It is very hard to think of positives when a team loses by double digits, allows over 500 yards of offense, gives up over 40 points, OR has multiple injuries in a game. Any of those things can overshadow even the biggest “moral victory” and the New York Jets managed to do ALL of them in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday. Even through all of the bad, however, there were three silver linings that the Jets can hang their proverbial hats on.

3 Silver Linings from the Jets' loss to the Colts

3. Josh Johnson looks very capable

When Mike White went down in Thursday night's loss, it looked like the Jets might lose by 50. Credit Johnson for coming in, throwing three touchdowns, and getting the Jets to within a couple of touchdowns by the end of the game. The team is surely hoping that either star rookie Zach Wilson or White will be available to play next week against the Bills, but if they are not, the Jets know that Johnson can move the ball fairly well in this offensive system.

Johnson is playing for his 13th team in the NFL and teams have a “book” on what he does well and does not do well at this point in his career. The fact that he was able to come in and compete against a tough defense shows that a veteran like this is always ready and this is what he gets paid for, being a true professional.

2. Money Downs

The Jets were 9-15 on third and fourth down, the only stats that they were truly able to beat the Colts in on Thursday night, and that is a big stat to win. Teams in the NFL pride themselves on being able to stay on and/or get off the field on third down. If the Jets can continue to build off of the momentum that they built in this game (especially in the second half) from a “moving the chains” perspective, they will give Buffalo a run for their money next week.

If not, then they are going to be back to square one as one of the worst teams in football. It is hard to see how this team's weakness is its defense with Robert Saleh (former defensive coordinator) as head coach, but this is the way things go when you have severe talent deficiencies and that is what the Jets have right now.

1. They won the second half

As mentioned earlier, the jets were able to build a little momentum and actually outscored the Jets 20-17 in the second half. yes, the Colts had taken their foot off of the gas a bit and were mainly running the ball, but the Jets were able to stay in this one, not because of that, but because their offense was very good for a second consecutive game…in the second half. The problem for them is figuring out the first half, and for a young and inexperienced team like this, those lessons have to be learned the hard way.

It will most likely not be pretty against buffalo, no matter who the Jets have under center, but at least there were three things that they can look to build off of as they seek to work their way up the ranks of the AFC. Hey, at least they're not in last…right Miami?