With a win over the Oakland Raiders, the playoff hopes of the New York Jets remain alive. However that is not the only kept alive with the Week 14 win. Both Rex Ryan and Geno Smith faced heavy scrutiny over the past few weeks during the team's losing streak. But one win is enough to make people forget and owner Woody Johnson is endorsing everyone's jobs for the future.
"I'm pretty happy with the way things are going," Johnson said, via ESPN New York 98.7 FM.
The Jets are now 6-7 after ending a three-game losing streak. Rex Ryan said it best noting the team needed a win in the worst way. It was not always pretty and Smith tossed an early interception, but the Jets bounced back and escaped with a 37-27 victory, remaining in the hunt in the AFC playoff picture. Smith tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Kerley, his first since Week 7, ending discussions over who should be starting under center.
"We've got a young quarterback who is very, very talented," Johnson said. "Like with all young quarterbacks, he's learning so much. I think you'll see him get better and better. I have a lot of confidence in Geno. When he gets better, everyone on the offense, defense and special teams will get better."
While everyone in the Jets' camp continues to praise Ryan as the team's future head coach, if the team missed the playoffs it would not be a shock if he was fired. Working with a rookie quarterback certainly does not make the task easy, but a much-needed win over the Raiders has saved everyone for the moment.
"It's really the direction of the team and how we think the learning curve is going and whether the young people are absorbing it, and whether it's a formula that can help you win," Johnson said.
Ryan echoed the words of Johnson saying Smith really showed a lot of resilience and leadership in Week 14. He was able to comeback from early struggles to show poise. He finished going 16 for 25 for 219 yards while also running five times for 50 yards. Despite tossing his 20th interception of the season, Smith looked like the quarterback everyone thought he was going to be coming out of the draft.
I can't sit here and say I'm not human because it is difficult," Smith said. "When you have those struggles and you come out and, the first quarter and first half, you have an interception near the 50-yard line and you kind of start to think about those things, all of those mistakes in the past."