http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81837cea&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true It seems easy to predict six teams to make the postseason in 2010 that didn't in 2009, but can you name six teams that will fall out of the playoff picture? That's a bit more difficult to predict. Power to the player? The draft is over, and training camps are still a couple months away, which means it's "protest season" for players unhappy with their contract situations, writes Pat Kirwan. More ... There should be one team that jumps from last to first in its division, which has happened in each of the last four seasons. New Orleans and Philadelphia made the jump in 2006 after a last place finish the previous year, Tampa Bay did it in 2007, the Dolphins did it in 2008, and the Saints did it again last year. Heck, the Saints went all the way from the division basement to Super Bowl champions. Which brings me to our eight last-place finishers of 2009. Will Buffalo, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Washington, Detroit, Tampa Bay or St. Louis go from worst to first in 2010? The reality of the last five teams to go from bottom to top in their division is that none finished strong in their cellar-dwelling season. In fact, not one team had a winning record in their last five games. The best finish was New Orleans in 2008, when the Saints went 2-3 down the stretch. Every other team finished 1-4 or 0-5, so there's no history that a strong finish is a prerequisite to turning the tide. Was it a coaching change that sparked the turnaround? Philly, Tampa, and the Saints (2009) all did it with the same coach; only Miami and the Saints (in 2006) did it with a new coach, so you can't say a new coach is a solid reason. I think it's a combination of a good quarterback and staying healthy. Here's how I rank last year's last-place teams, from the most likely to make the flip: 1. Washington 2. Jacksonville 3. Kansas City 4. Detroit 5. Cleveland 6. Tampa Bay 7. Buffalo 8. St. Louis Can I really see any of these eight completing a huge turnaround? Not really, but I know one of them is bound to make it happen. As for six new teams in the playoffs, here's my prediction: 1. Atlanta -- In a quarterback driven league, Matt Ryan gives them a chance. 2. San Francisco -- Mike Singeltary has a very focused team and a group that beat Arizona twice last year. 3. New York Giants -- Eli Manning now has wide receivers with experience, and the defense will be better. 4. Tennessee -- Vince Young got control of this team late last year, and Chris Johnson is the most-feared back in the league. 5. Miami -- This is an interesting selection considering Chad Henne is in his second year as a starter. 6. Pittsburgh -- If Ben Roethlisberger misses six weeks, then the Steelers miss the playoffs. Now the hard part: What playoff teams in 2009 are most likely to miss in 2010? Here's a preliminary list of teams that could be on the outside looking in. I ran a poll with many of my Sirius Radio listeners, and here are the results with No. 1 being the team most likely out and No. 12 most likely to return to the postseason: 1. Arizona -- Multiple starters on defense are gone, and Kurt Warner retired. 2. New England -- Where is the pass rush, and how will the young secondary hold up? 3. Philadelphia -- Trading Donovan McNabb and turning the team over to Kevin Kolb sounds like what Green Bay did when Brett Favre left. It may take a year. 4. Cincinnati -- I think people are underestimating this team. Last year they built a solid running game and they added some real talent in the pass attack this offseason. 5. Baltimore -- A very good team with question marks in the secondary. But I thought they would've come in about No. 10 on this list. 6. New York Jets -- New Yorkers think they're headed to the Super Bowl, so this comes as a shock. Will Mark Sanchez take advantage of all the receiving weapons he has, and will the lost leadership of Alan Faneca and Thomas Jones be replaced? 7. Green Bay -- This is an emerging team that will make it, especially if Favre doesn't come back in Minnesota. 8. Minnesota -- Suspensions from the StarCaps case could leave the two defensive tackles, Pat and Kevin Williams, on the sidelines for four games. Favre isn't a lock to return, although I think he will. One thing is for sure: the fans still like this team to return to the playoffs. 9. Dallas -- The Cowboys are leaning on Doug Free as their new left tackle. They've got plenty of weapons on offense and a few questions in the secondary, but fans believe they are real candidates to make the Super Bowl. 10. San Diego -- The division hasn't caught up with them just yet, and they have the best QB in the AFC West in Phillip Rivers. 11. New Orleans -- It's hard to repeat, but with Drew Brees and that passing attack it's possible. They will miss Will Smith if he is suspended for four games (again, from the pending StarCaps decisions), and there still is an issue at strongside linebacker. 12. Indianapolis -- Peyton Manning is still there. Enough said! Not one contributor thought they would miss in 2010. Lets Discuss
I'm not too concerned with the leadership question as I think Mark, Mangold and Brick will now become the leaders of this franchise. Don't forget we also added vets in LT and JT so may also take on a leadership role if it means making the SB. We also still have Scott, Jenkins and Revis on the defensive side. I think the leadership questions is being way overblown as everything you hear about Sanchez says he is a vocal leader.
OMG poll from a bunch of random football fans predicting the Jets will not make the playoffs. I am getting my AK-47 hand grenades and heading to the local high school. I will show those mother fuckers..............
oh no, random fans who have biases think the Jets may not make the playoffs. I guess this means the team is doomed.
The list was based on the 12 teams who made it last year. The Jets had to be on the list. It's actually pretty fair when you consider of the teams below us on that list, all but Green Bay won their divisions last year.
Another reason why this list is terrible not even addressing the jets being in the middle of the list. The Ravens were his #5 team to not make the playoffs next year. Seriously ? They easily had one of the top 5 best off seasons, an INCREDIBLE draft, their biggest divisional rival is going to have their QB miss several weeks due to suspension and lost its best offensive player, and you think theyre less likely to make the playoffs than teams like Dallas which is known to be incredibly flakey, or the Vikings whose playoff hopes almost rely entirely on a 41 year old guy COMING back to the nfl performing at an elite level, and remaining healthy even though he had ankle issues ? Nuts
Assuming this wasn't sarcastic (It's late), Pat Kirwin used to be in the Jets front office (Gm-ish, I believe)
I guess I won't watch football this year because this guy says the Jets probably won't make the playoffs. See u guys next year. :rofl: Screw this guy
The real argument for the Jets not making the playoffs is that Rex Ryan may not be able to improve on the inspired performance he got out of them last year and they may have an off season as a result. There's a trend for teams that go from a taskmaster to a player's coach or vice-versa to over perform for him in the first season and then have a bit of a let down the second. For the Jets this has been particularly true recently, as Herm Edwards, the happy guy replacing taskmaster Al Groh (with Bill Parcells not a distant memory at all) got a decent performance out of them in 2001 and then they collapsed at the beginning of 2002 and only miraculously got back in it due to one of the best relief performances by a first year QB ever in Chad's near record setting season. Then Eric Mangini pulled miracles out of his ass in 2006 as a taskmaster following Herm and collapsed in 2007. Then Ryan last year got a mixed but very positive performance out of the Jets as the happy guy following Mangini's very tough 3 year performance. I think the Jets are going to do quite well and make the playoffs but I would not be shocked if they start out 1-4 next season and fall out of it, particularly if the Dolphins and the Patriots both play well.
they're not the #5 team to not make the playoffs, they're the #5 team to not make it out of the 12 that did last year. reading comprehension, anyone?
Yeah I know, that is what I was reffering to. Or I would of been complaining about the top of the list. My point was the Ravens are a far better team than most of those on the lower half of that list, and I feel with them having Ray Rice and Flacco only getting better them drafting a TON of monsters on defense, trading for Boldin, and the Steelers (the ravens only real divisional threat) being screwed that the Ravens are a surefire lock to make the playoffs. The only teams on that list imo with a better chance of making the playoffs than the Ravens is the Colts and Saints. Maybe the Chargers depending on Matthews and how they fair without Cromartie (now they wont be able to stop the pass OR the rush) I just dont think the author knows his shit
So, Kirwan thinks we're better than Baltimore, New England, Arizona, Philly, and Cincy, and not as good as Indy, San Diego, Dallas, Minnesota, Green Bay, and New Orleans. What's the big deal?
I'm convinced half the people in this thread never actually read the article. He's putting us in the middle of the pack to return to the playoffs. He's not saying that we aren't going to make it. People love to play the disrespect card even when there is no reason to.
It was actually a poll done with SiriusXM radio listeners on his show. Stupid NFL fans picked the Jets 6th. This is a non-story.
Opinions are like asshole,everyone's got one and they all STINK! Fuck what everyone else thinks! We are one of the most hated teams in the league because we have a cocky coach with bravado, which makes us the #1 target for all the haters. Our boys just need to stay focused and let their play on the field do the talking.
