Power rankings: Jets dead last

Robert Saleh's Jets finished 29th in last season's power rankings. Naturally, pretty much all pundits expected them to improve, as they gave the Jets a higher average ranking before the start of the 2022 season. Unfortunately, their higher expectations lasted about as long as Mekhi Becton's season. Following a rather terrible performance against the Ravens in the opening week, the Gang Green are back to the bottom of the NFL. Five out of seven rankings have them dead last, while the other two placed the Jets at #31. If there was any optimism before the season, it's all but gone now, as "it's hard to believe Zach Wilson's return, whenever that happens, will make that big of a difference." The Jets haven't won in September since 2018 and their overall record (22-60) is the worst in the league since 2017. Cleveland is next and the Joe Flacco led Jets are predictably 6-point underdogs.

Here's what different power rankings websites had to say about the Jets:

ESPN: Sauce Gardner was very good in his debut. He played every defensive snap, broke up a long pass in the end zone and allowed only two receptions for 19 yards on four targets as the nearest defender, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. The Jets allowed three touchdown passes to Lamar Jackson, but Gardner wasn't in the area on any of them. A couple of times, he was used on the Ravens' big tight ends because of his size (6-foot-3). That kind of versatility makes him a useful chess piece for the defensive coaches. No doubt, some teams will go after the rookie more than the Ravens did, but he passed his first test easily.

The Sporting News: The Jets did the predictable in Joe Flacco's revenge game vs. the Ravens. They showed more defensive fight from Robert Saleh's improved unit, and some of their offensive newcomers made plays. But they are still rather overmatched as they further transition in their rebuild.

CBS Sports: They can't get Zach Wilson back soon enough. Joe Flacco wasn't good against his former team as they threw it 59 times.

ProFootballTalk: Robert Saleh is keeping receipts. His wallet will soon be fatter than George Costanza’s.

Yahoo Sports: The Jets had Joe Flacco throw 59 times. Some of that is related to game script, but there's no circumstance in which the Jets should ever have Flacco throw 59 times. The Jets looked miserable in the opener and it's hard to believe Zach Wilson's return, whenever that happens, will make that big of a difference.

NFL.com: The Jets were supposed to be better in 2022. Instead, it was “Same Old Jets” in a packed house of rain-soaked and frustrated fans at the Meadowlands on Sunday. Joe Flacco struggled to move the offense, the running backs, wide receivers and tight ends couldn’t hold onto the ball, and the defense lost its nerve after a strong first-half performance. Jets coach Robert Saleh praised his team’s effort level after the lopsided loss to the Ravens, but that messaging no longer flies for a fan base that’s been watching bad football for the better part of a decade. It's time for the Saleh and Joe Douglas regime to deliver tangible results -- Week 1 was an ominous sign.

USA Today: Sunday's loss, coupled with the Giants' win, officially makes NYJ the league's worst team (22-60) since start of the 2017 season.