lost fumble, is committing turnovers at the same alarming rate Sanchez did the last two seasons. But you just see more upside the rookie is going to get better, that there is more potential for explosive offensive plays.
The Jets’ No. 4-ranked defense, which is younger, faster and nastier than it was the last two years, has already shown it is going to keep the offense close enough to have a chance to win every game.
Positive signs like these are the reason Jets veteran linebacker Calvin Pace, who has been through winning and losing with the Jets, said this after Sunday’s win: “What you’re seeing is just the tip of iceberg.’’
Maybe he knows something.