Lets see if we really are an elite team

I like looking at the season by breaking it down in quarters. If you think about it, doing so makes sense. The main reason it makes sense is you can't count on winning them all down the stretch, so you have to win against the weak teams as they come up on the schedule. If you want to get into the playoffs with an 11-5 schedule and a shot at at least the home game in the wild card, or maybe a first round bye, you need to win 3 games in each quarter, and then can afford to lose a trap game. 11-5.

On the other hand the schedule this year presents a relatively easy second quarter, and here it comes. I would take 6-2 coming out of it, but going back to the OP, if the Jets want to be considered an elite team, they should really beat all these teams.

Having said that, Abdul S is right - the players should only focus on the next game. As I intend to, but I did think the OP's comment deserved support.

 

our defense is elite already ive seen all I need to. before the Saints game i was convinced we had a great defense, holding the Saints offense to 10 points and forcing two fumbles, and 3 4th and short stops, seeing Jenkins go up to Sanchez and let him know "we got your back, keep your head up". and they did. and we havent had our full starting 11 on the field all year, so that actually speaks VOLUMES

Sanchez will have growing pains but hes mature beyond his years and I love how after every game he points out the mistakes he made and classify's them as "inexcusable". Thats someone who will be watching his own game tape over and over the next day.

The rest of this year will simply be hoping we can stay healthy on Defense, watching an Elite Defense and watching to see if our offense led by a rookie QB can catch up to them at some point this year.

thing is we dont need Sanchez to take this team on his shoulders, there will be a game or two where he will be asked to win it for us, thats the nature of the beast.

7-1 going into our bye week will solidify that for anyone. Although Sanchez perseverance and confidence will be tested, and I have the utmost confidence in him.

and the Miami run defense is pretty fuckin legit, So I dont want to see us handcuff Sanchez cause he shit the bed in his 4th ever start. Miami has been giving up plays in the secondary all year. I'd have him working the deep ball more all week and try to get this kids confidence going early, then we can let the run game setup the play action.

last week I saw them abandon the run for the first time. id rather have everyone hear bitching about our lack of success in the run game when it sets up Sanchez for good throws instead of Sanchez getting cute on 3rd and 1s. point in case.

Pace is back, and I think these delusional Miami fans are in for a dose of reality come Monday.

 

^^^^^^Pace will be very hungry for doling out some whoop-ass.

 

Of course there is a big difference between "should win" and "will win," but I agree with others that this is the stretch of games that decides if this year's Jets are for real, or just rebuilding for next year. Next Monday's game is the toughest of the four, and I expect the game to be close. If the Jets can win, being 7-1 at the bye is actually reasonable, as amazing as it seems, and even 6-2 would be a little disappointing. If they lose, all of a sudden 5-3 would not be a surprise, and expectations would have to be scaled back considerably.

The fact that 3 of the 4 games are within the division and the fourth is against those clowns in Oakland also makes any losses particularly galling. The Jets could easily be favored in all four games, and we all know how prosperity has seemed to hurt the team in the past.