Rex Ryan: Jets Are In Rough Shape But Not Dead Despite 1-5 Record

If the New York Jets were a video game character, their life bar would be dangerously close to empty.

Rex Ryan’s team is a total mess again this year, as the Jets have limped to a 1-5 record to begin the season. Fresh off their latest loss to the Denver Broncos, Ryan and the Jets are now tasked with going to New England on a short week to face a Patriots team on Thursday night that’s figured some things out.

Despite another season of disarray, Ryan is holding out hope they can right the ship, but he’s realistic, too.

“My message is pretty simple: Hey, we might be counted out, (but) we’re not dead,” Ryan told reporters Monday, according to The Associated Press. “We are going to fight our tails off.”

The Jets might not be dead, but they’re certainly on life support. Ryan admitted Monday that facing the Patriots at this time is “not ideal,” but the head coach also hopes a rivalry game helps the team get up for the nationally televised showdown.

“Well, look, this is the biggest rival you have,” Ryan added. “You don’t have to worry about the motivation. It’s going to be there. Both teams don’t like each other. There’s respect for each other, but I don’t think you really like each other. We know we have to be at our very best.”

Even the Jets’ “very best” might not be enough to turn things around. Then again, a defibrillator might not do the trick, either.

Photo via Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports Images