Fair enough analysis. Can't really complain about much there. I have a hard time seeing how well we played the year before and how hard it has been to get wins this year, but these things happen in the NFL. All you can do is get back to the basics and keep digging. Hopefully we will see some good progress next season.
I have been thinking about this, all morning. While it is a shame that the Jets suck this year. We are no more of a disappointment than the Saints or the Bears. I would even argue that both of those teams are a bigger disappointment because they were the cream of the NFC. So why don't the talking heads make comments like "We knew the Saints/Bears were not as good as their record last year"
I don't think Cleveland and Tennessee are that far ahead of us. Hopefully the games will bear that out.
Right now the Jets have the worst record of last season's playoff teams. That's why we're getting singled out. In truth we're no more of a disappointment than Baltimore or Chicago, given the heights those teams fell from, however the fact that we're at the end of the parade in terms of wins makes us look like a bigger failure.
Being the cream of the NFC doesn't make you good. :wink: Seriously though, the Saints were a feel good story last year. Coming home, post-Katrina, they "overachieved", so losing this year is easy to gloss over. (Losing your starting RB fairly early doesn't help either.) The Bears have no offense. Until they get a QB that can perform consistently, they have to rely on Hester to get points on the board. Given all their injuries this year, it would be unfair to think they didn't win as many as they deserved to, and no more. Us however, had a healthy QB coming into camp, who was clearly the QB of the "now". The '06 CPOY failed miserably in his triumphant return (whether it was or wasn't his fault is irrelevant). We had an improving defense at the end of last year. One that was making the 3-4 start to work. That blew up in our faces this year too. Special teams was a strong point coming in. We lost our KR who made the Pro Bowl last year early. We replaced him with Neon Leon, but while he's been great, overall, our STs aren't as amazing as we'd counted on. And our great punter seems to have lost something this year. Not to mention Nuge not being all that good. Thomas Jones has been very good, but our running game is still disappointing. Our OLine, especially after the loss of Kendall has been terrible. Our "deep" receiving corps has proven to be quite shallow. We should have had a very good CB tandem in Revis and Dyson. Instead, Poteat gets starts. Rhodes has only been coming along the past few weeks, not all year as he should have. Overall, we've sorely underperformed. It's fair to say that much. I agree. They are ahead of us, but not by much. That's pretty sad for them though because we are not that good.
The Cleveland game basically comes down to how prepared they are to play. If they come in with everybody contributing then we're toast because their offense is just light years ahead of our defense at this point. If they come in flat then we could upset them like we did the Pats last season. The Tennessee game comes down to Albert Haynesworth. When he's in the line-up the Titans are 7-2, when he's not they're 0-3. He missed a second straight practice this week after missing 3 of the last 4 games so it's a toss-up whether he'll still be playing when we matchup. BTW, The Browns are exactly where the Jets were last year at this time. They are 7-5 after 12 with a bunch of lightweight under-achieving teams to play in the final quarter of the season. The only team on the schedule at .500 or above is the Bills and their talent does not exactly wow ya. My guess is the Browns squeak into the playoffs on the final day of the season, nudging out Tennessee, and then get blown out by Pittsburgh in the first round of the playoffs.
ok don't say anything negative boys and girls or you'll bne banished to the corner with a dunce cap on...
There has been talk about getting Haynesworth as a free agent once this season is over ---- I say no way. The guy is going to cost a lot & he is just not worth the $$. He is playing his a$$ off because its a contract year & once that ink is dry about the bonus $$, you'll never see him again. We should just get Ethan Kelley from Cleveland for the NT & spend our $$ on Terrell Suggs to OLB rush the QB because he is certainly worth it.
I have to agree with most of the article, except the comments on Kellen Clemens. He has show fire - but he's not the loud outgoing type. He's shown the fire of toughness and leadership on the field and in his play.
I agree with you here. Kellen has not always been consistant, but ahs been gutsy and made plays when he had to late in the pittsburgh game. With a better O-line/Running game, I think he will be fine.
Somone said -- not sure who -- that most teams in the NFL are 8-8 (and then +2 ; -2). I know that "you are what your record says you are" BUT the bills are 6-6 and really not much better than the jets. They won games we should have won -- against us and the bengals and the redskins. My point is: that the difference between playoffs and awfulness -- is very slim.
I agree, you can add in there as far as disappointments the Ravens as well a 13-3 team last season to what 4-8 and more then likely finishing 5-11, it's called the NFL..... unbelievably only a few teams can be constant winners year in and year out
My gut feeling is that the thing that has held the Bills together this year is Dick Jauron. I haven't always been a fan of his but he did a masterful job of do-si-do-ing back and forth between Losman and Trent Edwards without cutting off Edward's future in the process.
I agree. What kind of fire is he looking for? If Clemens doesn't show "fire" I can imagine what this guy thinks of Eli Manning.
And He was late coming home for nummies last night Signed, Kellens Mommy Shown Fire WTF???50% pass completions is not quite a spark let alone a fire. I hope he lights it up in the coming weeks , or as far as I am concerned we are in no better shape than we were.
In evaluating KC, I'm not sold yet, but not disappointed either. He's shown the good arm, leadership and toughness. He's made some big plays in big situations and missed on some too. On the downside, he's held the ball too long sometimes, missed some reads on blitzes and occasionally telegraphed his passes; all mistakes young QBs make. I hope we see a more aggressive offense giving him a chance to make some plays in the next four games and maybe we'll get a better chance to see what we have. Personally though, taking in consideration the weak o-line, inconsistent run game and a offense built around the underneath pass, I don't see him very far behind, if not even with, his classmates: Young, Cutler and Leinart.
I am sorry I want Kellen to be the answer to. But wishin it aint neceasarily gonna make it true. I have seen him with time miss wide open receivers. I have seen him with ample time not throw it to wide open receivers. He layed one up high in the Middle for Baker that could have ended his season. Had that been Chad , well we all know what people would have said. That being said i am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt with our offensive line situation. But if I am coach he needs to show me something in these next few games than he has in his first few. Or Personally I think we will be looking for another Qb.
