A look at the highs and lows from the first half of the season for the New York Jets (5-3) and what to expect in the second half:

Midseason MVP: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Since replacing an injured Geno Smith in the preseason, Fitzpatrick has provided grown-up leadership and playoff-caliber quarterback play. His Total QBR is 76.7, which ranks third in the NFL. He doesn't have a big arm and he's not the most accurate passer, but he makes quick decisions and feeds the ball to his playmakers. It's a point-guard mentality. The Jets haven't had a quarterback with this much savvy since Brett Favre (2008). Fitzpatrick has won the trust of his teammates, eliminating a potential quarterback controversy. He probably will have surgery on his left thumb before the end of the season, perhaps as soon as Friday, raising questions about the potential impact over the final seven games.

Best moment: In his Jets debut, Brandon Marshall made a heads-up play in response to a Week 1 interception. It happened so quickly, and it changed the game even though it was only the second quarter. He ripped the ball out of the hands of Cleveland Browns safety Tashaun Gipson, who was covering him. One play later, the Jets scored to take control of the game. It was the spark they needed in Todd Bowles' first game as the head coach. It also was Marshall's "Welcome to New York" moment.

Worst moment: There have been a few (Marshall's ill-advised lateral in Week 3 and his killer drop against the New England Patriots in Week 7), but it's hard to ignore the Smith-IK Enemkpali altercation in August. Enemkpali punched Smith in the face, breaking his jaw and putting the presumptive starting quarterback on the shelf for two months. Some might argue it was a "good" thing because it allowed Fitzpatrick to take over, but it was an ugly and embarrassing incident that cast an unflattering light on the franchise. It also may have forever altered Smith's career.

Reason to be optimistic: Statistically, the Jets have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league. That, coupled with a watered-down AFC, should put them in prime position to claim a wild card. They face only three upper-tier quarterbacks over the final eight games -- Eli Manning, Tony Romo and Tom Brady. Only one opponent (Patriots) has a scoring defense ranked in the top 10. It would be a bitter disappointment if the Jets miss the playoffs for the fifth straight year.

Key to second half: The Jets need to put out an APB for their running game. In the last two games, Chris Ivory has been limited to 43 yards on 38 attempts -- a stunning and historic fall-off. Injuries to center Nick Mangold and right guard Willie Colon, coupled with a lack of quality depth, have contributed to the decline. Ivory also could be wearing down, which means the coaching staff needs to integrate Stevan Ridley into the second-half plan. The Jets aren’t built to survive without a running attack. Their blueprint is centered on pounding the rock and creating turnovers on defense. If they deviate from the formula, forget about the playoffs.