Let's jump every gun, even the unregistered ones, with this idea: the New York Jets could make the playoffs this season!
(Turn on Jim Mora voice.)
Playoffs?
(Turn off Jim Mora voice.)
Playoffs!
Yes, I realize a) there are nine games left; b) they share a division with those pesky New England Patriots; and c) these are the New York Jets.
But there exists the possibility that the Jets could make the playoffs this season. A 4-3 record through seven games is better than any reasonable Jets fan could have expected at the start of the season. Not with the health of Chad Pennington in question and the anticipated zero yards from Curtis Martin because of a knee injury.
Pennington has answered more than satisfactorily any questions about his twice-repaired throwing shoulder. Pennington's 91.3 passer rating ranks ninth in the NFL, ahead of Carson Palmer, Tom Brady, Jake Delhomme, Matt Hasselbeck and Michael Vick, among others.
Slowly, the running game is developing as the rebuilt offensive line remembers how to run block. Rookie halfback Leon Washington is emerging as a legit rusher. And Kevan Barlow, acquired shortly before the regular season began, is tied for third with five rushing touchdowns.
Jerricho Cotchery has emerged as a go-to receiver, forcing defenses to cover both sides of the field. He and Laveranues Coles (42) have totaled 72 receptions this season, the third highest total for a receiving duo in the league. Carolina's Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson and Detroit's Roy Williams and Mike Furrey each have totaled 75 receptions for their respective teams.
There are plenty of holes in this team, such as the third-worst 372.3 yards allowed per game and the lack of a real pass rush from the defensive line. Kicker Mike Nugent is shakier than James Bond's martini. We know this. No one is crowning Eric Mangini as the next Lombardi, Parcells, Walsh or Belichick. But he's quickly proven that he's not the next Kotite, Coslet, Tice or Haslett.
Take a quick look the Jets' remaining schedule:
Week 8 - at Cleveland
Week 9 - Bye
Week 10 - at New England
Week 11 - Chicago
Week 12 - Houston
Week 13 - at Green Bay
Week 14 - Buffalo
Week 15 - at Minnesota
Week 16 - at Miami
Week 17 - Oakland
If you play by the "should win" theory, there are two definite losses for the Jets -- 5-1 New England and 6-0 Chicago -- and a quite possible loss at 4-2 Minnesota. The other games, under this theory, would be wins. The combined record of those other six teams is 9-29.
So, we're talking 10-6 at best, 9-7 at worst.
A 10-6 season could earn the Jets a wild card. A 9-7 record likely won't be good enough. Not in the AFC.
Regardless of the "championship or else" cliche that everyone repeats every time, either record would please a Jets fan, player, coach or anyone else invested in this franchise.
It may be a longshot. OK, it IS a longshot. But what else would we expect from the Jets? This is a team that never makes winning easy.
However, we're heading into Week 8 and Jets fans can actually start considering thinking about what a football game in January would be like. They can start mapping out the schedules of other teams in the league and figuring out who to root for each week.
And that's something Jets fans can be proud of, because these are still your Jets and you know what sort of heartwrenching misery that entails.
Comments (13)
I say 10-6, playoffs.... and Wayne Chrebet comes out of retirement to catch a Hail Mary option pass from brad smith to beat the Colts in the playoffs.
With a win over the Pats coming out of the bye, I put the Jets at 11-5 coming up just short of the division title. Of course, I'm a SoCal Jet fan so I may just be nuts!
If curtis martin manages to find some knees and play in the game agasint the pats, we win that out of pure momentum and possibly finish up with a tie in the division, because right now, the pats arent as good as they seem.
Curtis Martin coming back? Are you guys retarted? Hes getting old, has no knees and wasn't that fast to begin with. With a young line they need a runner who can make something out of nothing and hit the small holes. Leon Washington has to be the man this year.
The Jets will be 6-4 after upsetting 'Da Bears' in Week 11, and then turn around and lose to Houston and Green Bay in weeks 12 & 13. Jets fans prepare for 6-6 heading into the last quarter of the season with playoff hopes hanging in the balance!
it's not so far fetched.yes i know we are talking about the jets. they have come a long way so far this year.i can see 11-5 beating the pat's, and maybe the division.strong coching, new o-line, and a good running game will do it.the only thing that brakes my heart is curtis.
thanks herm.. and you all know what i'm talking about.
the tone
the jets baby will make the playoffs at 10-6 u watch j e t s im the biggest jets fan anyone is ever known bro
I think it's a bit premature to start talking about playoffs. This team has a defense that's leakier than George Michael's rectum. Still way too many "ifs"
Your comment concerning Herm and Curtis Martin is well taken. I hope he rides into the sunset because Herm rode him to death. But our saving grace is we got Leon Washington for Herm. THANKS HERM.
Jets are playing some solid football. Pennington was a good leader at Marshall and I think that is still the case in New York. He is winner and knows how to win. He will spread the ball around and rarely makes mistakes. This goes un-noticed because he does not have the rocket arm, or the ability to throw the deep ball. He however does read defenses and knows where the ball should go about as good as anyone in the league except for maybe Mr. Manning in Indy.
Does the Jets have a chance at the playoffs? I think 10-6 is possible. That however is the best case. I don't think they can do any better than that. 9-7 won't get you in and I got a hunch that is what it is going to be. With that said it still beats last year.
Nope, No, fuggedabotit, I'm not listening to ANY playoff talk. Not me, not after eons of hoping and praying and yadda yadda. I'm going to listen to only one guy, yep, the Great Mangini, the magician. As he tells his players every week. One day at a time, one game at a time, one play at a time. The five minute rule, dontcha know.
I think they will make the playoffs. Just remember it hurts to be a jet fan.10-6 and we will beat the patsys,there finished
Before I start....Sorry 'Tone', I am the BIGGEST JETS FAN EVER!!!!!!!!Bro....Now, let's get down to business..I was just talking about this with my bro..Jets 10-6, squeaking into the playoffs, could be 11-5 beating the Pats. The 'D' needs to BLITZ more and Mangini needs to STOP playing prevent. It only prevents you from winning..Up 20-3, the Jets can not afford that..56-0..yes. The 'D' needs to play it's BEST in the 4th, so we can keep the lead.