The Miami Dolphins defeated the New York Jets 32-26 in Overtime on Sunday to improve to 6-7. While the Dolphins are pushing to try and claim a playoff spot in 2024, the Jets will have to wait another season to reach the playoffs, as they’ve been mathematically eliminated with the loss. For the Jets, a season with major expectations has floundered.
With Aaron Rodgers returning as the Jet’s starting quarterback, a talented offensive core surrounding the 4-time MVP, and an impressive secondary led by Sauce Gardner, fans and pundits alike were confident that the Jets could be a major player this season. However, the Jets 2-1 start quickly unraveled, as they fired head coach Robert Saleh two losses into a five game losing streak.
The Jets did try to right the ship by bringing in new talent. Wide Receiver Davante Adams was acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders and Haason Reddick ended his hold out in an attempt to bolster the Jets defensive line. However, the attempt to solve the issues on the field did nothing to stop the growing divide happening off the field.
Jets cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner was insulted by the Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich’s presentation on tackling. According to Sports Illustrated, Gardner addressed the tackling issue by saying, “We know how to tackle. We know how to tackle. We gotta make the tackles. That’s really it. We’ve been doing it. We really don’t need no presentation” (Sports Illustrated). Gardner has missed 10 tackles this season.
Jumping forward two weeks, Jets owner Woody Johnson suggested that the team bench Aaron Rodgers (ESPN). While Ulbrich decided against Johnson’s wishes, it appears that the Aaron Rodgers experience in the Big Apple is coming to an end. With CBS reporting that Rodgers wants to play in 2025, just not with the Jets. (CBS Sports)
The final nail in the coffin of the Jets season came on Sunday, December 8th, when the Jets failed to hold on to a 26-23 lead with under a minute remaining in the game. The Dolphins marched down the field, tied the game, and proceeded to score the fate-sealing touchdown. The Jets currently have the longest active playoff drought in not only the NFL, but across all of the big four sports in the United States, standing at 14 seasons.
