Its not me saying but it sounds nice! http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/KBQB_blog/2006/10/postseason_jets.html Postseason Jets? By Mark La Monica Let's jump every gun, even the unregistered ones, with this idea: the New York Jets could make the playoffs this season! (Turn on Jim Mora voice.) Playoffs? (Turn off Jim Mora voice.) Playoffs! Yes, I realize a) there are nine games left; b) they share a division with those pesky New England Patriots; and c) these are the New York Jets. But there exists the possibility that the Jets could make the playoffs this season. A 4-3 record through seven games is better than any reasonable Jets fan could have expected at the start of the season. Not with the health of Chad Pennington in question and the anticipated zero yards from Curtis Martin because of a knee injury. Pennington has answered more than satisfactorily any questions about his twice-repaired throwing shoulder. Pennington's 91.3 passer rating ranks ninth in the NFL, ahead of Carson Palmer, Tom Brady, Jake Delhomme, Matt Hasselbeck and Michael Vick, among others. Slowly, the running game is developing as the rebuilt offensive line remembers how to run block. Rookie halfback Leon Washington is emerging as a legit rusher. And Kevan Barlow, acquired shortly before the regular season began, is tied for third with five rushing touchdowns. Jerricho Cotchery has emerged as a go-to receiver, forcing defenses to cover both sides of the field. He and Laveranues Coles (42) have totaled 72 receptions this season, the third highest total for a receiving duo in the league. Carolina's Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson and Detroit's Roy Williams and Mike Furrey each have totaled 75 receptions for their respective teams. There are plenty of holes in this team, such as the third-worst 372.3 yards allowed per game and the lack of a real pass rush from the defensive line. Kicker Mike Nugent is shakier than James Bond's martini. We know this. No one is crowning Eric Mangini as the next Lombardi, Parcells, Walsh or Belichick. But he's quickly proven that he's not the next Kotite, Coslet, Tice or Haslett. Take a quick look the Jets' remaining schedule: Week 8 - at Cleveland Week 9 - Bye Week 10 - at New England Week 11 - Chicago Week 12 - Houston Week 13 - at Green Bay Week 14 - Buffalo Week 15 - at Minnesota Week 16 - at Miami Week 17 - Oakland If you play by the "should win" theory, there are two definite losses for the Jets -- 5-1 New England and 6-0 Chicago -- and a quite possible loss at 4-2 Minnesota. The other games, under this theory, would be wins. The combined record of those other six teams is 9-29. So, we're talking 10-6 at best, 9-7 at worst. A 10-6 season could earn the Jets a wild card. A 9-7 record likely won't be good enough. Not in the AFC. Regardless of the "championship or else" cliche that everyone repeats every time, either record would please a Jets fan, player, coach or anyone else invested in this franchise. It may be a longshot. OK, it IS a longshot. But what else would we expect from the Jets? This is a team that never makes winning easy. However, we're heading into Week 8 and Jets fans can actually start considering thinking about what a football game in January would be like. They can start mapping out the schedules of other teams in the league and figuring out who to root for each week. And that's something Jets fans can be proud of, because these are still your Jets and you know what sort of heartwrenching misery that entails.
I think it is still too early, BUT with that schedule, it is not impossible for the Jets to atleast be in the hunt for a wildcard spot! Their D needs to step up!! But hey, they already got 4 wins, should be 5-6. I say 10-6! Cant believe i just said that..but hell ya! why not!!
Even if it is too early that is a great article. It's nice to see that someone belives we have a chance
This team will make the playoffs, it should be expected from the fans. The Jets we're a FG away from the afc championship game only 2 yrs ago. Then in 05, we were believed to be a SB team, but were plagued with injuries. In 06, we made drastic improvements by replacing our idiot FO and making great moves to improve the team in the draft and in FA. Which is exactly why the 06 jets should be expected to be a playoff team, as we have only improved from our 04 team. Anything short of the playoffs is a disappointment in my book and a lost season. 8-8 or 9-7 does not show improvement. And with our schedule, it gets even easier. The Jets will finish anywhere from 10-6 to 12-4 at this point, the only real definite loss is Chi, but of course anything can happen on any given sunday, so who knows.
This playoff talk and these "should win" games are taking things a little too far IMO. Let's look at the facts. There are three "should lose" games on the schedule - @NE, Chicago and @Minn. There are three "should win" games, all at home - Buffalo, Houston, Oakland Then there are three toss up games - all on the road - @Clev, @GB and @Mia. Taking these in sets of three, if the Jets lose the "should lose" games and win the "should win" games that puts them at 7-6. As for the toss ups, they are by no means "gimees" If fact, the Jets are underdogs this week to Cleveland. How is that a "should win" game? Then let's look at the cold hard facts. The defense still stinks. There is no pass rush and the they can't stop the run. The only reason Detroit did not rack up rushing yards is that they had to come from behind. If the Jets go 8-8, it will be an accomplishment. 9-7 would be a surprise. 10-6 is a pipe dream. The Jets just aren't that good.
"A 4-3 record through seven games is better than any reasonable Jets fan could have expected at the start of the season." What's this guy talking about? Those four wins are against teams that have a combined record of 5-22 (basically, the league's worst). The Jets haven't beaten anyone yet. And until they do, all this talk about the playoffs is a bit premature. These last place schedules are designed to give the false impression that a team is better than it actually is. Otherwise, the NFL would be dealing with a bunch more empty seats every week.
I know what you mean. We have Rob and he would have brought our average up to about 9-7 for predictions
The Jets have a ton of talent on O and with a healthy Pennington with this schedule if we don't win at least 9 games than something is wrong. Top QB's with this talent and this schedule have winning records. If we can't beat Cleveland, GB and Miami on the road than what's the point of having a high priced veteran QB with all this Offensive talent around him? Arizona should have won against Chicago and Arizona sucks, NE is going to murder us in NE if they are at all healthy that's a given, but we have a shot to win every other game on our schedule and that includes Chicago at home. I'm not a fan of Penningtons but prior to the season I felt he was healthy enough to get us to 10 & 6 with this schedule. Pennington beats up on bad teams and rarely gives games away. I expect the same to hold up through the season. We could easily win 9 or 10 games this year make huge offseason improvements and win 6 next year. Anybody who thinks Pennington is a top 8 NFL QB and doesn't think we win 9 or 10 games in this league with this schedule I don't get. We may play 10 games against teams that will put up less than 4 wins all year? We have a bye at the perfect time in the schedule. We aren't that good on D but we have talent all over on O we also have a decent pass blocking line and several playmakers. We have a schedule that is a once in a lifetime opportunity. We are going up against the dregs of a bad league. If this team doesn't have a winning record this year a lot of veterans, depending on the salary cap implications are going to be out of football and they know it. The good thing is the coaching staff expects to win this year and are game planning as if they expect it.
Good post mate. I agree mostly with what you said but one question. If you believe that we will win 10 games this season with such holes on defence. Where does that leave us next year? IF we manage to fill those holes and our defence does improve we may still only win 8 to 9 games in a much harder schedule. From what you say it sounds like you think this is the year we should be making our move for the playoffs
I thought the 04 team was mediocre and they made the playoffs and won a playoff game primarily because of the schedule. I think we can make the playoffs this year. I think we would get killed in the playoffs but a playoff appearance would be great for the young players on our team and it would also help us recruit some good FA players in the off season if they belived in our coaching staff and direction of the team.
Known 2007 schedule: HOME Cleveland Pittsburgh Philadelphia Washington AFC West team in same position AWAY Baltimore Cincinnati Dallas NY Giants AFC South team in same position
When was the last time we had a Giant AWAY game? May get to go to TWO away games -- Giants -- and Balt.
Fella's, Coach Mangini is gonna get pissed at us for looking ahead..Lets keep our focus on the Cleveland Browns and win # 5..cause thats the most important thing NOW!!
