I agree with you for the most part. Where I differ is a few of the examples you used. The tarp game and the Denver game were AFC Championships--win puts us in the Super Bowl, loss ends the season. There was no next week to fix it. The Spike game is a great analogy, but it was compounded by what we did afterwards--lose the next 4, hire Rich Kotite and lose 28 of the next 32. By itself it was one game for first place, like this one, but a lot of the veterans mentally checked out after that one. Hopefully if we do lose, we don't blow a 24-6 lead and lose in the final seconds like that. That was a big part of what happened in 1994 as well, I think.
Agreed on it being a statement game. If Mangini can't beat Belichik in a game of this magnitude with the talent stacked the way it is then he's just going to be the bitch forever. Disagree on how the Jets should approach the game however. They need to manhandle the Pats into submission. The Jets have been getting pushed around by the Pats for five years now. They have the talent and the size to become the schoolyard bully this time around and they need to do it. If they go for a finesse approach they're just playing into Belichik's hands.
Fair points, but I wasn't so much trying to find a game that would be directly analogous as to point to the list of games that are part of the ongoing frustrations of following this team that when taken together place a loss tonight as if not a last straw to fandom, potentially a loss that puts the whole history of Jet fandom over the top, at least for some. By that measure the Tarp Game certainly qualifies, since it was not merely a loss, there was an element of frustration involving the way Miami cheated in its handling of the home field. The 98 Champ game was a different kind of frustration - team actually leading on the road in the very tough Mile High Stadium, about 20 minutes left to a Super Bowl berth, just when you think hey maybe they win this one, it all starts going down the toilet. I am not saying a loss here is the end of my Jet fandom. Not at all. But it is hard to imagine the possibility of finding ANY pleasure in the rest of the year were there to be a loss tonight. Other wins become not so much meaningless as put in a lousy perspective "Yeah it was a win but the Jets are still second fiddle to the Pats." The f'ing Pats. Gotta win it.
I hear you and I agree. It's the hatred and rivalry that is putting more emphasis on the game. I'm just saying the math could still work out ok even if we lose, we could go and beat a 10-0 team and get the mojo right back heading into December. The Pats, Bills and Miami all can knock each other around, we get Miami and Buffalo at home. We did beat the Pats up there in November two years ago and then lost the playoff game. It could be the other way around this year, that would be better, only time will tell. I'm just a die hard, until there are no more games left I'm always looking for that road map to the Super Bowl. Hopefully we'll follow it one year before I die, I'm geting old, man.
As usual IS was so far off base it makes me laugh to think about it. He already knew that I was on vacation & watched the Bills game in my room in LA. I guess IS is not an investor since otherwise he would have known that penny stocks are not normally affected by the rise & fall of the DJ in general. In any case for all you worrying about my well being I am fine thank you having cashed in my profits long before the crisis of the past few months took affect.
H'mm lets C next up is the TN only 9-0 so if we lose that one as well we are now 6-5 with Den on deck & if we lose that one as well we are 6-6 & the road to the SB is blocked for sure. Good teams take there own destiny into there own hands (see NYGs Pitt, Wash, Dal) they do not rely on others to do there dirty work for them. If we want to be considered a real contender then we have to whip the Pats a$$es from one end of the stadium to the other. If Mangini & company can not get the team up to do that then the owner has to consider if Mangini has the what it takes to beat up on Belly like Parcells did in week 3 when Miami totally crushed them
If we lose them all we're going to be 6-10, champ. You're not saying anything that isn't blatantly obvious.
This is the biggest game in a long time and could be all season if we dont make the play offs. Its against the pats in patsies land but without Tom Brady , No Mauroney , No Thomas or rodney harrison... we have to hit them in the mouth and not let up.
is it just me or does mangini remind you guys of the penguin from batman? ...but with our momentum winning 5 of 6 games maybe im too hopeful for a win, but Jets 16 Pats 13
Not just you, that was his nickname from the players a couple of years ago. Before it became Manboobs.
Even if they lose, I won't cry about it or act like it's the end of the world. Let's see, which would I prefer... A) Jets lose tonight, but beat the Pats in the playoffs B) Jets win tonight, but lose to the Pats in the playoffs C) Jets win tonight, and beat the Pats in the playoffs D) Jets lose tonight, but lose to the Pats in the playoffs Personally, I'd love it if C happens. That would be perfect. The only other scenario I'd be happy with is A. Even if we win tonight, but still lose to them in the playoffs, that would be a waste. People just looking at this as one game aren't seeing the big picture.
That is why tonites game is so important cause next week they are going up a level in competition compared to the Pats. If they lose since they expect to win the players confidence will be in the dumps making next week game in TN even harder then it looks on paper
Relax Champ, I'm just giving you a hard time. Sometimes you come across so negative though, it is as if you are rooting to be right and the Jets to lose. I agree with you about it being a statement game tonight. It's a big one for the team and for the fans. The Pats have been a bit of a mental monkey for us to some extent and it would be great to see them shake em off on the road. Anyhow... the good news is that the Jets are 1-0 on games where I attend the opponents stadium versus the Jets. And I'll be in Gillette in a few hours to see the game. Here's to 2-0 and a good old fashioned butt kicking... :beer:
We are going to win tonight and take that momentum to the Titans. In fact, I'm calling for a convincing win. The Pats are facing a different team than they faced in week two. Our punting gave us pathetic field position then and our kickoffs were abysmal, forcing us to defend the Pats starting from their 40-45 YL on almost every drive while we had to start from the 20-25. Nothing had gelled by Week Two either and it has now. As both lines have come together as one unit and thus improved, so has our running game which has opened up a lot more options. On defense same thing. The unit is much more cohesive now than Week Two. Cassel is not going to recognize this defense tonight. Jets 34 - Pats 13.
Holy shit, have fun man. :up: I was there once, for the 1998 MNF win. That was awesome, Tuna Bowl II--a lot of angry drunk chowderheads in the parking lot afterwards. Or that gravel dirthole they used for a parking lot at the time.
Am I the only one who's noticed that this year has a TON of "statement games?" Why can't they just be football games where we hope our team wins? This treating football as something deeper than it is shit is corny.
It's one of those media buzz words that catches on, like a "walk-off homer". Every game is a statement, you either won or you lost. Or as that translates in New York, you're either the next dynasty or you should fire everyone by next Wednesday.
Yeah, that was a great game that year (1998). I bet my officiating instructor a round of drinks for the class that the Jets would win. Good times. :beer: I think everything is probably new now with the stadium so it shouldn't be much of a hole. We are taking the train in and out of there from Boston though so that might be a joyless experience. lol
