You think the Yankees can’t rebound from their worst season in decades, or the Mets will be stuck in a funk for years after one of the biggest flops in recent MLB history?
How about the Jets and Giants, both of whom entered this season with expectations of getting to the playoffs — the Giants on the strength of Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley and Wink Martindale’s defense and the Jets bolstered by the arm and bravado of Aaron Rodgers — only to see those plans crumble due to injuries and underperformance?
If you’re looking for inspiration for a quick turnaround, head down to Texas, first to Arlington, where Bruce Bochy, the Rangers’ new manager, got their high-priced talent to shake off an ugly 2022 (a 68-94 record, fourth in the AL West) and improve to 90-72 with a wild-card postseason berth that led to the team’s first-ever World Series title.
If that’s not enough, across the state, the Houston Texans are in the midst of one of the more unexpected successful seasons in recent history thanks to a new head coach, DeMeco Ryans, and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.
The Texans went just 3-13-1 a year ago, which landed them the second pick in the NFL Draft. After the Panthers selected Bryce Young out of Alabama, the Texans picked Stroud from Ohio State.
Stroud has immediately become one of the league leaders in passing yards (he’s second to Washington’s Sam Howell, in one fewer game) and has energized the entire franchise seemingly overnight.
The Texans are currently the sixth seed in the AFC after winning four or fewer games in each of the previous three seasons.
Maybe the Giants will luck into a franchise quarterback in next year’s draft or get a fully healthy season out of Barkley, if he’s still at MetLife Stadium.
The Jets, with the Zach Wilson era evidently over for good, again will turn to Rodgers to change their fortunes.
Rodgers turns 40 next month, and though it may seem crazy to rely on someone that age to take a team back into the playoffs — or at least relevance — it would have seemed nearly as outlandish to think the same of Stroud, who was 21 when this season started.
And while the Hot Stove has been quiet here so far, new Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns already has shown a willingness to make changes, installing Carlos Mendoza in the dugout and reshaping a roster ready for some upheaval.
In The Bronx, the Yankees and owner Hal Steinbrenner say they are undergoing a “deep dive” this offseason.
How that manifests itself remains to be seen, but the opportunity is there to make significant changes — a Juan Soto trade, perhaps? a winning bid for the enigmatic Cody Bellinger? — and give fans a reason to be truly thankful this offseason.
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A reason to finally watch the Lions
Speaking of turnarounds, one of the oldest rivalries in the NFL, Packers-Lions, will get a national audience Thursday afternoon (12:30 p.m. ET, Fox).
This time, it comes with a twist. The Lions are the main draw, for a change.
Though the Jets have the longest playoff drought in the league — 12 seasons and counting — it’s the Lions who have set the standard when it comes to a stretch without a postseason victory.
The last time Detroit won a playoff game, perhaps not surprisingly, Barry Sanders was their running back. But Sanders wasn’t the offensive star in the 38-6 Divisional Round win over Dallas on Jan. 5, 1992. Instead, it was quarterback Erik Kramer who led the way (341 yards, three TDs) as Steve Beuerlein got the start for the Cowboys over Troy Aikman, who had been battling injuries.
These days, the Lions have built on the success that started a year ago under head coach Dan Campbell, when they finished over .500 (9-8) for the first time since 2017.
They haven’t reached the playoffs since the 2016 season, but Jared Goff has continued his career resurgence and the Lions are in firm control of the NFC North at 8-2.
Other items of interest on Thursday’s NFL slate:
• The Cowboys (7-3) look to improve their standing in the NFC East against the rotten Commanders (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS), who are 4-7 after finding a way to lose to the Giants on Sunday.
• With the Jets’ and Giants’ quarterback situations a mess, fans can see Geno Smith, who was cast aside by both franchises, start for the Seahawks (6-4) against the 49ers (7-3) in the late game (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC).
Smith, 33, is in his second season as a starter for Seattle and hasn’t been as good as he was a year ago, when he made it to the Pro Bowl for the first time. Now nursing a triceps injury, he’s still giving the Seahawks better play at the position than either of his former teams have gotten this year.
The Simmons situation
Maybe it’s encouraging news that Ben Simmons “is continuing to improve” from his left lower back nerve impingement and “has begun light individual court work,” information the Nets provided Wednesday before they lost in Atlanta.
But the team added there won’t be another update for “7-10 days.”
Incredibly, Simmons has played just 48 games over the past three seasons.
Meanwhile, another former No. 1 overall pick keeps rolling along.
In the Lakers’ In-Season Tournament win on Tuesday, LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to surpass 39,000 career points.
The 39-year-old is averaging 25.7 points per game, just off his career mark of 27.2.
The scoreboard: Piece of pie edition
Hawks 147, Nets 145 (OT): An absolute barn-burner, defense optional. Mikal Bridges tied his career high with 45 points, but was blocked on a potential go-ahead layup in the final seconds of overtime. Big scoring nights for Spencer Dinwiddie (26), Cameron Johnson (23, including the tip-in to force OT) and Nic Claxton (22). Trae Young had 43 for the Hawks. The Nets (6-8) have lost three in a row.
Rangers 1, Penguins 0: A rare defensive nailbiter for the Rangers (13-3-1), who now own the second-best record in the NHL. They squeezed out the win in Pittsburgh thanks to a goal from Alexis Lafrenière and a shutout from backup goalie Jonathan Quick, the 60th of his storied career.
Islanders 3, Flyers 2: Is this momentum? A second win in a row for the Islanders (7-6-5) after seven straight losses. Brock Nelson scored twice, Anders Lee added a goal and Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves.
What we’re reading 👀
🦃 What The Post’s Mike Vaccaro is thankful for in New York sports. Make time for the full column.
🏈 Sunday’s Giants-Patriots clash bears little resemblance to the Super Bowl showdowns of the past. It’s come to this for two proud franchises.
🏒 The Post’s Mollie Walker has the menu and more from the Rangers team dinner hosted by Vincent Trocheck with home cooking from his grandmother.
⚾ The Mets’ next bench coach: former Blue Jays manager John Gibbons.
🏀 Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is a perhaps surprising proponent of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament and its garish court designs.
🏀 UConn star Azzi Fudd will miss the season due to a torn ACL, the latest setback for the one-time top college prospect.