Sam Darnold is blocking out all the outside noise as the Jets look to improve upon their 7-9 record this season.
Darnold spoke to the media on Wednesday and was asked if he thought people are underestimating the Jets this season after they went 6-2 over the final eight games last season. Darnold said people can think what they want about the Jets, but that’s not really the team’s concern.
“We’re not really worried about that,” Darnold said. “If people want to sleep on us, they can sleep on us. We’re fine. We’re just worried about what we’ve got to do here.”
It is understandable why people are down on the Jets this year given their schedule. They’re facing the second-toughest slate in the league behind only the Patriots based on their opponents win percentages from last season (.533).
As for the Jets’ 6-2 finish last season, it did come against the bottom feeders of the league. The Jets beat the Giants, Washington, Raiders, Dolphins, Steelers and Bills. All of those teams except for the Bills failed to make the playoffs in 2019.
The Jets are only going to go as far as Darnold takes them in 2020. He had his ups and his downs last season, but the Jets need him to put it all together in year three. Darnold has to produce consistent numbers if this team is going to win this season.
A lot is riding on Darnold’s shoulders, so if he doesn’t want people sleeping on the Jets he’ll have to prove that he can be the franchise quarterback Gang Green believes he is.