Some people thought the Jets would win three games all season. They’ve already won three games in five weeks.
The team some thought was the worst in the NFL has shown a pulse and is keeping football season in New York alive right now while their crosstown rivals are already the walking dead before Halloween.
The 3-2 Jets admit they have used those low expectations from every expert, prognosticator and TV talking head to fuel them. The “us against the world” mentality has pervaded the Jets locker room since training camp and was on display again Monday night when they beat the heavily favored Falcons, 30-28.
“We knew we were much better than what we were being given credit for,” Ryan said on a conference call Tuesday. “To say that absolutely what the national media and people like that think about us and the negative comments, to think it doesn’t put fuel to the fire, of course it does. … I’m not going to lie and say that it doesn’t spark you a little bit.”
Ryan’s Jets are ranked No. 2 in total defense, No. 14 in total offense and most importantly are one game behind the division-leading Patriots.
Now, the expectations in this town can get out of control off one win and you need to look at who the Jets have beaten — the Buccaneers, Bills and Falcons. Those teams are a combined 3-11. When this was pointed out to Ryan, he did not take kindly to it.
“You can try to discredit us all you want. That’s fine. It’s no big deal to us,” Ryan said. “We know what we have in our building. That’s it. You can take any stance that you want on it. Those are facts, there’s no question. But if you think the Atlanta Falcons are only going to win one game or whatever, I think they’re a little bit better football team than that. That’s for you to write and all that. That’s all fine and dandy. We really don’t care, to be honest with you.”
They can say they don’t care all they want, but after wins this season it has been clear the knocks have bothered them.
Linebacker Calvin Pace said he does not expect the perception of the team to change off Monday’s win.
“For whatever reason everybody wants to crack jokes on us,” he said. “ ‘The Jets aren’t going to do this. The Jets aren’t going to do that.’ Whatever, man. It fuels us. I don’t think anybody forgot they picked us to be dead last in the league. We might not be the best team in the world, but we’re damn sure not dead last. Everyday guys come out with a chips on their shoulder and want to prove the naysayers wrong.”
But the tone about the team already changed Tuesday. Rookie quarterback Geno Smith was heavily praised and the defense was talked about as one of the best in the league. The danger for the Jets is now listening to that talk and growing overconfident, particularly with an 0-4 Steelers team coming to town Sunday.
“I’m interested to seeing how we respond,” Ryan said. “It’s not like we feel like we’re King Kong or something. We know it took a great effort last night. It’s going to take the same kind of effort this week. I do feel great that we’re playing at home. I think that’s going to help us.”
The Jets have been in a win, loss, win, loss pattern this season, meaning Sunday’s game should be a loss. That is something Ryan will address with his team.
“I got a memo from the league — they said that we can win two games in a row,” Ryan said. “That’s what I talked to our team about.”