NFL Power Rankings: 49ers snatch top seed, Patriots lose footing entering playoffs
By Dan Parzych
19. New York Jets (22)
If the New York Jets were looking for a positive factor heading into the offseason, it should be how the team ended 2019 on a hot note by winning six of their final eight games.
A few months ago, Adam Gase seemed to be a popular candidate on the hot seat, and a terrible fit to be head coach for the Jets, but maybe the team knew what they were doing all along.
Defeating the Buffalo Bills in Week 17 may not seem like the biggest deal in the world since the team was already a lock for the No. 5 seed in the AFC, but New York will take any win they can get.
Looking ahead to 2020, the hope for the Jets is that Sam Darnold will use another year of experience as the starter to elevate his game to another level next season, and make the Jets a legitimate playoff contender in the AFC.
Prior to the 2018 season, New York had been in desperate need of a quarterback to build the franchise around, and while Darnold obviously has a few areas in need of improvement still, the Jets should feel good about their future on offense.
During the offseason, if New York continues to build a better offense around their young quarterback, it will only help Darnold’s development process heading into his third NFL season.