The 2011 season was a nightmare. I had to stop watching the Jets after their loss to Tom Brady on November 13th. I knew we weren't going to sneak into the playoffs this time around, and frankly I have no interest in watching any football team that has no chance of competing in the post-season. The Jets would go on to end the season with a 3 game losing streak that was gut wrenching including a loss to the Giants that may be the worst loss in the history of the team. Granted, we have lost some big post season games, but that game not only mathematically ended the Jets season it also propelled the Giants into a winning streak that culminated with them winning the Superbowl. Painful doesn't say it. Disgusted is an understatement.
But our first pre-season game of 2012 is a few days away and today Curtis Martin gets inducted into the Hall of Fame. That bad taste that has been in my mouth for months is about to get washed out. I am excited about the new NFL season despite a 2012 NY Jets squad that has quite a few bad seeds. Players like Holmes, Cromartie and Sanchez are just hard to root for (various reasons). I remember the 2004 lineup with guys like Chrebet, C-Mart, Pennington, and Vilma. They may not have been as flashy, and Herm Edwards may not have been the defensive guru that Ryan is, but that team had the defensive rookie of the year, the player who won the rushing title (at over 30 years of age) and they also won a tough playoff road game in San Diego to advance to the Divisional round where they came up short thanks to one of the worlds most useless humans... one Doug Brien.
This years team amy also have some superstar rookies, and I am sure we will be the leagues number one rushing team because of the addition of Tebow and Sparano. But, I don't think they have what it takes to make the playoffs not to mention win a post season game. And, if I'm wrong one thing that is not debatable is that they certainly can't be compared to the 2004 squad when it comes to character and heart.
As for the definition of a successful season I think I would say winning a playoff game is what I am looking for. Only a few teams each year make the playoffs and fewer will register a 'W'. If you're a GM in this league and you assemble a coaching staff and line up that can make the playoffs and win at least one game, you are a success. Obviously winning a Superbowl is the ultimate goal, and that would be defined as a championship season, winning at least one playoff game equals "success" for me.
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