Well, there was a lot of optimism last year at this time. The start of the season immediately ended some of that with a harsh dose of reality.
This coming season should be one of no excuses though. The schedule isn't "too hard" like the first few games last year. If Schaub gets hurt for any length of time well, who didn't see that coming?
No excuses.
Okay. I say 11-5.
yeah, I'm a
too.
Breakdown follows.....
9/13 - vs. Jets --- Win. ...because I'm posting this
NFL.com headline in our locker room...
Jets: Ryan's squad faces favorable schedule
New coach Rex Ryan's first Jets schedule is book-ended by games against the Texans and Bengals, and New York has its share of breaks in between. A late bye in Week 9 should help for a better performance down the stretch.
...WTF? what are we, chopped liver? We win. ...just to P.O. the East Coast media.
9/20 - @ Titans --- Loss. ...because they're at home and coming off a semi-bye; remember their opening game was on Thursday.
9/27 vs. Jags --- Win. ...We're pretty good at home and we seem to have the Jags' number.
10/4 vs. Raiders --- Win. ...gotta have this one if we're serious about a playoff run.
10/11 @ Cards --- Loss. They're pretty damned good at home. Unless things have changed, we suck on the road. I'll believe that when I see it.
10/18 @ Bengals --- Win. We have to win sommmme road games. This is one of them.
10/25 vs. 49ers --- Win. Tough call. They're coming off a bye and Samurai Mike should have them playing tough. But we're at home and their QB is still suspect. I think we win.
11/1 @ Bills ---
Win. T.O. has started whinning and yelling at Trent Edwards by now. We win as they self-destruct.
11/8 @ Colts ---
Loss. This is their end of a home & home split.
11/23 vs. Titans --- Win. Because we're at home, in Battle Red, playing on Monday nite. ...did I mention we're coming off of a bye week?
11/29 vs. Colts --- Win. Our turn in the home & home split.
12/6 @ Jags --- Win. W/O Fred Taylor, MJD is banged up by now so their play-action won't work. We win in going away. Jags fans will point to this loss as the one that gets Jack Del Rio fired.
12/13 vs. Seahawks --- Win. New coach, they're still rebuilding, and we're glad to be back home.
12/20 @ St. Louis --- Loss. Although we should win this one, we're on the road. This sure smells like a "trap game" to me.
12/27 @ Miami --- Win. Somehow, some way, we've always beaten them. I see no reason for that to change. Plus we're rebounding from that trap game.
1/03 vs. Patriots --- Loss. They've already clinched the AFC East ...like a month ago. We're tied with the Colts for the division lead. For all intents and purposes, this is our first playoff game since we're playing for home field. Our post-season inexperience shows against Brady & co.