When you’re a New York Jets fan, even when you win, you lose.
After losing their first 13 games of the 2020 season, the Jets had their devoted fan base fixated on the consolation prize of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, and Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Instead, after winning back-to-back games, the Jets have fallen behind the Jacksonville Jaguars in next year’s draft order, and have now clinched the No. 2 pick following the Jags’ blowout loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
On one hand, it’s been impressive to watch the Jets as a team respond to 13 straight losses, as well as all the talk of tanking for Lawrence, with consecutive wins over quality opponents in the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns. Their performance over the last two weeks is just more proof that players will never, ever tank.
But for Jets management, as well as their fans, landing the No. 1 pick and the chance to draft Lawrence carried far more appeal than a pair of late-season wins.
