Obviously some teams disappoint and some teams surprise. But with that brutal part of our schedule pretty much gone after Week 11 would being .500 satisfy you going into Buffalo in Week 12? Last season we were all confident going into the second half of the season but then the Buffalo , Baltimore , Miami disaster came along and destroyed our hopes. On paper this year looks to be much more difficult. 5-5 at the bye especially if those wins are against the majority of teams in the AFC (SD,KC,PIT) would be a huge success.
5-5 at the bye likely leads to a 9-7 finish, missing the playoffs and adios Rex, because I doubt the team would suddenly be able to go 5-1 through the last 6 games to hit 10-6. if 9-7 can't get us in the playoffs, than 4-6 or 3-7 are really no different to 5-5 except emotionally. I want to see us win as many games as possible for certain, but 5-5 wouldn't be any less disappointing pragmatically than only having 3 or 4 wins based on what it likely means for reaching the playoffs.
Definitely. Our schedule gets easier after that too. To what Jetblue said, if we go 9-7 and miss the playoffs I don't think Rex is gone. We technically would have an improved record over last year on a much harder schedule. Granted, if the reason why we lose is lack of depth at cornerback or major injuries, it falls more on Idzik that we didn't have a good season. IMO short of players quitting on Rex or they really tank the season, I don't see them getting rid of Rex. Rex would probably be on the hot seat next year again though.
To me 9-7 gets a playoff spot in the AFC. Thats why those games against SD,KC and PIT are so important. Tiebreakers werent our friend last year.
but 10-0 would be the tits! Rex won't get bounced because of a 9-7 season, regardless of if they make the playoffs or not. Not this year anyhow.
I'd take 5-5 if a majority of our loses were against NFC teams. It also can't be like last year when we would win a close one and then get blown out. I want to see consistency and improvement week after week.
9-7 is a crapshoot these days. IIRC there were 3 teams on the final week that had the opportunity to go 9-7 for the final playoff spot depending on how the tiebreakers fell.
yes, but usually there are multiple teams at 9-7 that don't make it. last year there was just a glut of teams at 8-8. point is 9-7 most likely misses the playoffs than makes it, not that 9-7 automatically disqualifies you. hell, the Jets went 9-7 in 09 and made the AFCCG, but Houston and Pittsburgh both missed the playoffs with 9-7 records that same year. in 2010 no 9-7 team made the playoffs in the AFC since the wildcard teams were 10-6 (Jets) and 12-4 (Ravens). The Titans missed in 2011 at 9-7, and in 2012 the WC teams were 10-6 and 11-5. Seattle won their division with a 7-9 record once, are we going to argue that 7-9 would be sufficient to win our division simply because Seattle did it once?
Definitely. But I'd take 5-5 at the bye. That gives our favorite team a solid chance at making the playoffs. (At the finish, 11-5 would be pretty tits, too. ).
If we're being realistic you kind of have to take it. @GB @SD and @NE are tough games. Denver, tough game. Steelers, tough game. Are we going to beat BOTH the Bears AND Detroit? So you're looking at 6 potential losses, but you hope to win 2 of them. But on the flip side you'll probably lose one of the less tough games so 5 losses seems about right. _
The start of our schedule is brutal, so I will take 5-5 especially when you consider the matchups from week to week.
5-5 is certainly a realistically optimistic record, but it would still be disappointing IMO because of what it would require the Jets to go the last 6 games to make the playoffs. Would I take it? Certainly. would it also be disappointing? yes.
