A look at what's going on around and inside the New York Jets:

1. Must-win for Rex: It might be a Hail Mary at this point, but if the embattled Rex Ryan wants to keep hope alive, he needs to win Monday night in Detroit. We're talking about his job, of course.

The circumstances of the week have created a better-not-lose situation for the Jets. Instead of playing a road game in hostile and sloppy conditions at Ralph Wilson Stadium, they get to face the Buffalo Bills in a virtual neutral-site contest -- indoors. While the Jets enjoyed a normal (and, presumably, productive) week of practice in the comforts of their home facility, the Bills were snowed in for three days, flipping their world upside down. On Friday, the Bills were rounding up players on snowmobiles for a trip to the airport while the Jets were fine-tuning their game plan.

The Jets are healthy and well-rested, coming off a bye week in which Ryan tweaked the practice schedule in an attempt to eliminate their history of post-bye blues. Ryan, perhaps the most confident 2-8 coach in history, claimed his team has improved in a "zillion ways" since the Week 8 blowout loss to the Bills. Those words will be nothing more than empty bravado if they don't take care of business at Ford Field. Losing to a displaced and distracted team that hasn't scored a touchdown in 21 straight possessions probably would be the final nail in his coaching coffin.

2. Numbers don't add up: Consider the following statistics for a moment -- 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and zero interceptions. Pretty good year, right?

In this case, not exactly.

Those are the combined numbers for the Jets' past four first-round picks -- Quinton Coples, Dee Milliner, Sheldon Richardson and Calvin Pryor.

Aside from Richardson, the Jets aren't getting much production out of their most recent No. 1s. Milliner is out with a season-ending injury, but Coples (2.5 sacks) has regressed in his third season and Pryor has been a non-factor, resulting in a demotion. If you want to build through the draft, as the Jets do, the draft has to be the foundation, especially the top picks. The Jets are lacking in that area.

3. Growing pains: Pryor is going through a tough time, having lost his job to Jaiquawn Jarrett, but the organization's hope is that he emerges from this and finishes on an upbeat note, as Milliner did last season. Milliner never lost his starting job, but he was benched in three games, raising questions about his ability to succeed on this level. The coaching staff handled him properly, teaching him a lesson but providing a chance to redeem himself. It's the same deal with Pryor.

Asked if he's interested to see how Pryor responds, defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman said: "Very. We love Calvin. He is a good player -- we drafted him where we drafted him for a reason. He's going to be an excellent pro. He's going to get his opportunities to play, (and) he has to go out there and perform. It’s a performance-based business."

And, presumably, he will show up on time for meetings.

4. C.J. loves to YAC: This might surprise some folks. Chris Johnson isn't known as a "contact" running back, but he's averaging 2.15 yards-after-contact per rush -- 10th in the league, according to ESPN Stats & Information. A year ago, he averaged only 1.29 with the Tennessee Titans -- 46th. Why the sudden improvement? Johnson attributed last season's low number to the fact that he played most of the season with a torn meniscus in his knee.

"That affects you as far as breaking tackles and fighting for extra yards," he said. "Last year, I wasn't as good as far as making people miss and breaking tackles, because I was dealing with that injury. That's something I really wanted to improve on."

As part of his rehab from knee surgery, Johnson employed an intensive leg-strengthening program. Now, he believes, his legs are as strong as they've ever been. And fresh, too.

"I'm not even at 100 carries," said Johnson, who has expressed frustration with his reduced role.

5. It's 1989 all over again: I'd be lying if I said I anticipated a bad season for the Jets, but I remember telling a colleague after the season-ending win against the Miami Dolphins that the situation had a 1988 feel to it. For the younger fans, let me explain. The Jets finished the '88 season with an 8-7-1 record, stunning the New York Giants in the finale. Al Toon caught the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds, ruining the Giants' playoff bid. The Jets were euphoric, convinced they were on the right track. Sound familiar?

Those old Jets bottomed out the following year with a 4-12 finish that resulted in an organizational house cleaning. The current Jets are headed toward a similarly disappointing season, making last season's 8-8 record (and the wild locker-room scene with Ryan and Idzik) seem like a lifetime ago. Moral of the story: Don't get sucked into late-season success; it creates false hope.

6. Castoff shines in Tampa: Remember Danny Lansanah? He spent last season on the Jets' practice squad, waiting for a chance that never came. He got a shot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he's making the most of it. Starting at strongside linebacker, Lansanah has three interceptions, including two touchdown returns. He was signed off the Jets' practice squad late last season, appearing in the Bucs' final game. He became only the 12th player since 1998 to go at least five years between NFL appearances. He played for the Green Bay Packers in 2008 -- quite a journey.

7. Double guns: The Jets are very happy with their gunners on the punt-coverage team, Saalim Hakim and T.J. Graham. Even though he has played in only six games, Graham is tied for the team lead with six tackles on special teams. Hakim has five. They might be the two fastest players on the team, and their work as gunners has helped the entire unit. The Jets are fourth in the league with a 42.7 net punting average.

8. Woe-ffense: The Jets are averaging 17.4 points per game. A year ago, they averaged 18.1 with a new system, a rookie quarterback and injuries at wide receiver. This isn't what you'd call progress.

9. Snow job: On their way to Detroit, the Jets should drop off Calvin Pace in Buffalo and leave him there with a shovel. His comments the other day, saying the killer snowstorm is an "inconvenience" for him, were insensitive. He needs a dose of reality.

10. Good dudes: With Thanksgiving approaching, this is a time when players like to give back to the community. Jeff Cumberland, Demario Davis and Muhammad Wilkerson have provided turkeys and/or dinners for the underprivileged in various areas. Cumberland assisted in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, with Davis and Wilkerson helping in New Jersey communities.