For the sake of sanity, I hope all fans of the New York Jets have long forgotten the disappointing 2012 season. Not only was it disappointing from a football stand point but also from a public relations standpoint. The 2012 Jets became a media spectacle. From the Tim Tebow sideshow to the Mark Sanchez butt fumble, the 2012 Jet’s season was like an episode of the Kardashians.
The Jets began 2012 with an ominous start. The acquisition of Tebow was a huge gamble and it backfired like an old jalopy. What’s more the hiring of offensive coordinator Tony Sprorano was supposed to give a boost to a struggling offense, we now know this also failed. Despite the malefic precursor, the Jets managed to salvage what could have easily been a 2-14 season.
The Jets got off to a good start by handily defeating the division rival Buffalo Bills in the season opener. The Jets offense looked sharp as they put up 48 points against the Bills. In week two the Jets lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This two-week span was a microcosm of the Jet’s up-and-down season. A road win in Miami followed by a loss to San Francisco gave the Jets a 2-2 record after four games.
The humiliating 34-0 loss to the 49ers sent the Jets into a tailspin. The Jets would lose three out of the next four games before their week nine bye. To make matters worse by week five the Jets lost star defensive back Darrelle Revis and wide receiver Santonio Holmes to season ending injuries. The Jets managed to stay afloat by splitting their next four games. Despite all the challenges, the Jets were surprisingly still in the playoff hunt entering the final four games of the season.
After back-to-back wins against the Cardinals and Jaguars, the Jets were clinging to hope of nabbing the final wild card spot. That hope quickly dissipated after tanking the final three games of the season. The 2012 Jets finished with a 6-10 record and had become the laughing stock of the league. The dysfunction spread to the fans and around the organization. Major changes were imminent. Not long after the season’s final whistle blew, the Jets began to clean house.
The first to go was general manager Mike Tannenbaum. Head coach Rex Ryan managed to avoid the chopping block and will return next season. Many of the assistant coaches have also left or been dismissed. Along with the coaches, many of the players will be gone by the start of the 2013 season. It is safe to say the 2013 Jets will look nothing like the 2012 team. The Jets finished the season with horrible disappointment but despite all the injuries, offensive ineptness and overall dysfunction the season could have turned out much worst that it did. If you are a Jet’s fan this fact should give you reason to keep your chin up and hope for a successful 2013 campaign. The silver lining will be the number nine overall pick the Jets get in the first round of April’s NFL draft.