National Football League

Jets’ Colon: We can win division

Published Sep. 20, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

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The New York Jets are 1-1. But Week 3 is never too early to start talking about winning the division in New York City. Jets offensive lineman Willie Colon is leading the charge.

“I think we can take the division,” Colon told the New York Post.

Colon did admit that the Jets, who beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a squeaker in the season opener and looked poor in a 13-10 loss to the New England Patriots last Thursday, need to get better in some areas. He talked about being tougher mentally and finishing games.

“I think we’re still kind of finding our identity,” he said. “I think it’s coming. I think each week goes on, we get tougher. I think the defense is playing lights-out, and I think they keep giving our offense a chance to get better. I think overall, we could be a 10 by the end of the year without a doubt.”

Colon compared the Jets to the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers, who won the Super Bowl, when asked about getting to a “10″ mentality. Colon played for the Steelers seven years before coming to the Jets this season.

“You can never underestimate the human spirit,” Colon said. “When you get guys that grab on each other, lean on each other, the sky’s the limit. I’ve been with Steeler teams that people say, ‘Oh, this team doesn’t have it.’ Then sure enough we’re competing for the championship.”

He said a sign the Jets are ready to contend is how “crushed” the players were by their close loss to the Patriots, when the Jets thought they should have been able to pull off the win. He also wasn’t afraid to say the team can win the division.

“I’m supposed to say the Dolphins or New England can take it?” he asked. “I believe in the Jets. I believe in this team. I believe if we stick together and do what we need to do, we can take it. We can ball.”

The Jets will ball with the Bills in an AFC East battle this Sunday.