It doesn't matter whether we're 5th in the AFC or if we're leading in the AFC East at this stage. We have four games left and are in full control of our own destiny. We are fully capable of defeating every single one of the teams left in our schedule, and anything less than 4-0 would be extremely disappointing.
Just imagine how the Patriot's fans felt in 2001 when they wound up 11-5 after the 1-3 start. They were 7-5 after week 12, with no reason to believe they'd win their first Super Bowl in 9 weeks.
Okay, so to be clear on this, are we in control of our own destiny or are we not? Are 2004's numbers correct or are we in if we win out all 4 games? Which is it, anyone know for sure?
Gotchya..... if either Cincy or Denver win out, they become the first seed wild card, and then if the Jets are ties with Jax, it reverts to the two way tie breaker, head to head. I just can't see any of these teams winning out. Denver has a rookie QB and just lost Al Wilson, most likely for at least the SD game next week. If Jax and Cincy win out, that means Indy will go 2-2 at best to finish the season. Jax would have to beat both Indy and NE. I think that even if the Jets lost the "out of conference" game against Min, they would still get in.... but there is a lot of football left to play. It sure looks like the Mia, Buf and Oak games are "must wins".
Besides Oakland, Minnesota looks like the easiest team to beat on the remaining schedule. They are tailor-made to lose to the Jets. Their pass D sucks and the Jets have looked very comfortable going short pass happy at any time in the game. All they do is a boring, run-focused, ball control offense. Very easy to scheme for. And they have no playmakers on offense unless you count Chester Taylor, which I don't.
Put another way, our chances of winning out are greater than the other teams' chances of winning out. Bottom line is, we'll need to keep on winning every single game. I think we can do it!
2004 has it right, but it's at the extreme in terms of liklihood. If the Jets win out, Jax MUST also win out combined with either Den or Cin also winning out. That is the only way the Jets could win the next 4 and not get in. If Jax doesn't win out, and the Jets do, we're in. Jax would have to beat both NE and Indy to win out. Then, either Den OR Cincy would have to win out. Pretty small chance of that scenario.... almost minute.
2004's numbers are correct. We would be tied with the Jags and Broncos and the Jags would have the head to head against us and the Broncos will have the 9-3 conf. record versus our 8-4. But for that to happen would be highly unlikely anyway
Okay, gotcha. I do think we have a fairly good chance of winning out, but even if we don't, we can still make it because I don't see the other teams ALL coming close to winning out, not with those schedules. We'll all know more in several weeks. Meanwhile, I'm sure Mangini is aware of it but chooses to toss it out of his head for now. Starting tonite, all eyes are on Buffalo. One game at a time.
If we win out and New England beats Jacksonville we're in the playoffs. If we win out and Jacksonville wins out it's possible we miss the playoffs. I'll reserve my vote until I see how things stand on 12/24, but my gut tells me I'm going to be rooting for New England in that game.
If Jax somehow wins out then they def deserve the playoffs over the jets. That means they will have beaten indy, patriots, tenn and at KC. I dont think that happens. In fact I would say they will probably lose 2-3 games.
I think Jacksonville is 9-7 at the end and the Jets get in if they win out. All I'm saying is that right now the teams that control their own destiny are Cincinnati, Denver and Jacksonville. Any of those 3 can win out and they are guaranteed a playoff spot. The Jets win out and they still need help from somebody along the way to make it.
Indy's lost 2 out of their last 3 games. Scoring 14 points against Dallas, well maybe that wasn't so much of an upset, but scoring 17 points against Tennessee? I'm guessing two things right now: 1. Jacksonville will be favored at home next week against the Colts and 2. Tony Dungy is staying up late these days trying to figure out how to fix the Colt's season before they lose to Jacksonville and Cincinnati in the next couple of weeks and are in real trouble.
