It hasn’t been perfect. It hasn’t been dominant. But the Jets 6-2 record through the first half of the season has been good enough to position them in a tie for first place in the AFC East and also tied for the best record in the NFL.
If the Jets duplicate that 6-2 record in the second half they’ll equal the most regular season wins in a season in franchise history (they were 12-4 in 1998 when they went to the AFC Championship Game).
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If they get to 12 wins, the Jets will almost certainly win their division and very possibly earn the home-field advantage in the playoffs — something they believe is the only thing that prevented them from getting to the Super Bowl last season.
The Jets have improved in some areas from last season — Mark Sanchez has become more consistent and, to date, eliminated the rash of turnovers that nearly derailed the Jets from playoff contention last year.
Their running game, which was ranked No. 1 in the NFL in 2009, is still a force with a different feature back (LaDainian Tomlinson for Thomas Jones), but not as dominant as it was last year (ranked fourth).
Their defense, which ranked No. 1 in the NFL last year, has not been as disruptive as it was in 2009 and is currently ranked No. 6 overall, including a disappointing 17th against the pass.
The Jets, too, are ranked 27th in the league in penalties, which is unacceptable for a team that fancies itself as disciplined and Super Bowl caliber.
Here’s a look at the good, bad and ugly from the first half of the Jets 2010 season:
OFFENSIVE MVP: Though his play and consistency has slipped in recent games, the bottom line is Mark Sanchez has thrown only 5 INTs (he had 20 last year) and has engineered two comebacks victories (he had none last year). Sanchez has, and will continue to be, the most important player on the offense despite the fact that the Jets are a run-first offense. If he’s the MVP of the second half of the season the Jets will likely go deep into the playoffs.
DEFENSIVE MVP: He hasn’t been flashy (he never is), but LB David Harris has been the most consistent performer. Harris leads the team with 66 tackles and simply doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. Smart money would have had CB Darrelle Revis as the defensive MVP before the season began, but a hamstring injury has stunted his season so far.
ROOKIE REPORT: Top draft pick Kyle Wilson has gone from the starting CB in place of contract holdout Darrelle Revis in training camp to virtually no playing time at all. Wilson, who was expected to step right into the nickel back role, has had a hard time getting on the field in the dime. Second-round pick G Vladimir Ducasse hasn’t played a down this year. Fourth-round pick, RB Joe McKnight, has been active for one game. Fourth rounder, FB John Connor, has played but not been an impact.
BIGGEST SURPRISE: RB LaDainian Tomlinson has still got it, despite the prediction from so many so-called experts who insisted he was finished. Tomlinson (599 rushing yards, 4.9-yard average, 5 TDs rushing, 30 receptions) has played himself into the No. 1 RB role, supplanting Shonn Greene, under whom he was supposed to serve as the complementary back.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: The Jets’ pass rush. They’re in the middle of the pack with only 17 sacks and have not put the fear in opposing QBs the way they did last year. What happened to that pass rush that put more than 20 hits on Tom Brady last year? Shaun Ellis (3 1/2 sacks), Calvin Pace (1 1/2 sacks but missed the first four games) and Jason Taylor (3 sacks) have not generated enough pressure and the Jets aren’t blitzing as often as they did last year.
BEST COACHING MOVE: Rex Ryan making the trip to Florida to meet face-to-face with Revis in an effort to end Revis’ contract holdout. The visit was instrumental in getting Revis back with the team.
FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHT: Shutting out the Patriots 18-0 in the second half in Week Two to turn a 14-10 halftime deficit into a 28-14 victory.
FIRST-HALF LOWLIGHT: DT Kris Jenkins suffering the same season-ending injury to the same knee he hurt in 2009 in the first game of the season.
SECOND GUESS: Jets P Steve Weatherford’s decision to take off on his own on a fake punt on third-and-18 from the Jets’ 20-yard line early in the 9-0 loss to the Packers.
A LOOK AHEAD: No game looms larger than the Jets Dec. 6 showdown at the Patriots, a game that’ll surely decide the AFC East winner. Look for Revis, who’s finally healthy, to return to his shutdown corner form in the second half. Many eyes will be on Tomlinson to see if he’ll have the same bounce in his step late in the season as he’s had through the first half.