The AFC is really down this year. While the NFC has some good teams on the rise like San Fran and Detroit, the AFC is really flawed. Baltimore is the class of the conference right now, and they're a really tough team to beat in their building. Unfortunately, they'll likely have home field in the playoffs. However, if they win the AFC North like they should, they won't matter again until the playoffs. Pittsburgh's offensive line is horrid, and the defense has taken a step back this year. They still have a fearsome pass rush, but the run defense isn't quite as good as it has been. And now Polamalu may have a concussion. If he gets hurt, that team is a lot more ordinary. New England might be too tough offensively to catch, but that defense has serious issues. Not to mention, the offensive line struggled a bit today. Every Patriots fan I know is really pessimistic with this team, and for good reason. Brady is still Brady, but the Patriots are beatable this year. San Diego is San Diego. The special teams aren't that good, the offense is very good but shoots itself in the foot, and the defense is good but not scary. Typical Norv Turner San Diego team. They've started off strong, which is rare, but it's hard to think they're that tough. The emergence of Mathews gives that team a running game it hasn't had in a few years though. I still think Houston makes the playoffs, winning that division, but the Mario Williams injury really crushes that defense. The D was finally looking pretty good this year, and now the pass rush is gone, making that secondary look a lot more vulnerable. Andre Johnson is a star, and that running game is dynamic, but Andre's not playing right now, and a running game doesn't help when the defense is allowing points left and right again. Put those 5 teams in the playoffs, which I still think will happen, and none of them are really particularly scary except Baltimore. New England, Pittsburgh, and San Diego are top contenders, but they all have pretty big flaws. Houston has a ton of flaws, but that division should still make them a solid bet for the playoffs. As for the wild card teams... Buffalo's defense isn't that good. They'll give us fits with the different looks they run the ball in, but if we can contain that, we should be able to beat them. They've allowed over 400 yards every game, and Fitzpatrick is down 2 weapons in the passing game. They were winning with the turnover battle before, and I'm not sure how long that will last. Oakland just lost their QB for the season and are so unsure of their backups they're trying for Carson Palmer. This is a run-first team, and their schedule isn't particularly difficult, but without a QB, they take a huge hit and could fall back. And I'm not even a Campbell fan. Cincinnati's wins are against teams that are a combined 3-11. They're Denver's only win. They gave SF a fight at home, and that looks to be a tough game now, but they still have a rookie QB, a mediocre running game, and a defense that struggles to cause turnovers. Tennessee is interesting. They're Jacksonville's only win and Baltimore's only defeat. But they just got smashed by the first team they played with a legitimate QB, and without Britt, their offense takes a huge hit. CJ has struggled running the ball, and Hasselbeck is starting to fall back to earth without Britt. They will challenge Houston for the division, but neither is particularly threatening. If I want to get critical with the Jets like these other teams, I could say we can't run, pass, or block, which is pretty much everything an offense is made out of. I'd also add the run defense is struggling. But very few other teams are standing out right now. If the Jets can figure it out, and right now, that is an if, then they can make a run. And if we get hot at the right time, no team is unbeatable. I still put our chances at the playoffs at around 50-50. My heart is telling me, it's more like 60-40. My head is probably telling me a little less. Lose tomorrow, and I'll give us like a 10% chance to make the playoffs. But no other teams are particularly scary like they'll run away with it. Just get hot at the right time. And start winning games to make sure we're actually in the dance.
Yep. And opposing fans will tell us they they didn't deserve to be in the playoffs even though they didn't go 1 and done. Rex's Same Old Jets - sneaking in only to kick ass on the road in January. I'm staying positive. This team can win 5 in a row. I know they can get their shit together. They just have to start remembering their identity.
Ya I'm not down and out. Like every team there are questions but... I'll wait till december to have a melt down
And good running down of the list Mack. Rex has said it before: Its never as good as it seems, its never as bad as it seems. And its true in this case. Also, remember how the AFC dominated the NFC for so many years? The pendulum is beginning to swing back the other way.
Our team will be fine, I have said it before and I will say it again this line hasn't played together that much and they still need time to gel together. Mangold, Brick, Moore, Slauson and Hunter can be a very good line and the team will be fine should win the next 3 and then destroy Gay England at home.
Oakland lost Campbell they're most likely done Buffalo still has 2 game against us and 1 against New England so that should be 3 loses Tennessee isn't that good Indianapolis is done Cincinnati isn't good enough I think it comes down to us and Buffalo and if we win both against them and they lose to New England I think we get in as a WC and get our Hawk and Animal on(The Road Warriors if that went over your heads)
Sad but true. We yearn for mediocrity in the game we love so we can be competitive. Al Davis picked a very good time to exit.
I think people are giving Buffalo way too much credit. Their defense is pathetic. They get huge huge breaks by all the turnovers but that doesn't mean they have a great D. Opportunistic is what I'd call em. Besides the turnover, I believe they r a bottom 5 D. Fitz has played well, but again, they will not score on 80yard runs and 60 yard passes every game. They've done well to be a 4-2 team, but I think their losing streak starts next Wk. They have taken every advantage of every mistake of the opponents, and thats an identity of a great team. However, they r just average team that requires about 15 turnovers to barely defeat 4 teams. With 15 forced turnovers in those 4 wins, they should have been smacking some ass. They didn't. That's why they r average. Control the turnover battle n they lose big.
I am not convinced about Buffalo, I was even rooting for them yesterday that's how much I am not fearful of them. Are they much improved? absolutely but I don't think they will be a playoff team.
I think we have a more realistic shot this year with the wildcard compared to the last two years. Last year was just complete hell with having to go to Indy, then to New England, and then Pittsburgh. Thats the most difficult playoff road in the history of mankind. If we can get a road where we go to say Houston first, then followed by like Baltimore. Thats a lot more easier then going to Indy and New England.
True but we lost 45-3 at NE in december last year. I don't know if we can beat baltimore, they seem to have a hex over us but I'm sure we'd see a very different game if we met them in January. I think it's way too early to be worried about the playoffs, let's just win tonight and get back to .500.
Dumb...Why would you root for a confrence foe; not to mention a divisional one too! I dont care how much you hate the G-Men; there is zero logic to this as a Jets fan....Zero
of course it's way too early to be worried about playoffs. You might be right in that the outcome could be different in January if we saw the Ravens in the playoffs. But to say that playing in Baltimore in the playoffs would be easier considering a) they just torched us....and b) we haven't beaten this franchise since they moved from Cle.....is nothing short of asinine. I know you didn't say that, junc....but that was the reason for my original post.
we only have room to lose two more games all year as far as I'm concerned. even then all the conference losses dont bode well lose 3 more and we will need alot of luck. simple as that
Somebody is going to get hot down the stretch and go 6-2 in the second half. If that's the Jets then the Jets make the playoffs, if its not they don't. Best guess right now is the Titans are going to be the team. They still have Indy x2, Jacksonville and Carolina on the schedule. They've got Matt Hasselbeck at QB and he's been to the tournament a few times. The only really positive thing from the Jets standpoint is that the last game of the season for Houston and Tennessee is head to to head and they'll probably be fighting for the division. Gives the Jets a chance that one will knock the other out if the Jets have pulled their act together and gone 8-3 down the stretch.
