The Jets really aren't that good or a contender but the AFC as a whole is weak.
The Jets, Bills, Bengals, Titans, and the AFC West (excluding division winner) are all in the running for the last wild card spot (giving Baltimore/Pittsburgh both spots). IMO there's really not a whole lot that separates any of them right now. I imagine a month from now we'll be paring down that list. Every game against a team on that list is crucial--both to knock them off the list and also for potential tiebreakers.
I don't see how you can build a team that doesn't do that well in meaningful football games in December but somehow in January they're really good.
All of the games are important, and they're all played by the same rules. Teams that play close games are more prone to lose more games than teams that blow the opposition out.
The argument that they're build to win close games is illogical. They're built to win football games. Nobody goes "We don't want to make absolutely sure we're the best football team, we want to barely squeak by in our games and leave the fate of the game up to a couple plays that could go either way". That's just dumb.
Not to mention, it's not guaranteed you get into the playoffs, winning at least 10 games is really, really hard in this league. Taking the regular season for granted is incredibly silly. Also, home field advantage is pretty damn important, which is also decided in the regular season.
TL;DR - Everything you just said is silly and illogical, they're an above average team who got hot at the right time.
It's not illogical at all. Certain teams are built in ways that work in certain conditions. When your team is built to compete in close games, the regular season record isn't going to be stellar. The Giants have a safety net coverage scheme with an aggressive line on defense, and a sight adjustment offense. Neither is going to blow anyone away, but they also don't get blown away often. The schemes combined with the players work in that way. It's hard to blow the Giants out, and they stay in games longer. Teams learn to win under those conditions.
Indianapolis with Peyton Manning loved to get the early leads, then play defense against the pass. If they did it right, it was a blow out win. If they didn't get it right, it was a tough game. How many years did it take to get past the Patriots? Even their Super Bowl came with a change of formula, relying on the run game more.
The Giants don't ever really get "hot," unless they do so over the week between the playoffs and the regular season. They are 12-12 in December since 2007. So, unless they are sandbagging it during the season and turn it on in the week between, it's hard to see how they get "hot."
Eg: in 2007, they lost to the Redskins, then almost lost to a bad Buffalo team, then played the Pats tight to close out the regular season. They didn't exactly get "hot." They beat Tampa Bay 24-14, Dallas 21-17, and 23-20 in Green Bay in OT. The Super Bowl was a struggle for them, as was their entire season. They stayed in the game and came out in the end. It's the way the team is build and coached - by Tom Coughlin, who's teams do exactly what Parcells' teams did - play tough football in tight game and win in the end.
The Jets, Bills, Bengals, Titans, and the AFC West (excluding division winner) are all in the running for the last wild card spot (giving Baltimore/Pittsburgh both spots). IMO there's really not a whole lot that separates any of them right now. I imagine a month from now we'll be paring down that list. Every game against a team on that list is crucial--both to knock them off the list and also for potential tiebreakers.
None of these teams are good. They are either incomplete or have holes. While I agree with you they may all be competing it's not because they are good. The Jets offense is a joke and the team is a freakshow. The Bills secondary is dreadful. The Bungals have a bunch of injuuries on offense and didnt beat an above .500 team last year. The Titans have CJ but he's not that guy that was running for 2K a couple years back, their QB is nothing special. The AFC West will be beating eachother up.
NE and Houston are solid. Though will Houston take a hit without Mario? NE like every year has a cupcake schuedule. BAL and PIT should be there but neither has a sexy offense. Their D's are aging, no Suggs is huge for Baltimore.
None of these teams are good. They are either incomplete or have holes. While I agree with you they may all be competing it's not because they are good. The Jets offense is a joke and the team is a freakshow. The Bills secondary is dreadful. The Bungals have a bunch of injuuries on offense and didnt beat an above .500 team last year. The Titans have CJ but he's not that guy that was running for 2K a couple years back, their QB is nothing special. The AFC West will be beating eachother up.
NE and Houston are solid. Though will Houston take a hit without Mario? NE like every year has a cupcake schuedule. BAL and PIT should be there but neither has a sexy offense. Their D's are aging, no Suggs is huge for Baltimore.
Agreed, but someone's got to go to the playoffs. None of that hodgepodge is contending for a Super Bowl...but playoffs absolutely.
None of these teams are good. They are either incomplete or have holes. While I agree with you they may all be competing it's not because they are good. The Jets offense is a joke and the team is a freakshow. The Bills secondary is dreadful. The Bungals have a bunch of injuuries on offense and didnt beat an above .500 team last year. The Titans have CJ but he's not that guy that was running for 2K a couple years back, their QB is nothing special. The AFC West will be beating eachother up.
NE and Houston are solid. Though will Houston take a hit without Mario? NE like every year has a cupcake schuedule. BAL and PIT should be there but neither has a sexy offense. Their D's are aging, no Suggs is huge for Baltimore.
Not really sure how you can say Buffalo's secondary is 'dreadful' before even letting them play. Depth and experience are a concern, particularly if McGee isn't there, but there talent's fine. I'm a little worried about Aaron Williams being an outside starter at this point in his career but if McGee's in the mix that's not a big issue to me. Losing Brooks sucks because he gives very versatile depth. McKelvin's looked pretty good inside and Rogers is fine as a dime CB. Gilmore is the real deal. We have, imo, an elite safety as well as a fairly good one.
Not really sure how you can say Buffalo's secondary is 'dreadful' before even letting them play. Depth and experience are a concern, particularly if McGee isn't there, but there talent's fine. I'm a little worried about Aaron Williams being an outside starter at this point in his career but if McGee's in the mix that's not a big issue to me. Losing Brooks sucks because he gives very versatile depth. McKelvin's looked pretty good inside and Rogers is fine as a dime CB. Gilmore is the real deal. We have, imo, an elite safety as well as a fairly good one.
You have some inexperience here in Williams and Gilmore. The Linebackers aside from Nick Barnett could use some work. Bryan Scott is solid. I guess if the DL pressure picks up some of the weaknesses might be ab,e to hide themselves. Last year when they weren;'t getting the bounces that secondary was getting picked apart.
You have some inexperience here in Williams and Gilmore. The Linebackers aside from Nick Barnett could use some work. Bryan Scott is solid. I guess if the DL pressure picks up some of the weaknesses might be ab,e to hide themselves. Last year when they weren;'t getting the bounces that secondary was getting picked apart.
Since when are linebackers part of the secondary? And it is also funny that you don't mention Jarius Byrd or Wilson. Two very solid safeties.
Anyone who doesn't see the Bill's secondary as a concern is foolish. Yes Byrd is awesome and Wilson has great leadership and football sense (lacks speed though) but Williams and McKelvin haven't shown too much yet and Gilmore is still a rookie (he isn't covering Andre Johnson by himself). What will cover for that is if the DL can put pressure on the QB...
By the way I bought a Gilmore jersey...... looks awesome.
Graham being inactive means you have to figure Brad Smith can play. And we'll see a lot of Spiller/Jackson together (including Spiller being split out wide), and probably a lot of Dickerson or Lee.
Graham being inactive means you have to figure Brad Smith can play. And we'll see a lot of Spiller/Jackson together (including Spiller being split out wide), and probably a lot of Dickerson or Lee.
earth to chan: brad smith sucks.
anyone have any links to the game?
earth to chan: brad smith sucks.
