Haha, you're funny. Aside from Denver beating Arizona, which had to be expected, this weekend broke just about perfect for the Jets. The five teams that were 7-5 are now all 8-6 except for KC, so we survived the Buffalo loss ok. Just one more break and we can get in at 10-6, I think any of us would have signed up for that in the beginning of the season.
The bottom line is that the Jets need to win the next two games to make sure they get in. This franchise has been in this situation many times over the past twenty years and has not often delivered. Please refer to the 1991, 1993, 1997, and 2000 seasons for some examples. TBTF TBTF
My mistake about 1991. We got in on the last week against the Fins after a horrible loss against the Pats at home the previous week. That still doesn't change the fact that we have been in this position before and blown it. TBTF
And 1985. Even though we finished 11-5, we needed a win at home vs Cleveland on the last day to get the home Wild Card, and we got it. That was one of the few times there were 10-6 teams that didn't make it, Denver was one. Three AFC East teams got in, Miami won the division at 12-4, NE beat us in the Wild Card game and eventually went to the Super Bowl.
Shea playoff game against the Bills, 1981: Bruce Harper fumbles the opening kickoff. Richard Todd throws a pick to end the Jets' final drive. 1985 was awful. Only the Jets could start out 10-1 and then have to fight for a home playoff game. TBTF
That was 1986. In 1985 we were pretty solid all the way through, except for a bad loss in the opener. The only game we lost in December that year was to the great Bears team, and the game was reasonably close. Then of course we lost the playoff game at home to New England, who suddenly got hot and won three road playoff games before getting smoked by the Bears in the Super Bowl.
Yeah, 1986 would have been that wildcard win over KC (35-15) and that horrible four and half hour loss to Cleveland the following week 23-20(2ot). I to have Jet games on file, but refuse to pass them down to my siblings in case it qualifies as child abuse.
That's what's so strange about the playoffs. We actually won a game in 86 after losing our last 5, while in 85 we seemed to have it all rolling and went out in the first game at home. Until 1998, the 11-5 year in 85 was our best ever.
I lived through all of those years and watched in misery. I guess I have blocked the details of those traumatic memories from my mind. TBTF