Looking Ahead

by John B on Nov 9, 2009 8:01 AM EST Comment 5 comments

Ben Margot - AP

The NY Post talks about must win games in the second half.

The Jets know they're going to need 10 wins to have a sniff at a playoff berth, and even that's no guarantee (remember the Patriots didn't qualify at 11-5 last season). That means they must go 6-2 in the second half.

They can do this by winning the games they should be favored to win, beginning with 3-4 Jacksonville next Sunday at home. From there, the Jets have to beat teams such as Carolina (3-4), Buffalo (3-5) and Tampa Bay (0-7). That's a start. They also will need to win some games that they will enter as underdogs, such as at New England (5-2), and at Indianapolis (7-0).

Their play the last five weeks has eliminated a lot of the margin for error. The first two weeks out of the second half will tell us a lot about whether the Jets are players within the division. The Pats have a date with the Colts, quite possibly a game that will end in a New England loss. If that happens, the Jets can get within a game of the lead with a win against the Jaguars. That will give them a chance to tie for the East lead with a trip to Foxborough and gain the head to head tiebreaker with a sweep. Two weeks from now, the Jets could be in first place or four games out. You really can't overemphasize how important these next two games are.

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Very important

A loss to the Jags would be crushing, I think it would mark the end of any play-off hopes. I hope the guys have come back today ready to work. 10-6 in my opinion is probably not going to land us a play-off spot, thinking 11-5 is what we need, so that means a 7-1 second half which is going to be very difficult. Until it’s mathematically impossible though, will keep the faith.

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by David_Wyatt on Nov 9, 2009 11:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

In Fairness

The Pats are the first team since the Wild Card to not qualify with 11 wins. Only 4 teams with 10 wins didn’t qualify for the playoffs in the same period.

I just don’t want to see Sanchez take any steps backwards. As long as he keeps developing theres always a bright future to look forward to.

by WebBard on Nov 9, 2009 12:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

no chance at going 7-1

but i think 10-6 may get it done… the tie breakers are head to head (already beat Houston, need to beat Jacksonville) then conference record where at 4-3 they are similar to everyone else (except pittsburgh 3-1)

by JetsFan1991 on Nov 9, 2009 2:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Before the season

I was looking at the schedule and i had us finishing with 10-11 wins, and thats still possible, i guess, but i also had us at 6-2 right now. I cant see us making the playoffs with the injuries, the tight losses against Miami and Buffalo didnt help either.

Curtis "my favorite" Martin - 1 of the best!

by jcgamble on Nov 9, 2009 2:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Two things have to change to have a chance

The passing game has to improve. You just can’t win in this league throwing for less than 200 yards per game, I don’t care how good the running game is supposed to be. A healthy Cotchery will help, but it’s up to Schottenheimer to open the playbook for Sanchez, and up to Sanchez to step up his game.

I think the Jets have to blitz less, and their front line has to get pressure on their own. They’ve been burned a bit too much on the blitz in the first half.

You can’t really look at their schedule and just say “they should win this game.” They lost to Buffalo and Miami at home, nothing is a lock for them, and except for Houston and Oakland, nothing has been easy. At the same time though, they have enough talent to steal games from superior teams if they play smart. But Indy and NE on the road sure look like automatic Ls.

by Mackey Sasser on Nov 9, 2009 2:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs