too many terrible losses and near-losses to take this team seriously any more. 2 weeks ago, i felt we could beat any team in the AFC. Now, its clear that the jets lack the focus and coaching to make a deep run
You have not been a Jets fan as long as I have (probably). I have seen this so many times. The Jets love to tease. Realistically, the way we are playing right now, there is not a prayers chance of winning the remaining 3 games of the season. We have Buff, Sea, and Phins. We could very easily lose all 3. We probably won't, but I doubt we win all 3. I think that is probably what it will take to get in the playoffs - 3 wins. 10-6 is not a guarantee at a playoff spot this year. There is really no good explaination for the Oakland game and especially the last 2 games. Broncos maybe OK, but SF? Come on; if the Jets are really a playoff team then they run all over SF. They didn't. Our defense was just pathetic and our offense couldn't establish anything. I really think the Jets will be home for the holidays and Ellis will bonging up with the rest of the team.
I guess where I lack confidence is that the coaching staff can actually fix the areas that appear to be broken right now. Teams seem to have the recipe for beating us - just keep nibbling at us with short to intermediate passes. That keeps our Defense on the field and our Offense out of any kind of rhythym. It's pretty clear that our Offense is great playing with a lead and pretty bad playing from behind.
You forgot to mention that little blurb about the Jets not having half of the depth or talent, coupled with the competent coaching staff, of last year's Superbowl champions.
Nobody knew that a year ago at this time though. it's easy to look back but there's not a sane person on the planet who thought the Giants would make a SB run a year ago just like no sane person would say we'll make a run after these last 2 weeks.
Of all the team in the AFC East, the Jets truly hold their fate in their own hands. Win out and they are in. Otherwise, they will need a lot of help. I don't look as the season being over yet. This team did hand the only loss on the Titans and took on the Patriots in Foxborough. The Jets have the potential. They just need to get their head's on straight and bring the same passion they had in those two games to every game they play.
The difference of course being that the Giants had the ability to make it to the big dance, based upon the criteria noted above- we aren't even close.
team was flying under the radar until super bowl talk w/ giants,,, after that,, they have never recovered,, 24 points is not alot of pts to give up in nfl,,, offense is miserable ....
These are truisms that really don't measure what is going on. Saying the Jets have potential - they are 13 games into the season. It's too late to talk about potential. This is the time of the season when you talk about momentum, inspired confidence, teams eliminating question marks and gelling in a way that wins football games. The Jets have none of that right now. Yeah, the numbers say there is still time and a path for them to find their way to hosting a playoff berth, but the numbers game ignores the way they have played so poorly when they shouldn't have. You could even make the argument that the team is worse than its record. The opener at Miami, they depended on Chad throwing a game ending int. The win over KC was much closer than it should have been against a terrible team. Both the wins over AZ and NE included awful stretches of defensive football allowing what should have been a beaten opponent to get back into the game. The what was a big win over Buffalo actually was the beginning of their decline as that team's previous wins were shown to be against very weak opponents. The only really convincing win in hindsight was the Tenn win, but the Tits' players said they had an off game. Their play since and that of the Jets make that explanation seem more plausible than that the Jets would win a rematch. Win or lose the Jet D gives career day opportunities to what otherwise would be a rather motley collection of opposing Qb's. They show no signs of turning that around. How would you like to face Manning and the Colts in a playoff game right now? Hey, if they turn it around, I will be thrilled. But I frankly doubt they will.
We are not even a shadow of the Giants right now. What ever we had in terms of momentum and established identity is virtually gone now. As a Jets fan, this is pretty tough to watch.
While I read the dark side post later on in the thread as well, this thread still (evily) instills hope to my brain when in all reality we should all just be reading DBJ's thread. You make such a valid point. Every team has down times. Look at the Eagles a few weeks back. Now they seem to be rolling again. (which you know will get reversed yet again, and so on) Although I realistically know we will not win the SB this year, it's still fun to cheer for our team and be glad when we really are doing fine. I'll give us a 1:10 shot at winning it this year but the NFL is always anyone's game.(except ours:up
and again nobody had a clue about that a year ago. Eli was just a mediocre inconsistent QB, Burress had never stepped up in big games, the D was known for choking in big games.
I completely see what you are saying, but what I am saying is that all the team needs to do is win the next three games and people will have a different attitude towards the team. Yes, the team did win some close games, but good teams do that. It's the poorer teams that don't (look at the Packers this year). I can't see anyone saying the games against the Patriots and the Titans were flukes. Maybe you could pull that out against one good team, but not two and back-to-back and both games away from home. Nothings cures things as much as winning. Yes, the Jets have a lot to work on, but they can't give up now. They are in the driver's seat to win the division. They just have to take the wheel. Win the division, make the playoffs, and then hope for the best. Part of the problem to me is that people's expectations got way to high after the Patriots and Titans games. Now, their expectations are way too low.
