I know, I know. The Jets are the team who according to the media played nobody all Season on route to Winning 10 Games, Have an Total Offense and Defense ranked in the 20's and the Youngest Head Coach in the NFL going into the playoffs, and is now universally considered to be the most likely 'One and Done' team as shown by being 9 point Underdogs according to Vegas. Sounds like a formula for success, eh? So I figured Id post my case for why the New York Jets CAN make a run in the Postseason. Reason #1 - The Defense- Over the Entire Season, the Jets Defense has been the #6 Scoring Defense in the NFL.- Over the Final 8 Games of the NFL Season, the Jets Defense has been the #1 Scoring Defense in the NFL (102 Points Allowed).- Over the Final 8 Games of the NFL Season, the Jets Defense has allowed more then 14 Points only once.- During the regular season, the Jets Defense allowed the fewest plays of 20 yards or longer (17).When you look at Scoring Defense the Jets they are the #6 Overall Defense in the league in terms of Points Allowed, which in the end is really all that matters. The Jets Defense also does not give up many long plays (Least in the league) or Penalties (3rd least in the league) as they make their opponents earn every last yard.In terms of Yardage, I'll admit the New York Jets Defense does not look impressive at all on paper, but those stats are weighed down by a Poor First Half while they were adjusting to Eric Mangini's Defense, and they tend to give up too much yardage playing Prevent Defense to close out Otherwise Convincing Wins. Over the Past 8 weeks, the Jets Defense however has been among the best in the NFL and should not be underestimated.Reason #2 - Underrated Offense- Say what you want about Runningback by Committee, but It works. Combined the New York Jets Runningbacks ran for 1,438 yards and 15 Touchdowns, not to mention caught 363 yards worth of passes with no 'Franchise Runningback'.- Quite Possibly the most Underrated WR duo in the NFL, Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery combined for 2,059 yards Recieveing and 12 Touchdowns.The Jets skill players don't get nearly enough credit for what they have done this season. Everyone is talking about the Job that Chad Pennington has done, and the job done by the 2 Rookies Starting on our Offensive Line, which is fine as they deserve credit too. But nobody is giving our RB's and WR core the props that they deserve. This is not a bad offensive team, certainly not the best in the NFL by any stretch of the imagination, but good enough to get the job done.Reason #3 - Special Teams- The Jets Rank Top 10 in terms of Kickoff Coverage, Kickoff Returning, Field Goal Kicking, Net Avg Punt, Punts Downed Within the 20 among other areas.- Mike Nugent has made 23 of his last 24 Field Goals and almost 90% on the season.- Justin Miller leads the NFL in terms of Kickoff Returners in Average, Longest Return, and Touchdowns.Mike Westoff has done it once again, one of the Top Special Teams units in the League...Reason #4 - CoachingEric Mangini has done an Amazing job getting the New York Jets turned around so quickly from last season's disaster. A key reason for that though is through his coaching techniques he has been able to reach players who have for a long time been considered a 'Draft Bust'. Players like Jerricho Cotchery, Dewayne Robertson, and Bryan Thomas are key examples of this as they are all currently having Breakout seasons under his teachings. Also one thing not to discount about Eric Mangini is the fact that he has 11-2 Playoff Record as an Assistant Coach and he knows first hand how to win in January.On the Coordinator sides, Brian Shottenheimer, Bob Sutton and Mike Westoff have also done terrific jobs. Brian Shottenheimer brings a very unique type of Offense that features a heavy dose of No Huddle Offense, Motions, Shifts, Many Different Formations and other adjustments to create holes and/or mismatches in the opposing Defenses. He is very agressive with his playcalling as he has called numerous Reverses, QB Option plays, Direct Snaps, and various other 'Gadget Plays' throughout the season. He also has a tendency to line up his players in numerous positions, especially QB/RB/WR Brad Smith. Bob Sutton has helped the team master Eric Mangini's style of Defense that can move from the 3-4 to the 4-3 Defense or many other Defensive Fronts in an Instant Almost Flawlessly. They are also great at deceiving the Quarterback into thinking that the Jets are blitzing, and then at the last second dropping 8 into coverage, and vice versa. While it was confusing at first, the Jets mastered this type of Defense over the course of the Second Half of the Season.Mike Westoff has long been Regarded as one of the best Special Teams Coaches in the league, and this holdover from the Previous Regime did not disappoint as the New York Jets have one of the best Special Teams units in the Entire NFL in terms of Returning Kicks/Punts, Covering Kicks/Punts, and Kicking and Punting. Overall, they are an Aggressive, Mistake-Free Football Team that is very scrappy, and hungry for the Playoff Success that has eluded the Jets Franchise for a Very Long Time. One of the few teams in the league who can be more physical then just about anybody in the NFL. Reason #5 - Road Games- Over the Course of the Season, the New York Jets are 6-2 on the road. - Over the Last 4 Road Games, the New York Jets are 4-0 on the road.- Over the Last 4 Road Games, the New York Jets have won by a margin of 94-47.I'm not sure why on this one, but the New York Jets are a better team on the road in a hostile environment. Which is a pretty good trait to have considering the Jets will likely be playing any future games on the Road.Reason #6 - 'Hot Teams'- The New York Jets Enter the Playoffs Winning 6 of their last 8 Games.- The New York Jets Enter the Playoffs Winning 3 Games in a Row by a margin of 62-26.History has shown that the Hot Teams entering the playoffs tend to do well, and in this case the New York Jets are certainly one of those teams. The Pittsburgh Steelers last season won 4 Games in a Row before Entering the Playoffs and look how well they did, during the Patriots 'Dynasty' also they often had strong Decembers before Entering the Postseason. Final Reason - ExpectationsThe Jets are playing at House Money at this point. There is no pressure on the New York Jets to win in the playoffs as they have already exceeded expectations in the eyes of many. However, the teams that are facing the New York Jets are going to be under a high level of pressure to Win because they are the so-called 'Superbowl Contenders' and anything less then that is a disappointment. That makes the Jets a very dangerous team as they have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.I'm not saying the Jets will beat the Patriots, but the media and fans are severely underestimating what the Jets can do. This team can play football, You don't get to 10 Wins in the AFC without being able to play Football. Sorry, but it's the truth.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Punisher @ Jan 1 2007, 08:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Great article thingy, but I still think the Patriots will win </div>I expected that, lol.
