New York Jets - 2024 NFL Power Rankings, Week 10: A Glimmer of Hope

The New York Jets played the first place Houston Texans last Thursday night. It looked like a game the Jets should lose. They didn't. After an ugly first half in which the Jets look disinterested, disorganized and discombobulated, the Jets put together an outstanding second half effort to overcome a 7 - 0 halftime deficit and emerge with a 21 - 13 victory. Aaron Rodgers threw three second half touchdown passes, Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson each had 90+ receiving yards and they combined for all three touchdowns, and the defense sacked C.J. Stroud eight times en route to a dominant defensive performance. For one glorious half the team looked the way it was supposed to look according to all the preseason hype.

It was just one win. The Jets will need to string together a lot more to have any chance of getting back in the playoff picture. But for one night at least, this team did not disappoint. They provided a glimmer of hope for long suffering Jets fans.

How did the power rankings feel about this victory by the Jets? Let's find out.

CBS Sports

It wasn't pretty against the Texans, but they found a way. The offense actually showed some life in the second half.

Sports Illustrated

Last week's ranking: No. 26

Last week's result: beat Houston, 21–13

This week: at Arizona

I'm aware the Jets lost to the Broncos (located one spot below) but in the case of the power rankings, we're talking about the ceiling on a kind of immediate, eight-week long stretch of time. I am on record as saying I think this Jets team still has a run in them, and after a Thursday night win over Houston and a 10-day break, I'm ready to give them some space and confidence to play it out. The Arizona game is basically a playoff matchup. I could see the Jets gutting one out and I could see them getting completely boat raced.

Week 9 ranking:

Most important game remaining: Week 10 vs. the Cardinals

Yes, that's right, this week. At 3-6, the Jets have virtually no margin for error to keep alive their faint playoff hopes. They played their best half of the season in Thursday's win over the Texans, outscoring them 21-6 in the second half. That might have been a turning point — or maybe it was just a tease. How they fare against the streaking Cardinals, winners of three straight, will go a long way toward defining their season.

USA Today

New York Jets (27): It took a few weeks for that Aaron Rodgers-Davante Adams connection to begin paying off – i.e., their first TD hookup in nearly three years in Thursday night's much-needed win. Glass half full, the NYJ are back in second place in the AFC East and two games out of the conference's final wild-card spot. Glass half empty, they need more Thursday games given they're 1-6 the rest of the week this season.

The power rankings gave the Jets a little bump this week. They are now at a high of 20 and a low of 24. That's not exactly great, but it's a start.