Could the Jets Go 10-7 This Year…and STILL Draft Arch Manning???

Lex in New York had been on hold for almost three hours, and with two minutes left in the show, he got his wish. He wanted to play the NFL Win-Loss Game for the New York Jets.

Rich thought the show hadn't done the Jets yet. Lex corrected him. They did one three weeks earlier, "right before I was about to go into therapy." This time, he explained, he wanted to be the rare older Jets fan who speaks positive.

He did not waste the opportunity.

Week one at Tennessee, visiting Robert Saleh: a win. Home against Green Bay: another win. Then reality, or at least a version of it. Losses at Detroit and at Chicago put the Jets at 2-2.

A home win over Cleveland followed, then a loss at New England for a 3-3 start. Lex took both Miami and Las Vegas at home to reach 5-3, dropped the game at Kansas City, and then took the Bills at home. "That's a win. We're taking it."

At 6-4, a loss at the Chargers evened things slightly, and a win at Miami made it 7-5 heading into the middle of December. That, Rich noted, put the Jets officially in the sniffing category. Lex agreed. "We sniff it."

The Broncos beat them at home. The Jets won at Arizona, beat New England at home for a 9-6 record, and then beat Kyler Murray and the Vikings at home. "That's our last win of the season," Lex said, and he closed with a loss at Buffalo.

Final record: 10-7.

Rich gave him credit for the optimism. A 10-7 season might put the Jets in the playoffs and would be a massive win for Aaron Glenn. It would save Glenn's bacon.

Of course, that raised the question built into Lex's scenario. A 10-7 team isn't drafting at the top, so what happens to the dream of an Archibald?

Someone on set had the perfect answer. The only Archibald the Jets can get with a 10-7 record is Tiny.

"Wrong sport and century," came the reply.