The Jets Have a Major Opportunity on Sunday in New England

Sept 9, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan and New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) talk during the pre-game warmup for their game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLIfe Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE

It is Patriots week, ladies and gentlemen. It’s always fun, as the talk heats up all week long between these two rivals. The Jets come into this game with confidence, as well they should after the performance on Sunday. They put in a complete and dominant performance in beating the Indianapolis Colts 35-9 on Sunday. It was, however, against a team the Jets were supposed to beat.

This week is their big chance. New England is coming off of a last second loss to the Seahawks, bringing their record to 3-3. On paper, this Patriots team is far better than the Jets are. Heck, they were installed as a 10 point favorite in the game. Nobody expects the Jets to have any chance in this football game on Sunday afternoon. However, the games are not played on paper, obviously. With that, the Jets have an opportunity on Sunday to make a major statement to the rest of the division, and the league.

First of all, the division is ripe for the taking. All of the teams are 3-3. Despite what our friend Joe Soriano of musketfire.com says in the “Know Thy Enemy” column later this afternoon, the Patriots have come back to the pack.  All of these teams are pretty even right now. Does anybody reading this really believe that the Bills or the Dolphins are going to come out of the pack in this division? I sure don’t. If the Jets can win this game on Sunday, it will do quite a bit to allow them to take control of this division. They will be 3-0 in the division, including 1-0 against New England. They will be in the driver’s seat.

They also have an excellent chance of improving their image of their football team around the league. The Jets are not looked at too kindly around the league, both by other teams and by the experts. The Jets have been looked at as a “circus” for quite some time, especially since the end of the 2011 season. They didn’t help that perception when they brought in Tim Tebow, whether you are a fan of his or not. No matter which side you come out of that debate, the fact that remains that the Jets are not looked at as a serious football team around the sport. A win on Sunday can do a lot to change that perceptions.

Jan 16, 2011; Foxboro, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick greets New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan after the end of the 2011 AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium. The Jets defeated the Patriots 28-21. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

A win Sunday can set the Jets up for a strong run to Decemeber as well. After Sunday, the Jets host the Dolphins, go on the road to face the Seahawks and Rams, come home for the Patriots and Cardinals, then go to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars. Let’s say the Jets win on Sunday, making their record 4-3. The Jets always play well against young quarterbacks, so you have to feel good about the Dolphins, Seahawks, Rams, and Jaguars. The Cardinals are a team the Jets can beat, and if they have already beaten the Pats on the road, you have to give them a chane to beat them at home. It’s not impossible that the Jets could make a run to 9-4 if they win on Sunday, maybe even 10-3.

If the lose, the Jets will move along with no confidence, and a beaten Jets team never performs well. At best, they could be headed to an 8-8 season with a loss on Sunday.

The Jets can make a statement to everyone on Sunday. The time is now.