Wildcard/Division Title Watch: Week 11
Each week, it’s a given that we Jets fans want our boys in green to win, but with a division title and wild-card berths on the line, which other teams are worthy of our cheers? Kirk Cassels takes a look around the league and let’s us know. Give your opinions in the comments.
It’s good be the King … for now.
But let’s not get too carried away with ourselves, or else our head just may be on the chopping block. This isn’t 18th century France and we are not Mel Brooks. True Jets fans know the season is far from over and that our current grip on the AFC East is by no means a guarantee. With two more divisional games to go, next week’s showdown against this season’s (thus far) only undefeated team and a face-off against a hit-or-miss Broncos team, there’s not that much cushion for the pushin’ right now. So don’t get too cozy just yet. From a numbers standpoint as well as a scouting perspective, there are a handful of games to watch this weekend that matter to Jets fans.
NFC Over AFC Rule Applies
Denver (5-4) vs Atlanta (6-3) Go Falcons!
From a scouting standpoint, let’s hope the Falcons defense reveals some successful tactics and strategies in shutting down Jay Cutler. With Gang Green’s run defense playing monstrously and the Broncos’ running game looking more decimated every week, I think we know how Denver will attack us when they come to town Thanksgiving weekend.
Baltimore (6-3) vs New York Giants (8-1) Go Giants!
Many Jets fans were Giants fans during Super Bowl XLII, and can reach across the aisle again this weekend. With a rookie quarterback and coach, the Ravens’ success has been as shady as it is unnerving. A substantial Giants win can take some momentum away from Baltimore as the team heads down a tough stretch of divisional games and NFC East matchups before finishing the season versus the Jaguars.
Division Domination
Oakland (2-7) vs Miami (5-4) Go Raiders!
As bitter as we may still be after that horrendous loss to the Raiders last month, we must take their side this weekend. If the Raiders were able to beat us and if the Dolphins were able to lose to the Texans, then the Raiders can certainly beat the Dolphins, right? The likely return of Run DMC and Jamarcus Russell can help cushion our division lead on for this any given Sunday.
Cleveland (3-6) vs Buffalo (5-4) Go Browns!
Brady Quinn was oh so close to winning his first start last week, and here’s to hoping he’s even hungrier for his second time in the spotlight. After tough losses to us and the Pats, a loss to the Browns will send the Bills sinking as rapidly as the were rising in September. But we obviously can’t count them out yet, and will meet again in four weeks.
Easy Call
Houston (3-6) vs Indianapolis (5-4) Go Texans!
The Colts may not be the team they were two years ago, but they are starting to look scary again after back-to-back wins over the Patriots and the Steelers. The Texans lost to the Colts by only 4 points in their first meeting this year, so we know they can keep competitive with the Colts. And we can hope they do even better this time around. With six weeks left after this Sunday, every loss by a wildcard contender helps.
Scouting Report
Tennessee (9-0) vs Jacksonville (4-5)
Unless the Jaguars start making a miraculous late season turn around and make a run for the wildcard. who wins this game is not the most important. Meanwhile, if the Titans’ undefeated streak ends versus the Jags this week, how much hungrier will that make them as we travel southeast after 10 days rest next week? You know R in CT is keeping a close eye on this game as he prepares his scouting report for later this week. So keep an eye on it as well and look to see what we can learn from the Jaguars offense in their matchup versus the chain link defense of the Titans. Also, was Kerry Collins’ emergence last week as a 200+ yard passer a fluke or something Rhodes, Revis and company ought not overlook?
Tough to Call
San Diego (4-5) vs Pittsburgh (6-3) Go Steelers… right?
I’m having a bit of bloggers block here. Either way this turns out, there are concerns. Numerically speaking, if Pittsburgh and Baltimore are in the hunt for a wildcard as much as the NFC North right now, then a Chargers win will take out some thunder of the Steelers’ march toward playoff contention. Yet, a Steelers win over the Chargers (combined with a likely Ravens loss to the Giants) takes San Diego down a peg or two from reaching a wildcard spot. The Chargers still have some tough games ahead against the Colts, Falcons and Bucs, plus their second face-off with each of their divisional opponents- and we know how those can go any way. Meanwhile, the Steelers have games against the Patriots, Cowboys and Titans to worry about in addition to a final divisional showdown with both Cleveland and Cincinnati. After looking at the schedules ahead of both teams, my gut is telling me to hope for a Steelers win or is it my over-analyzing mind? I’m sure plenty of people will disagree with me, and I would love to read their reasoning in the comments.
What say you, fellow fans?
Filed under: Main Page, Opinion
GO CHARGERS!
Steelers need to lose.
A lose puts us up one game on them in the conference, and leaving us alone at second overall.
I’m no longer looking at a Wild Card spot, with Thursday’s victory I’m drooling over the opportunity to have a first round bye and a home game for the “PLAYOFFS?” (said to the tone of Jim Mora).
San Diego wont make the dance with that awful defense and tough schedule.
guys….good piece..this is fun and good fodder…
jets need to worry about themselves…win 11 or 12 games and it wont matter what anbody else does
Go Chargers Jaguars Giants…..if Chargers & Giants win we control our own destiny for a 1st round bye. And, if Tenn loses, and we beat them next week, we are 1 game out of the #1 seed
Tenn game is huge – we need it as a loss will move us back into tie for 1st as NE plays @ Mia (we still control own destiny)
Pennington is hurt again…bad foot. You know what that means – he will play (unless they “cut it off”) and he will struggle to get zip on his throws.
Oakland intercepted Jake Delhomme four times last week.
I don’t know if I’d go as far as to say back the Raiders (or play their D in a fantasy league), but if the foot is bad (and it’s not just Parcells gamesmanship), this could be a tougher game for our divisional rivals than you’d think.
It is also about that time of year for a suicide pool thinning out major upset. Oakland are you listening?
HISTORY OF THE WORLD….F-ING HYSTERICAL! As far as the J-E-T-S go, WE are getting BETTER each and every week. That was a HUGE win for us in foxboro,but to be honest it could have EASILY went the other way! I just hope the coaching staff learned not to play scared or play NOT to lose when we get a lead. In NO WAY am I bashing MANGINI or the coaching staff in any way,but I WILL say this…the PREVENT DEFENSE PREVENTS YOU FROM WINNING! We could EASILY be 9-1 right now if we beat the PATSIES the first time(should have) and DEFINITELY should have beat the Raiders! All that is irrelevant…WE ARE 7-3 and in FIRST PLACE in our division(MAN it FEELS GOOD to type that!). We got the TITANS next and that is ALL we should be focused on! J-E-T-S JETS! JETS!! JETS!!!
Go Jags , remember last year with the colts . after they lost to NE , Manning was horrible against the bolts , so I think a loss to the Jags would hurt them and we we had a long rest while their guys will still be sore form a tough Jag team
I think these thoughts are the thoughts of losers. If we win the rest of our games we are AFCE East Champions, no worse than the #2 seed with home field advantage for every game but the final. And with one loss, the Titans will be at least pressured to not lose two games more.
I don’t disagree that this team and CS likely will need help. They seem unable to consistently play well and smart. The 3rd quarter versus the Pats and waste of the last drive in regulation to a HS QB are pitiful.
But I refuse to root against other teams because of the failings of my own. If they cannot win next week’s game, they will have pissed away the advantage of last week.
If they cannot beat the Broncos, Bills and Fish (at home), then frankly, I don’t care if we play a game or two in the post season.
harlan
Harlan – if Pitt wins out they get #2 over us as they only have 1 conference loss
Good analysis, Brian. I’m definitely rooting for the Giants and Falcons to do some damage against the Ravens and Broncos and expose them a bit. Also, any losses by the Pats, Fish and Bills is always appreciated.
I think Indy will win this game and be the second wild card (too much talent). The Ravens or Pitt will be other wild card team and SD will most likely overtake the Broncos.
That being said, that would be stiff competition for the Jets and I’m roooting for the Chargers to lose. I don’t think the Jags will be a factor. I would rather we face the Ravens than the Steelers, but here’s how I think it will go:
Jets and Titans get byes with the Ravens (home)losing to the Colts and the Chargers (home) beating the Steelers in the wild card games. Pats and Broncos miss out.
The Jets beat the Colts at home and the Chargers beat the Titans in TN, setting up a showdown against the Jets at the Meadowlands. The well rested Jets outlast the Chargers and go on to the Super Bowl. Nice!
I think this is our year, baby! Go Jets!
Bassett,
Forget about wildcard, im thinking big. I’m rooting for the jags to beat the titans. And when we beat them again next week, we will only be one game behind them. You never know with kerry collins. We might end up with the best record in AFC.
But then, I can dream bigger.
Hey fans and friends,
If there are items of the post that you don’t like please note they are not Bassett’s thoughts. He was kind enough to post the text and YouTube code that I submitted to him.
That being said, I should have noted that I didn’t want to write as if we were definitely making the playoffs because I didn’t want to get cocky or jinx what has been a season of truly special moments for Jets fans.
I do not believe the cautious thoughts are the words of losers but am hoping for the best while preparing for not getting the best.
I have already learned tons from reading the comments and am glad you fans are sharing your perspective. What I wrote was not intended to be the say all end all of how we should hope things turn out but to start the conversation of what can be.
We can spin the good and the bad out of the outcome of the Jags vs Titans and the Chargers vs Steelers.
Thanks for the extra insight I did not think to explore.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS STOP THE RUN ON SUNDAY AND WE’LL BEAT THE TITANS. WE SHOLD WEAR OUR BLUE AND YELLOW. J E T S!!!