Mark Cannizzaro

Mark Cannizzaro

NFL

Self-inflicted wounds killing Jets

Here’s the thing about the Jets four games into the season as they play the Falcons on Monday night in the Georgia Dome: They’re not that good.

They’re not that bad, but let’s face it: They’re somewhat lucky to be 2-2.

Given their limitations — a rookie quarterback learning on the fly and a rash of injuries at key offensive positions — the Jets cannot (and will not) beat the 1-3 Falcons if they continue to beat themselves the way they have already this season.

They are an offensively challenged team with rookie quarterback Geno Smith having turned over the ball 11 times already, with eight interceptions and three lost fumbles.

They also enter the game short-handed — with their top receiver, Santonio Holmes, out with a hamstring injury, their second-best receiver, Stephen Hill, recovering from a a concussion suffered last week and their third receiver, Clyde Gates, having been limited in practice all week with a knee injury.

The fact the Jets are not helping themselves in areas that have nothing to do with injuries or lack of top-tier talent is maddening and inexcusable.

They’ve turned the ball over more times (12) than every team in the league except the Giants, who coughed it up four more times Sunday, giving them 20, to fall to 0-5. And the Jets’ -10 turnover ratio is worse than everyone in the league against the Giants (-13) and the winless Steelers (-11).

They’ve committed 30 penalties the last two weeks, giving them 44 on the season, the most in the NFL entering Sunday. Twenty-three teams entered Sunday having not been penalized 30 times all season. The Falcons have been penalized half as much (22) as the Jets.

Entering Week 5, only four teams yielded more sacks than the 14 the Jets have allowed.

These are not recipes for success in the NFL. Conversely, they are the quickest route to losing.

Of all of these sins, the penalties are the most unacceptable, because they merely involve better focus.

The Jets lead the league in pre-snap penalties, the worst infractions of all, with 21. Those include nine false start penalties and six defensive offside penalties (both most in the NFL). Their three illegal shift calls on offense also lead the league.

Last season, when they went 6-10, the Jets had 83 penalties in 16 games, including 33 pre-snap penalties. They are on pace to commit 176 penalties (83 pre-snap) for 1,436 yards for the season right now.

Former NFL head coach Bill Parcells used to equate every 100 yards in penalties as a touchdown for the opponent. So, with that formula, the Jets have already given away more than four freebie touchdowns and are on pace to give away 14 for the season.

“This team, considering that we can’t give games away and we don’t have that type of firepower, we’ve got to be more disciplined than a lot of teams,” veteran guard Willie Colon said.

Colon could not be more spot on. The Jets’ margin for error is much smaller than it is for other teams with a more experienced, established and consistent quarterback and actual game-breaking skill position weapons on offense.

Although Rex Ryan is no longer in the guarantee business, we’ll offer this guarantee: The Jets will not get out of Atlanta with a win if they commit more penalties and turn the ball over more than the Falcons.

They are not good enough — not skilled or deep enough on offense — to continue to overcome these self-inflicted wounds.

Knowing this and expressing the urgency of the situation, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg gathered the offensive players together early last week, showed them a lowlight reel and told them as much. He called it a “put-it-on-the-table meeting.’’

“These things have to change,” he told the players of the turnovers, penalties and sacks. “The good teams take care of the football and the bad teams don’t. We are fortunate how low we are to be where we’re at record-wise with that situation.

“We’re always chasing perfection, and you never quite catch it.”

Here’s the thing about the Jets, though: They do not have to be perfect to beat the Falcons or anyone else. They simply need to screw up less often.