New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is going after every quarterback his team has played so far.
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The Jets came away with a huge and highly unexpected 20-14 win on Sunday over the Eagles, who had strolled into the game as the lone undefeated team left in the NFL. Throughout the game, Jets head coach Robert Saleh was seen bringing the high-octane energy that he so often does. But it didn't stop there. After the incredible victory, Saleh carried that swagger directly to the podium for his postgame press conference and delivered a very blunt statement about how the Jets have embarrassed every quarterback they have faced this season.
"Through these first six weeks, we've playe a gauntlet of quarterbacks. I know we haven't gotten all wins, but we've embarrassed all of them."
- Robert Saleh pic.twitter.com/Bjfx8HmPKR
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 15, 2023
First off, let's get this out of the way right off the bat. An NFL head coach straight up saying they have embarrassed anyone, let alone every quarterback they've gone up against thus far, is a pretty wild statement on its face.
Throw in the fact that the coach who said it is sitting with a record of 3-3, and it gets even crazier. It manages to reach even greater heights when you take a look at the quarterbacks Saleh and his Jets have faced in the team's first six games.
Here they are in order from Week 1 through Week 6: Josh Allen, Dak Prescott, Mac Jones, Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson and Jalen Hurts.
That's one hell of a list, so Saleh's very much correct in that the Jets have started the 2023 season having to prepare for a gauntlet of quarterbacks.
The three Jets wins came against Buffalo, Denver and obviously Sunday's shocker against Philadelphia. But, as Saleh stated — whether it was a win or a loss — his talented defense has apparently embarrassed them all.
There's no doubt teams have already taken note of this. But let's see if his bold statement is even accurate.
- Week 1: Josh Allen, 29-for-41, 236 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
- Week 2: Dak Prescott, 31-for-38, 255 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
- Week 3: Mac Jones, 15-for-29, 201 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs
- Week 4: Patrick Mahomes, 18-for-30, 203 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
- Week 5: Russell Wilson, 20-for-31, 196 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
- Week 6: Jalen Hurts, 28-for-45, 280 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
Talk about a mixed bag. Somehow, Allen, Mahomes and Hurts came away battered and bruised with a combined eight interceptions. Meanwhile, Dak, Mac and Russ walked away rather unscathed, with Prescott quite clearly scorching the Jets' defense in a dominant, 30-10 Cowboys victory.
The crazy part that's especially nuts here is that even if Saleh is correct, to say this out loud is basically volunteering to put a bull's eye directly on the team's back. Instead of just celebrating a truly impressive win over one of the best teams in the NFL, Saleh's got league-wide eyeballs looking his way now.
And even if Saleh's statement were 100% true, celebrating the outstanding performance of his defense and "embarrassing" Hurts would have been one best kept in the locker room. But this is Saleh we're talking about.
It's simply not going to be his style. He made that abundantly clear with this walk-off comment on Sunday.
Robert Saleh referenced the Jets' all-time record against the Eagles as he left the podium:
"They ain't 12-0 no more!" pic.twitter.com/iXqifTUL1f
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 16, 2023
Whether you love it or loathe it, you have to appreciate the juice this man has brought to the Jets franchise. The team finally has an identity for the first time in what feels like forever, and Jets fans have to be loving every single second of Saleh's continued fearlessness.
Up next for the Jets? Following a bye in Week 7, it will be an "away game" against the New York Giants with either Tyrod Taylor or Daniel Jones under center. It's more than likely Giants head coach Brian Daboll already got the word on what Saleh's putting out there.
