I would like to say that if we lose this week the NYJ's 2009 season could still be considered a success, and have that be the truth. All things considered, a .500 record... a #1 overall ranked defense... and the #1 rushing attack in the game are accomplishments to be proud of for a team with a rookie QB and headcoach. Especially considering we played most of the season without Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington.
This season has been a real roller coaster ride, and I called for the firing of our GM back when we lost for the second time to Miami. I didn't see anyway we could make the post season, and that would have been three years in a row without an appearance. Well, the planets aligned, and the perfect storm is forming off the coast of northern NJ as I write this.
There can be no moral victory Sunday night. The whole country will be watching, and for many people this will be there first real look at our new leadership. Rex and Mark need to deliver. If the Bengals lay down and hand us the game, we still need to play turnover free football. Even against their back ups it is possible to lose. We dropped a close game to Buffalo... in our house... against their back up QB only a couple of months ago.
Circumstances have raised the bar for the 2009 NY Jets. The only acceptable outcome is to be the #5 seed in the AFC, and to make an appearance in the wildcard round. That being said, winning in the post season with an inexperienced rookie like Mark is not very realistic. With the Giants already bowing out of the playoff race, a win tomorrow will give the Jets fan base, players, coaches, and most importantly their owner confidence that we are moving in the right direction. The offseason should be a positive one, and we should be able to snag any free agents we set our sights on.
I don't want to jump too far ahead. History tells us that teams with turnover prone, inexperienced QB's don't usually fair very well in the ultra intense playoff environment. The fact remains that once the playoffs start it's a brand new 4 game season. You have to be in it to win it, and our golden ticket is waiting for us... do we have what it takes to finish the job?
#6 is far from my main concern moving forward. He simply needs to protect the ball and continue to play well on 3rd down. He won't be asked to do much. Mark Sanchez only becomes a real factor if we get behind and have to start to play catch up. I am more worried about our "#1 defense" and their tendency to shut down in the final minutes of the game. If our coaches are holding them accountable, and if they are being honest with themselves about how they have choked multiple times this season, then they have a real chance to turn it around and become a force in the playoffs.
I am also concerned about the fact that we are not battle tested. We had a pretty easy schedule overall. We lost important games to mediocre teams over and over in 2009. We lost close games to teams like Jacksonville and or only loss of over 5 points was vs. the Pats in their house. We only got our butts kicked once, and I would be happy to write off games like the 2 last second losses to Miami as growing pains if it wasn't for the Atlanta game and how are defensive players and coaches seemed to clock out on the final drive... only two weeks ago.
Rex needs to call the defense just as aggressively in the last 2 minutes of the game as he does during the first 58. Our secondary needs to make the big play when the game is on the line, and our front seven needs to dig in at the end, instead of sucking wind.
I would blame the Saints game, the first Buffalo game and second Miami game on #6. The first Miami game, the Jacksonville game, the second Pats game and the Atlanta game are all on our defense.
As fans, we will get a clear picture of where this franchise is headed in the coming years tomorrow night. I believe our Jets won't let us down, and I would love to have a shot at the Brady Bunch in the wildcard round. To beat New England, then stomp San Diego and have a re-match with the Colts in the championship game would make every previous disappointing moment as a Jets fan all worth it.
And since I am using my imagination, what if we go on a run like the 05' Steelers, or the 07' Giants and come out of the wildcard to end up winning it all? To open up the new stadium as champions as the Giants try to rebuild and find an identity...
Well, a boy can dream... can't he?
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