So what you are telling me is crucial games are only played towards the end of the season or playoff race? In order to stay alive in a playoff race, you actually need to be in that race - that includes early games in the season as well as games late in the season. Cleveland beating Pittsburgh is always a crucial win, no other way to spin it. A good example for us is 2012, when Stephen Hill dropped that pass against NE, he catches that ball - the season could completely change for the Jets.
Hill catches the ball and we win we go 7-9 instead of 6-10. Our season wasn't changing on that play. September games are not crucial, you can go 0-3 in September and still make the playoffs but if it is week 17 and you need to win and get in THAT is crucial.
Things like this happen all of the time. Team loses big game, loses confidence plays like shell of former self. Happened with the Jets last season with the Packers game. You have no idea what the outcome of the season would have been if Hill catches that pass. Every game is crucial, no matter what you say. Especially a divisional game. NFL you don't take games off.
Maybe, maybe not. we started out 4-0 and 6-1 in 2000 and needed to win week 17 and lost. we stunk, we didn't have talent. we would not have gone anywhere in 2012. In 1994 if we hold on and beat Miami we could have been a playoff contender instead of finishing 6-10 but that team had talent. if week 2 sends a team spiraling that team had no chance to begin with. Using your theory Cleveland nearly came all the way back against Pitt week 1 then whipped Pitt in week 6. they also whipped Cincy so why weren't they a playoff team with all these "crucial" wins?
pressure week 1 is very different from week 17(if you are in the race). while they all count the same the4y don't all feel the same.
For every ball dropped by a Jets Wr, Mark overthrew two open receivers. Some of them for picks or pick 6s. Like Parcells said, you are what your record is.
I'd never argue against that. Look at how well Geno played in week 17 when there was NO pressure for EITHER team. Perfect score. When we needed him to play well in that first quarter of the season? Oooofa. _
Who knows what confidence the Jets gain from beating The Patriots @ NE. My Jets-Patriots theory does not apply to CLE-PITT from last season - it's a different scenario, a different team. My point is that every game is important, especially divisional games doesn't matter the WK - because things can come back and haunt you later on. Doesn't matter the week. Wins are wins. Every win is crucial. In order to get in the playoff race, you actually have to win games Junc. I think CLE had some issues with their personnel, things just didn't work out. I would have kept Manziel on the bench.
That doesn't make 1 game more important then the other. Every game is important. In order to get into the Race, you better prove yourself prior.
the example is perfect, Cle 2014 was more talented than NYJ 2012. they won some "crucial" games early, their confidence should have been high but they stumbled late and missed the playoffs again. the '12 team could have had all the confidence in the world but when your main weapons are Chaz Schilens and Clyde Gates it's hard to win.
absolutely, it's hard to perform in those big games late. Look at Miami and Tannehill, every big game late he falls flat on his face. who cares that he has put up nice #s, you need to be able to perform under pressure and the pressure gets greater the later it gets in the season in most cases.
That 12 team lost it's confidence after losing to NE. They didn't look the same after that game. Personnel no excuse, you go in with the players you have available. Talent doesn't always win games, execution does.
they didn't lose confidence, they were in the race in December. they had a lack of talent. Outside of a couple of games they didn't look good all season long.
They didn't win any major games late that year. I am positive they lost confidence, especially Steven Hill and Mark Sanchez. They should have won that game absolutely - and like I said another W could have helped the team's overall confidence.
You can't win when your QB shows up for only one month in the entire season. If Geno had been IR till December then it looks like we have ourselves a stud but sadly he wasn't and we haven't.
