The Patriots-Jets playoff game drew ratings higher than any non-Super Bowl game in over decade. And yes it was more watched than the Patriots-Colts, Eagles-Cowboys playoff games which says a lot.
Of that 11.9%, 8% was about how much Sanchez sucks and is overrated, and 2% was about Rex Ryan being an asshole, classless, lardo.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/01/20/raiders.jets/index.html http://www.aoltv.com/2010/09/10/could-rex-ryan-be-the-next-john-madden/ http://www.realclearsports.com/2010/09/10/jets039_ryan_could_be_next_madden_79279.html Rex is a polarizing personality, biggest one in the league, no pun intended. If the head coach of the Jets was Wade Phillips, but the team makeup was the same, the Jets would get no press, and less buzz.
At least this year the attention isn't focused on stuff like the Inez Sainz fiasco and Brett Favre / Jen Sterger text messages.
I think NE gets less buzz than they would have in past years because to be blunt they are kind of boring this off season. They may well have had the best regular season in the league, but they've blown it in the playoffs with increasing regularity. And there's no Spygate or equivalent story drawing attention. Not even stuff like Moss stories. Despite that, I think NE still draws a lot of hate. Ask Colts fans, and don't stop with them. Meanwhile the Jets made some big moves in FA, and have appeared in two Champ games in a row. It's not all Ryan and Sanchez.
Right now the Jets are easily one of the most popular NFL teams. They are one of four teams to have 5 primetime games and they have 3 SNF games.
I don't think the Jets are drawing increased attention from only haters, but not from new Jet fans, either. I think it is fair to say they are drawing interest from the whole spectrum. INcluding those who just want to see what the excitement is all about.
every team has haters. Paranoid Jets fans tend to overestimate the % of haters. Yes there are haters, but there are also alot of folks around the league who hate the pats & bellichick much much more than they hate the JETS and Ryan.