Jason Burgos
After suffering a second straight loss that dealt a big blow to their playoff chances, the New York Jets called a rare players-only meeting this week to try and address the problems that have been dogging them all season.
In the fallout of Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury in Week 1, the Jets lost three of their first four and seemed to be spiraling into a top 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, led by their defense, they then racked up three straight wins including over the Philadelphia Eagles and in-city rivals the New York Giants.
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However, over the last two weeks, the team has suffered a pair of frustrating defeats. Despite more solid play from the defense, the offense has continued to be an Achilles heel in their pursuit of staying in the playoff chase with the hope of Rodgers making a miraculous return later in the season.
New York Jets record (2023): 4-5
After a disappointing 16-12 defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 10, it seems that the loss was the straw that broke the camel’s back and the team called a players-only meeting this week to clear the air of any grievances and get on the same page. New York star receiver Garrett Wilson spilled the tea on the meeting during a Tuesday appearance on ESPN New York’s “Bart & Hahn Show.”
“The guys talked, and we had the floor,” Wilson said about the meeting. “It was just us. We got to make sure we’re all on the same page about where we’re at and how the hell we get out of this funk, man. That was really the message. When it comes from one of your teammates, it always hits differently. It always resonates a little bit more.”
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Players-only meetings are never a good sign, and a recent one by the Buffalo Bills only led to a worse performance in their own loss on Monday night. However, there are many occasions where it helped unify a team and sent them on a hot streak.
The Jets will be hoping for that when they face the aforementioned Bills this weekend.
