http://www.jetsdaily.com/2010/11/2nd-half-afc-east-playoff-preview.html 2nd Half AFC East Playoff Preview Halfway through the season, the best teams are beginning to distance themselves from the pack. For the Jets, 6-2 is impressive, but remember, the Jets were 8-3 in 2008 and failed to make the playoffs, so there's still a long way to go. However, it's not too early to start looking at the playoff picture for the Jets, starting with the AFC East. New York Jets (6-2, 3-0, 4-1) Remaining Opponents: @CLE, HOU, CIN, @NE, MIA, @PIT, @CHI, BUF 4 games home, 4 games away Combined Record: 30-34 Six of the remaining eight Jets games are very winnable. Cleveland, Houston, Miami, and Chicago are average teams that have enough players to be competitive, but the Jets are better than all of them and should be able to win at least three of those matchups. Buffalo and Cincinnati have combined for two wins all year. While both teams have been playing hard, the Jets need to sweep those teams, considering both games are at home. That leaves two road games against upper echelon NFL teams that the Jets should be battling with for the division and for seeding purposes. If the Jets can split those two games, it would go a long way towards ensuring the Jets not only make the playoffs but also have a bye in the first round. Projection: 12-4 (6-2 last 8 games). This is somewhat on the optimistic side, but I'll pencil in losses to New England and Pittsburgh for now. New England Patriots (6-2, 2-1, 5-2) Remaining Opponents: @PIT, IND, @DET, NYJ, @CHI, GB, @BUF, MIA 4 games home, 4 games away Combined Record: 34-31 The Patriots have three games I would term very difficult games, but luckily, two are at home, and the Colts are so banged up, it's hard to say if they're an elite team like usual. Their opponent this week, Pittsburgh, certainly is, and on the road, that will be a very tough game. Normally, I'd mark Detroit as an easy game, but on the road at Ford Field, that could be a tough game for the Patriots, even without Matthew Stafford. This is a harder schedule than the Jets. Both teams face each other, Pittsburgh, Miami, Buffalo, and Chicago, but the Jets face Cleveland Houston, and Cincinnati while the Patriots battle Indianapolis, Detroit, and Green Bay. From New England's perspective, that game against the Jets on Monday, December 6th will probably determine the division. If the Jets win, they own the tiebreaker, and given the two team's schedules, it will probably be difficult for the Patriots to make up 1.5 games. Projection: 12-4 (6-2). I'm marking down losses to Pittsburgh and Detroit. New England hasn't lost at home since 2008, so I think they'll have just enough to beat a banged up Colts team. I just think that the Lions' offense matches up well with the Patriots' defense, and Ndamukong Suh will be a force. Miami Dolphins (4-4, 1-2, 2-4) Remaining Opponents: TEN, CHI, @OAK, CLE, @NYJ, BUF, DET, @NE 5 games home, 3 games away Combined Record: 32-33 Miami needs to start winning games soon. They do have five of their last eight games at home, but right now, the Dolphins are 0-3 at home, so that might not be that important. If the Dolphins can beat a tough Titans squad at home this week, they'll have a chance. If not, having 5 losses with road games still to come against the Jets and Patriots will be too much to overcome. However, a win this week, and the next three games are winnable. Flying across the country to Oakland isn't easy, but the Dolphins have dug a hole for themselves where they must win games like that. Miami must go 6-2 minimum on this schedule to have a chance, and that means going at least 3-1 in their next four games. The December 12th game against the Jets will probably be do-or-die for Miami. However, if the Dolphins can get a win, the next two games are not difficult. That could possibly set up a week 17 Dolphins-Patriots game where the winner gets into the playoffs and the loser is out. Projection: 8-8 (4-4). This Dolphins team is a notch below the elite in the AFC. As a result, I'm marking down losses to the three teams better than them: Tennessee, New York, and New England, as well as a road loss to Oakland on the west coast.
30-34 overall record of our remaining opponents but take away NE and Pit it's only 18-30. Winnable games for sure.
Absolutely. Or you can take away Buffalo and have it be 30-26. Really, it comes down to taking care of business and beating teams that we have to beat. If we do that, there's no reason we can't win the division and possibly get a bye week.
u do realize these are the jets and they likely have an egg in their coup, right?? 12-4 would put them in contention for the home AFCG. i have a feeling that raven loss will ultimately kill that possibility. what i wouldn't give for a home AFC championship game.... jil
It might just be me but I feel like the Ravens are not our competition at all for bye weeks. They are for sure a playoff team but in the end I think it will be us pats and steelers with the 1-3 seeds.
Yes, that WOULD be sweet, and doable IMO. While I agree with the possibility of the 12-4 Jets record, I don't think the Patriots will go 12-4. The biggest factor for the Pats is that they seem to be struggling without Moss. Weasel-ly Welker will struggle without Moss as his backfield DB magnet. Mangini's boys slapped them around while holding them to 14 points. While we haven't exactly been exhibiting our best game of late, our schedule looks somewhat better and Sanchez is continuing to develope confidence with Holmes as opposed to losing a Holmes (Moss) from his lineup. So I think it's entirely possible we could wind up wth home field and the Bye.
@CLE: No way we can lose this game. We're going against Colt McCoy and Eric Mangini. HOU: Our pass defense is going to get tested here, but we should still win this game. Expecting the home crowd to wake up. CIN: Definitely going to give us their all after we embarassed them twice last season, but we always seem to beat the Bengals. @NE: I like our chances of beating the Patriots a lot better if they beat Indianapolis. Something about Brady going after that record makes me feel really confident. MIA: If Pennington is still starting, they've already given up on their season. Still should be a dogfight. @PIT: Got a feeling that the Steelers take the first of two meetings here... @CHI: Calling for an upset here. It is very difficult to play in Soldier Field and I'm not sure that we're going to give the Bears our best effort. BUF: Only matters if we need an extra divisional/conference win to get a higher seed. 6-2. Lose @Pittsburgh and @Chicago.
I wish I could predict even one of our remaining games with even a shred of confidence but I can't. That being said, I think 6-2 is best case and 4-4 is worst case. I think 12-4 would be good for the division and a bye. I think 10-6 might be dicey for a play-off spot this year but would ultimately get us in.
