The fact of the matter is that when you start 2-0 you have a 72% chance to make the playoffs, historically speaking.
It's gonna be tough for sure. Realistically speaking The Pats, Broncos, Texans, and Steelers will take their divisions. That leaves the wild card fight between Jets Chiefs Ravens Bengals The AFC north is probably the toughest division in football so expect the ravens, steelers, and bengals to all beat up on each other. It's gonna be hard for any team to get 4-5 divisional wins there (and if we are lucky the browns could pull an upset) Miami and Buffalo aren't looking very good and if we can find a way to split with NE and not have a let down against Mia or Buff we could go 5-1 in the division which would go a long way with the tie breaker. The ravens, chiefs, and bengals are all capable of winning 10 games, This game against KC is really dire for us as it could be the tie breaker we need to get in with 10 wins. Losing to the bengals really hurt as well. We still have to play the steelers and ravens as well. not many games we can afford to give away if we want to win the tie breaker. niners, colts, rams, cards, and seahawks are the games we can afford to give away. We can get in with 10, it just matters who we beat. KC, Balt, and Cincy could all win 10-11 games as well
From the Jets perspective Nobody scares me in the entire NFL..except for the Jets themselves. I'm more confident in the Jets going against NE than in awhile. I think straight up the Jets are a better team. The only spots NE has an advantage is at TE & QB..If Enunwa continues to step up & the Fitz we saw in Buffalo is for real..goodness gracious nothing would be sweeter than handing the cheaters a beatdown long time comin'. Pittsburgh has potential to run away w/ things but they certainly have their weaknesses.I question how well they'd handle the Jets DL physicality as well as matching up w/ all the weapons the Jets have on O. Really the one team I really don't wanna see is Oakland. While the Jets would have an advantage in the "experience" department..and are far better equipped athletically than they were last season to match up..Oakland has speed in all the right places to hurt the Jets even if the Jets are the better overall team.
Risk of injury happens on every play of every game but some of these AFC teams had serious injuries yesterday. Danny Woodhead is out for the year with an ACL injury. He's a pretty big loss for San Diego's offense. Especially after losing Keenan Allen the week before due to a season ending ACL injury. San Diego may be 1-1 overall but I imagine it'll be tough for them to fight for a wildcard after two season ending injuries to their skilled positions on offense. DeMarcus Ware of the Broncos is now expected to miss 4-5 weeks due to a broken forearm suffered against Indianapolis. For a team who depends on a dominant defense this is a big blow. He's put up 17.5 sacks during his 1st two years with Denver including 2 sacks already here in 2016. We'll learn a lot about Denver's defense (without DeMarcus Ware) this week against the Bengals (on the road in Cincinnati). Jimmy Garoppolo could be a big loss for N.E. I wasn't a believer in Garoppolo heading into the season but it's obvious developing and learning behind Brady has had an impact. He shocked me against Arizona and was lights out against Miami. Their offense went into a shell after Garoppolo went out & almost ended up blowing a 28 point lead (only winning by 7). Brady will be back in two weeks but in the meantime losing Garoppolo could be the difference of 4-0 when compared to 2-2 for Brady's return. We'll soon find out against Houston come Thursday Night. The AFC is wide open for the Jets. This game against Kansas City is big time.
Never said it wouldn't be a challenge..but the Jets should go into the game expecting & playing to win. They are more talented than the Patriots. Now talent isn't everything..no doubt...but the same holds true against them as it does Vs. virtually every other team: If the Jets show up & avoid self inflicted mistakes they win.
Maybe they will, maybe they won't. Maybe 9 wins will be the last wild card team. No one can even make an educated guess at this point. What an insane topic to have before week 3.
I do agree that talent wise, no reason we shouldn't feel at an advantage over almost every team, but in reality, so is Seattle and look at them
You guys should never take for granted the NY sports media market. I live in Houston now, and they're making every excuse in the book for this team. After that sorry ass performance by the Texans, what a joke. I've never seen a coach, coach so scared in his entire life. Furthermore, the morning show I listen to actually has a NY transplant that grew up a Jets fan, and he tries to make a comparison to our 2011 loss on national TV to them, and then going up to NE and winning in the playoffs. So, while we all make fun of Francesser, an Maneesh Mehta, atleast they're tough.
The problem we have is depth. What happens when Marshall, Decker and Enunwa (inevitably) get hurt? Ron
It's week 3...... Can we chill till with this shit till the mid way point on the season..... Nobody really knows how good any team is yet
Well that could be said for just about any team if they were to lose and be without their star WR. Antonio Brown of Pittsburgh. A.J Green of Cincinnati. Odell Beckham Jr. of the Giants. DeAndre Hopkins of Houston. Dez Bryant of Dallas. Julio Jones of Atlanta. Alshon Jeffery of Chicago. Larry Fitzgerald of Arizona. Josh Gordon of Cleveland. Demaryius Thomas of Denver. T.Y Hilton of Indianapolis. Doug Baldwin of Seattle. Jody Nelson of Green Bay. Julian Edelman of New England. Kelvin Benjamin of Carolina. Amari Cooper of Oakland. Sammy Watkins of Buffalo. Mike Evans of Tampa Bay. Allen Robinson of Jacksonville. Jarvis Landry of Miami. Brandin Cooks of New Orleans. Jordan Matthews of Philadelphia. Jeremy Maclin of Kansas City. Etc. Imo if any of these teams above were to lose any of those receivers listed for a substantial amount of time, I believe it's safe to say that we'll see a decline in overall offensive production and/or it's ability within the passing game (just as we'll begin to see a decline in San Diego with Rivers no longer having his #1 in Keenan Allen). The NFL has evolved into a pass driven league therefore these WR's are as important to a teams success as they've ever been. And the same goes for the Jets with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, especially Brandon Marshall as our #1 on the outside. We lose Marshall and we'd in return lose a boat load of offensive ability and what we're capable of dialing. Behind Marshall the Jets are extremely fortunate to not only have an emerging 3rd year receiver in Quincy Enunwa but to also own the NFL's best/most productive 2nd option at receiver in Eric Decker, who can line up and feast all over the field regardless if it's on the outside (as with Denver) or within the slot (under Gailey). Would even be a true #1 for a handful of teams. And behind our trio of Marshall, Decker & Enunwa we're currently developing and coaching up the likes of a trio of rookies in Jalin, Anderson & Peake as added depth in order to create for a potential "one man down, next man up" type of approach to the position, although I believe the likes of Decker & especially Marshall can not be replaced. As a fan I had flashbacks of Vinny of 1998 when I seen Marshall on the ground holding his knee in pain. Couldn't even enjoy the game while he was in the locker room. When he came running back onto the field me and my older brother started to celebrate. We can't lose that guy he's arguably the most dominant outside number one Jets WR this fan base has ever witnessed.
Robby Anderson looked pretty good in the preseason. But your question is really pushing it. Any team would have problems if all three of their starting receivers got hurt. And besides, I think the secondary has more depth concerns than the receiving corps.
Even with a lackluster defense, Baltimore seems like they will always be a team to win in shitty ways. I wouldn't count them out. Say what you want, but Joe Flacco is still a good pro quarterback, and better than Fitzpatrick, although he has a shittier supporting cast. Harbaugh coaches a good game, always has great special teams, and they have a good guy under center with a lethal deep ball (and some speed on the outside even though they're unproven talents). They look like they'll be a contender we have to worry about. One of the 'biggest' must-win games of the year is vs. the Steelers. I highly doubt we will have a chance at getting in with head to head losses against both the Bengals and the Steelers.
I don't really get the examples. Carolina went to the Superbowl without Benjamin. New England lost Edelman for the last 7 weeks of the season and cruised into the playoffs. Green Bay won a playoff game without Jordy Nelson last year. Number one receivers are important, but the depth behind them is more important, and the quarterback can mask a lot of those problems.
I agree that Carolina had an amazing season last year without Benjamin, but then again 'had they had' Benjamin during the Super Bowl chances are Cam Newton would've had a much better game against Denver's elite defense. For example just look at what Benjamin has done thus far through only two games this year. He's already put up 13 receptions for 199 receiving yards and 3 TD's as Cam's #1 WR on the outside. He's absolutely feasting, and you don't think Cam Newton could've needed a true #1 during a SB game in which he failed to throw a single TD? Now I'm not saying that Carolina would've won the game but imo not having Kelvin Benjamin against Denver's defense hurt Cam Newton during the Super Bowl and could've changed the dynamic of the game had they had Kelvin feasting on the outside. You see. Julian Edelman is one of the most underrated players in the game today. Everyone seems to talk about Brady having or not having Rob Gronkowski but yet not many have realized the difference in which Edelman makes for Brady & N.E's entire offense. I'm one that has and it's staggering. Cruised into the playoffs without Edelman? That wouldn't be accurate (at all) and for a matter of fact N.E had a record of 9-0 before Edelman went down but yet only went 3-4 during their final 7 games without Edelman, while also losing out on home field advantage in the process. I wouldn't consider having a losing record without Edelman of 3-4 while also losing out on home field advantage as "cruising". Another example of the importance and overall value of Edelman would be last year with Edelman (9 games) Brady had a completion percentage of 67.8% along with 24 TD's & 3 INT's but yet without Edelman (7 games) Brady only had a completion percentage of 59.4% along with 12 TD's & 4 INT's. Those are night and day differences. Julian Edelman was actually a devastating loss for Brady & their offense. Green Bay winning a playoff game without Jordy Nelson means absolutely nothing in regards to how important Nelson is to Rodgers as a #1 and Green Bay's offense as a whole. Nelson missed the entire 2015 season last year but the season prior (2014) Jordy Nelson not only recorded 98 receptions for 1,519 yards and 13 TD's (while Green Bay went 12-4) but Aaron Rodgers himself also had an All-Pro season. Without Nelson last year Green Bay only went 10-6. Aaron Rodgers also had his worst season ever without Nelson. Last year Rodgers threw for 3,821 yards compared to 4,381 yards the year before. A completion percentage of 60.7% compared to 65.6% the year before. An average yards per pass attempt of 6.7 compared to 8.4 the year before. 31 TD's/8 INT's compared to 38 TD's/5 INT'S the year before and a QB Rating of 92.7 last year without Jordy compared to 112.2 just the year before with Nelson. It was evident that Aaron Rodgers missed Jordy Nelson last year about as much as any QB could've missed his favorite target. I'll agree to disagree. Depth at every position is important but no matter what type of depth you have, you just aren't going to replace an Antonio Brown, A.J Green, Odell Beckham, Dez Bryant, Julio Jones, Larry Fitzgerald, Demaryius Thomas or a Brandon Marshall (no matter who your quarterback is). I'm not saying that you can't compete without an elite #1 WR but when an offense loses an elite receiver the Quarterback will feel the impacts while the offense loses it's overall ability, potential & effectiveness as a unit. Take T.Y Hilton away from Andrew Luck, Doug Baldwin away from Russell Wilson, Mike Evans away from Jameis Winston, Dez Bryant away from a rookie Dak Prescott, Allen Robinson away from Blake Bortles or take away Amari Cooper away from Derek Carr and just see what happens over the course of a season or better yet take away A.J Green from Cincinnati and watch what'll happen to both of Andy Dalton and Cincinnati's offensive attack. And I don't even think Ryan Fitzpatrick or the Jets could've won 5-6 games last year without Brandon Marshall physically dominating on the outside to the tune of 109 receptions for 1,502 receiving yards and 14 TD receptions. Lose Marshall here in 2016 and all the WR depth in the world wouldn't change our sad reality. Done for.
I think it involves the willingness of our coaching staff to use young players at all. We have 3 young receivers who have shown promise. How often have you seen them in duress situations and how often do you expect to see them? Bowles is a Parcells disciple. Do you think he values young players?
cincy has the tiebreaker over us and is probably a lock to match or surpass our win total, even if the injury bug hits them. to they are a lock wildcard spot so that means we HAVE to beat KC, and i wouldnt count out oakland, SD, or indy just yet either. they could all be in the mix. if we lose to KC, its going to be REALLY hard to get in. even fi we do get to 4 or 5 division wins
