AFC Playoffs

If you had told me a month ago that the Jets would still be playing on 1/11/10 and the Patriots wouldn't, I would not have believed it. If you had said Wes Welker was injured then I _might_ have believed that the Patriots would be out of it, but not that the Jets were in it. Yet here we are on 1/11/10, and that's exactly the situation.

The Jets looked good in the Wild Card round, although the Bengals certainly helped them out. This weekend's game vs San Diego should be pretty interesting since each team has pretty different strengths. San Diego seems to be more of a passing, and screen throwing team, whereas the Jets are a run-heavy attack. The blitzing from the Jets might be countered well by the San Diego screens, but I think that the Jets have a decent shot here - they just need to make sure they control the ball with their ground game.

I think the Jets have a better shot than most people give them. It's good for them to be in the underdog role here. Also, Kerry Rhodes did a pretty good job of shutting down Antonio Gates in the past, so perhaps the Jets will use him in that role. It seems like most of the Chargers' recent games against good teams have been close, so the Jets should have a chance for it throughout. My biggest concern about the Jets is their middle linebackers. Coaching-wise, for some reason Norv Turner never seems to be able to get the job done. I wonder if this is the year.

If the Jets win, a match-up with the Colts or Ravens would be fascinating. If it's the Colts then it would be funny since most people blame the Colts for letting the Jets into the playoffs. If the Ravens, it would be a home game, and the Ravens are the team the Jets are modeled on. But that's getting ahead of ourselves.