New York Jets: Way too early playoff predictions

It’s currently June and the average NFL fan is not even thinking about the upcoming football season, let alone the NFL Playoffs. But we are not the “average fan” kind of football website. We are super fans so we are already looking ahead at the 2016 NFL Playoff picture and how I think it’ll look for the New York Jets. Take a look at how I think it’ll all transpire:

NFC Round 1

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The Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks will both have a bye in the first round of the NFC playoffs. The Packers with a 14-2 record and the Seahawks with a 13-3 record. The St. Louis Rams are my surprise team coming out of the NFC. I don’t think they got enough credit last season for playing as well as they did against teams that should’ve completely blown them away. The Rams (11-5 record) beat the New Orleans Saints (10-6 record) to go on to face the Packers in Round 2. The Dallas Cowboys (12-4) and the Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) are my final two picks for the NFC. They meet in the first round and the Cowboys get an easy win to advance and go up against the Seahawks in Round 2.

AFC Round 1

The New England Patriots (14-2) and the San Diego Chargers (13-3) have the number one and number two seeds respectively in the AFC playoffs. The Indianapolis Colts (12-4) have the third seed and go up against the Denver Broncos (9-7) in the first round of the playoffs. I think the Ryan Clady injury is going to be more than the Broncos can manage this season. They have an old, high injury risk at quarterback in Peyton Manning, and he is going to be very jumpy in the pocket with one of his best lineman out for the season. On the other side of the AFC playoff bracket, we have the fifth seed New York Jets (11-5) going into Pittsburgh and beating up the Steelers (12-4). The Jets’ defensive line has been fearsome for a few years now and the secondary has gotten much better after reuniting with Darrelle Revis. Add that to the new weapons on offense and a revitalized Geno Smith, the Jets will be a force to be reckoned with.

NFC Round 2

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The Rams had a good season and did better than anyone thought they could do, but their season would come to an end in the second round against the juggernaut that is the Packers offense. Aaron Rodgers is on a mission and he wants another ring as badly as anybody in the league. He lights up the Rams’ secondary and despite an amazing performance by Rogers, the Packers only barely come away with the win over the Rams. The Dallas Cowboys saddle up and ride into Century Link field for their half of the NFC semifinals. No one is giving them a chance to beat the Seahawks in their own house. The Cowboys always choke and can never do enough to win these big games. But this year they do. The Cowboys squeek by the Seahawks and advance to the NFC championship game to face the Packers. America’s team is playing in Title Town to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

AFC Round 2

In the second round of the AFC Playoffs we have the Colts up against the Chargers. Just like every other team that has beaten the Colts in the playoffs the last three years, the Chargers take advantage of a weak run defense. They ground and pound their way to the AFC Championship game. For the Jets, the road to Super Bowl has a stop in Foxborough. In order to advance they have to go into New England and beat the Patriots. This is a feat that is much easier said than done since the Patriots have had a stranglehold on the conference for the better part of a decade. The Jets come close but end up losing the game and their season ends in the second round of the playoffs.

NFC title game

The Cowboys have had a great run deep into the playoffs, but the run is cut short in the conference title game. The Packers are just too good, especially at home and the Cowboys can’t overcome Rodgers’ air assault.

Jan 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) looks to throw in the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

AFC title game

The Chargers have one more opponent in order to play in the biggest game of their lives. The Patriots get the comfort of playing at home and the frozen New England winter is too much for the Chargers. The Patriots advance to their second Super Bowl in two years.

Super Bowl

Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

The Patriots against the Packers. The stage is set for Tom Brady to come back and win another ring in his home state. Teams that are built in very similar ways. Two future hall of fame quarterbacks in Rodgers and Brady both chasing after the same thing. Both teams built around pass happy offenses. This game ultimately goes to the Patriots who win their second Super Bowl in two years and the fifth in franchise history.

Next: New York Jets: Ranking Top Wide Receivers

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