WATCH: 3 Historical Feats to Keep an Eye Out for in Jets' Week 5 Matchup vs. Eagles
With their playoff hopes barely on life support, the New York Jets (0-3) face a borderline do-or-die game against the Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) in Week 5. A win will keep their slim playoff chances alive, while a loss all but assures that Gang Green will be sitting on the couch come January.
There’s plenty of potential for history that can be made when the Jets face the host Eagles. Here's three possible feats that fans should keep in the back of their minds when watching New York’s Week 5 clash with Philadelphia.
1. A franchise first win over Philly
The Jets are a franchise known for its tough luck and bouts with futility, but they’ve really lived up to that reputation each and every time they’ve played the Eagles. New York is still searching for its first-ever win against the Eagles, sporting an 0-10 all-time record against them.
To add insult to injury, that mark is tied for the most losses without a win against a single opponent in NFL history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The closest New York ever came to a victory over the Eagles was a Week 16 home game during the 1996 season. In that game, the Jets had a 20-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but would ultimately lose 21-20 after a 14-point Philly comeback orchestrated by journeyman quarterback Ty Detmer in the final frame.
2. Robby Anderson approaches a career milestone
Robby Anderson has been largely invisible to start the year and you can give him a pass based on the inconsistent quarterback play he’s experienced this year.
However, if he can get on the same page with Luke Falk, the Temple product can hit a respectable career milestone with a big game against the Eagles.
If he can tally at least 105 yards receiving against Philly, Anderson will eclipse 2,500 yards receiving for his career. A 100-yard game is no small feat, no matter how talented a wide receiver may be.
However, the secondary of the Eagles provides Anderson with the perfect matchup to rack up the necessary yards, as they’re allowing a league-worst 323.8 yards passing per game.
3. Adam Gase flirts with franchise futility
New York’s 0-3 start to the year has been an absolutely dreadful showing for first-year head coach Adam Gase. He can put himself on the wrong side of franchise history if the Jets lose to the Eagles.
Gase would join Lou Holtz (1976) as just the second head coach in franchise history to start a season with four consecutive losses in their first year. Holtz didn’t get his first win until Week 5.
That’s not the kind of company that Gase wants to keep and if he joins Holtz, his tenure in New York may not last long. Holtz ultimately wouldn’t last the season, resigning as head coach after compiling a 3-10 record through the first 13 weeks of the season.
