It is a beautiful coincidence that Ryan – possibly the brashest, foulest-mouthed, cockiest coach in the league – wound-up in New York, coaching the team that Joe Namath famously guaranteed would triumph in Superbowl III despite being huge underdogs.
The Jets rode that persona all the way to an AFC Championship loss to the Colts last season and despite only getting into the playoffs, because the Colts – having won more than was necessary to advance – pulled their starters in week 16 and effectively let the Jets win, they kept on winning once there. In fact, they beat the Chargers, who were widely tipped to go all the way having entered the playoffs on the back of the league’s longest win-streak.
So can the Jets live up to the hype?
I think they’ll do alright this year. There is no doubting they’ve gotten better. They’ve added Jason Taylor from the Dolphins and Antonio Cromartie from the Chargers who, when playing alongside the currently quibbling Darelle Revis, will form 50% of the league’s best CB tandem. They’ve picked-up future Hall of Fame back, LaDanian Tomlinson from San Diego and Santonio Holmes from the Steelers. Tomlinson has been one of the best in the league for the last decade and the engine in the Chargers machine. Holmes was Superbowl XLIII MVP and adds some much-needed depth to the receiving corps.
Mark Sanchez needs to step-up in his second year, but he showed flashes of being the real deal last term, so I think he might get away without too much of a slump.
This team should finish around 11-5 and be neck and neck with the Pats for the AFC East title. Anything better than 11 wins should be enough for the division and earn them automatic qualification for the playoffs.
Go green!
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