honestly. that 2004 game was big but I already felt like NE was clearly the better team at the time and was probably going to take the division, anyway. To me, the bigger game that year was the FIRST NE game in Foxboro. If you remember, we actually shut them out in the second half of that game and lost a 13-7 heartbreaker. Both teams were 5-0 and I always thought that was our chance that season to cement ourselves as division leaders. Everyone always forgets how good that Jets team was defensively (Easily Herm's best team), and if my memory serves me well, the Pats only touchdown that day came off of a very questionable roughing the passer call on 3rd and goal when we had them stopped right before the half. I believe we were leading 7-6 and that play made it 13-7 NE at halftime. And then neither team scored in the second half.
Looking back and knowing the Pats were on the way to repeating as Super Bowl champs, and knowing Pennington was playing with a torn rotator cuff, it doesn't seem like we had a chance. But at the time, not knowing that, because of how close the game in Foxboro had been and how good a team we had, as you mentioned, going in we thought we had a chance. I had a kidney stone and had to give up my tickets for that one, couldn't move around too well. Overall just a miserable day for me personally.
Yes. This is a "history of the franchise" type consideration that is on top of the business involving the standings, the schedule the rest of the season, that Buffalo is still technically in the race. Even the business about having made it to the Champ Game as a wildcard two years in a row only to fall short. It all goes in there. But the overall dominance of the Pats, their winning the division, hanging over the Jets' head for far too long now, is what is added in with the rest to make this such a huge game. Other factors include the panic that must exist in Patsland. They are facing a third loss in a row to the team I am sure they least want to face right now. They have to be dreading this game. That will make a win over them even more sweet.
week 2 of the Sanchez/Ryan rookie year in retrospect is huge for the team. That was the overthrowing of the patriots. It proved to the Jets they could play with the big boys. it proved to them their swagger was warranted, it showed the NFL the defense (and Revis) were for real. It was one of the most exciting victories I have ever been priveleged to watch. of course, it seems like i say that about almost any win the Jets have over the Pats this decade.... But this week upcoming is big in Jets history, if and only if they win. If they win the game, its the official overthrow of the Pats its the unofficial start of the GPC and the division is within our grasp. The superbowl talk will begin anew, and we won't just be talking about getting into the postseason or winning the division, we will be talking about trying to get a first round bye. Looking at our remaining schedule, we could conceivably win out. I dont think we will, but there is no truly dificult game left on our schedule. If we beat New England, we are in the best position in the AFC to make a run at home field advantage. If they lose, its just another lost opportunity to rise up and make our playoff lives easier. The most important thing is to get into the dance, the second most importnt thing is to get some home games, the third most important thing is to get a bye.
The whupping they gave Favre and the Packers to win the division title will always be my personal fave.
That is my favorite home game of all time but I think beating the Pats in the div rd last year is now my favorite game that I have ever attended.
while the stakes might not be as big as a win and in the stage is set. Prime time. Our house. first place . The fucking pats.... = ingredients for a sleepless week
in regard to the packers game -- no greater moment than the crowd going bats hit crazy because of a couple of radios that had nothing to do with what was taking place on the field
That was pretty awesome. I was young at the time and had no clue what was going on until I asked the people around me. I remembered being so excited to see Favre play. Little did I know he would later be on the Jets
This game is just as important as going to Foxboro in 2004 and 2008 (both teams tied for the division lead), except at home, so yes I would agree that this is the most important home game since that WC game in 2002. A win on Sunday, and the Jets control their own destiny. And hopefully for once they can maintain that and turn it into a division title.
For some reason, it cracks me up that you won "Most Optimistic" for 3 years in a row, and you have "Same Ol' Jets" as part of your sig.
Come to think of it, 2002 had a great stretch of home games at the end of the year. Started with one of the best games I was ever there to see against Denver the first week of December. Sack Exchange reunion at halftime, Coles being interfered with on a deep post catching the ball on his back and rolling into the endzone. So fired up for Sunday night though.
Yeah, that was a fucking cold day. Seeing Coles roll into the endzone was great. That's when I still sat in the lower bowl and that happened, basically, right in front of me. That game was a big sign that we had the balls to come back and make the playoffs.
Yep then we won the bigger game a month later comfortably. Hopefully this time we take advantage of the opportunity to win the division.
I know, but the Jets haven't won an outright AFCE title in more than a decade. Playing every single playoff game on the road is not a good recipe to getting to the Super Bowl.
