Who is the biggest threat to NE to beat them for the SB appearance this year?

[jets82]

I ask this question because I listen to the pundits on TV, regular radio and Sirius and no one seems to show any love to the Jets. I'm hearing the Steelers or bust pretty much. All the other playoff teams are mentioned as a after thought but I've heard no one mention the Jets. Not saying they should but can any of us make a good case for the Jets being the biggest threat to NE, IF they can even get in the playoffs. I'm thinking because they are in the same division, play them twice a year and know them the most, that gives them the edge there. These aren't the Jets of the Rex era that have no offense at all, they have two monster WRs, decent compliment of other WRs and excellent RBs and Fitz is playing very good ball. So they are a true threat to score points and put more pressure on them. The defense is pretty much playing very well, if not lights out so they can slow Brady and that offense down at the least. I think this all counts and can help the Jets if they get in.

 

[LGM]

First we focus on getting into the final 12 by thrashing the Cheaters on Sunday and ruining Rex and maybe even getting him canned the following

Hopefully Denver loses a game to make it certain

Once that happens we can think about our game with the 3 seed division winner

One baby step at a time IMO

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

You cannot beat the Pats with a weak pass defense, so the Steelers are tailor made for the Patriots. The Pats demolished them on opening day and IMO they would demolish the Steelers again. Its just a bad match-up for Pittsburgh and it has been for a very long time. Belichick & Brady have their number.

There's no way Alex Smith is beating Tom Brady in Foxboro in the post season. I just can't see it.

The Texans and Colts have no shot, its not even worth discussing, you have a better chance at hitting the lottery.

That leaves the Broncos and the Jets, the two teams who have the best shot in my view, who are best built to match-up with the Patriots and give them a scare, if not beat them. You saw that a few weeks ago when Denver dealt NE their first loss, and I believe we will see it again this weekend when the Jets knock them off after outplaying them in NE but self-destructing. If the Jets play a relatively clean game on Sunday, I think you will see that the closeness of the first contest was not a fluke.

In short, I think Denver and the Jets have strong enough defenses to keep the Patriots offense from just lighting up the scoreboard the way they do against lesser defenses, and enough offense to make it a game if NE is scoring in the 20's and not in the 30's. These teams have enough firepower at WR and can run the ball too, so they can hang with the Patriots, especially because their defenses can do enough to keep NE in the 20's. I voted for the Jets, little homerism perhaps, but I think these two teams are the only ones in the AFC who are built to compete with the Pats.

EDIT: I forgot about Cinci. I give them a shot too for all of the same reasons, though I'm not sure if AJ McCarron is ready to hang with Tom Brady in the post season, at Foxboro, extremely hostile environment.

 

[jets82]

I think we all see now that the Jets are a true threat to the Pats if they get in. In fact, they can a true threat to any AFC team. Jets should have won the first game in NE. This game here the Jets dominated pretty much and should have won by 10 to 14 points. Take care of business next week Ganggreen and were playoff bound. J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets

 

[SackExchange]

I'm not sure there is a favorite in the AFC this year, and that is including the Pats in that discussion. This isn't the Pats' conference to lose, but neither is it any other team's to lose.

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

I'm not sure there is a favorite in the AFC this year, and that is including the Pats in that discussion. This isn't the Pats' conference to lose, but neither is it any other team's to lose.

If I'm a Patriots fan, the last team I want to see in the playoffs is the Jets. You'll be hard pressed to find a Patriots fan who will admit it, but I'm sure most of them would rather avoid the Jets if possible. They've seen the same thing you and I have seen this year. We've played each other about 125 minutes, and the Jets have out-played NE in close to a 100 of those minutes, maybe more. So its not a fluke, we're just a bad matchup for the Patriots.

 

[SackExchange]

They will NEVER admit that. Pats fans are already in full spin mode, saying the game meant nothing to them, and that Belichick probably threw it because he would rather have the Jets in the playoffs than a team like the Steelers.

There's a reason their fans are the biggest crybabies in the NFL.

 

[the Claw]

I think we all see now that the Jets are a true threat to the Pats if they get in. In fact, they can a true threat to any AFC team. Jets should have won the first game in NE. This game here the Jets dominated pretty much and should have won by 10 to 14 points. Take care of business next week Ganggreen and were playoff bound. J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets

I wouldn't want to play the Jets in the post season. Nasty defense, strong running game, possession receivers, smart QB. All playing for each-other.