PRESSURE

JETS HEAD COACH ROBERT SALEH (via ATHLON SPORTS)

It isn’t every year that an NFL coach enters just their second game of the season under maximum pressure. For Robert Saleh however, it’s his reality in 2024. After essentially two years of Aaron Rodgers centered hype around the Jets and their roster, the 4th year head coach needs to produce results.

The former defensive coordinator has struggled to run the show, with a record of 18-34 as New York’s head coach, an 0-2 start in his prove it year would be costly. 19 of Saleh’s 34 losses as a head coach have come by double digits, yes - he has lost more games by double digits in his career than he has outright wins.

Those are just some of the big picture reasons that would cause mass hysteria among fans if they were to fall to 0-2. Some other reasons include the fact that they’re 3.5 point favorites on the road this week. Furthermore, this game comes just after the Jets fell miserably to the 49ers on Monday Night Football in a game where San Francisco was missing their all pro runningback Christian McCaffrey.

What was alarming about their blowout defeat was the nature of how it happened, the Jets offense for a change, showed an ability to move down the field. Despite being inconsistent in their efforts, the revamped unit gave reason to have hope that they can produce.

Coming into the year it was of course the highly touted New York defense that put them over the top, but that may no longer be the case. The Jets defense couldn’t stop anything Kyle Shanahan threw at them which causes those watching to wonder just how elite this defense is.

Of course, it was only one game for a team that feels 50% new in make up from last season. A win in week two would likely put them at second place in the division, and restore fans early expectations. A loss may be the first nail in the coffin of the Robert Saleh era Jets.