Jets vs. Bills is a Must Win Game for the Jets

Aug 30, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) and quarterback Tim Tebow (15) along the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Jets 28-10. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

It has been an interesting offseason for the New York Jets. A new offensive coordinator, a new backup quarterback, and a return to an old offensive philosophy has been the new order of 2012. Then we had a preseason with great defense, and very little offense. That brings us to here, a few days away from the opening game of the 2012 season against the Buffalo Bills. With all of the factors weighing in on this football team, this opening game is must win for the New York Jets. It certainly is as important as an opening game of the season can be.

First and foremost, a win will do a great deal as far as the Jets team confidence. The first team offense did not score a TD. Think about that for a minute. If you want to find a touchdown from the first team New York Jets offense, you have to go all the way back to January, and the end of the 2011 regular season. That has to affect the confidence of a football team, despite what they say in public. Mark Sanchez is not going to go ahead and say that the team is deflated, he is going to exude confidence. However, it would only be human to have lost a bit of confidence. It’s been a long time since they have seen the end zone. A well played game, coming out with a win, would take the Jets a long way in restoring their confidence.

Aug 30, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow (15) during warmups prior to playing the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

A win will show the world that they can use Tim Tebow and The Wildcat appropriately as well. We have seen about all we need to see of Tim Tebow running a conventional offense. He spent the whole preseason running Mark Sanchez’s offense, trying to improve his mechanics and his overall play as a conventional quarterback. The big mystery has been how the Jets are going to use Tim Tebow when it counts. How often will he come into the game? What will it look like? Will Sanchez be on the field at the same time? Using the Wildcat, or whatever they are going to call it, in a positive way that helps the Jets get a win is essential in this game on Sunday as well.

The last four weeks have inspired one thing around the New York Jets. They have inspired the critics. Not too many people are finding a lot of hope for success for this team in 2012. Merrill Hoge of ESPN actually went on record saying that the Jets will have a hard time getting to five wins. Now, that prediction is probably a little harsh, because the defense will be too good to let them lose that often. A win in the opening game will at least quiet the critics temporarily.

Aug 30, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan along the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Jets 28-10. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Beating the Bills is also essential, because in the first five weeks of the season, wins might be hard to come by for the New York Jets. For a team that finished 8-8, they have a rough opening to 2012. After the game against the Bills, they hit the road to face the Steelers and the Dolphins, before returning home to host the 49ers and the Texans. It is not hard to fathom that the Jets could lose three out of those four games. Not what we want, of course, but not impossible if we look at it honestly. The Jets need this one in the win column, otherwise the 2012 season will have the potential to go down. It could go down hard, and quickly.

It’s not often that the first week of the season is a must win game. But for the Jets, it is.