The Jets haven’t even reported to camp, and already they are talking big. It feels like 2009 and 2010 all over again.
Middle linebacker Demario Davis and wide receiver David Nelson both said on Monday they expect Gang Green to return to the postseason for the first time in four years.
“I feel like this team is more than a playoff team, honestly. That’s my opinion, but I think everyone in the building feels that way,” Davis said on WFAN.
After finishing strong to go 8-8 last season, the Jets added several pieces to an offense in need of reinforcements — such as wide receiver Eric Decker, quarterback Michael Vick and running back Chris Johnson — and return a young, developing core on defense that includes Davis.
“The hope is you take what we had last year that was functional and working, and add those new parts, and you hope it takes you to the next level,” Nelson said at his event for i’mMe — the charity he founded last year to raise money for orphaned children in Haiti — at Hotel Chantelle on the Lower East Side.
“The way we finished the season last year shows us we have the potential, the teams we beat shows us we’re capable. If we can take that and apply it, but in a much more consistent manner this year, we’re definitely a playoff team. I think we have the talent, we have the skill set and we have the players to do it. Last year you saw a top-10 offense one week, you saw a bottom-10 offense the next week. So this year it’s going to be an emphasis on being consistent and putting the same team out there each and every single week.”
Nelson will be one of several Jets battling it out for the second receiver spot behind Decker, the high-priced free agent acquisition from the Broncos.
Davis, entering his third year as a Jet, is tired of watching all the other teams enjoy football in January.
“Three years without getting into the playoffs is unacceptable, and so we know that we need to get in there this year,” Davis said. “Failure is not an option. Not getting into the playoffs is not an option for us. Everybody has the type of chip on their shoulder.”
Decker declined to go as far as Davis or Nelson, but he was confident nevertheless.
“Honestly, as a player, if you have expectations or you don’t set your goals to be a playoff team, why are you playing the game?” Decker said.
“I’m not playing the game to be a 2-14 team. I’m tying to be a playoff-contending, Super Bowl team. Being around these guys the couple of months I have, I really feel like the pieces are there.”
Nelson even thinks the Jets can make serious noise in January — not just reach the 16-team tournament.
“That’s the beautiful thing,” he said. “Once you’re in the playoffs, anyone can win the Super Bowl.”