Jets Start the 2nd half vs Jags

Last week the Jets didn’t lose. It might have helped that they didn’t play anyone, but a non losing week is definitely a step in the right direction.

This week, the Jets play Jacksonville at home. Surprisingly, the Jaguars are four and four with two of their wins coming against Tennessee and Houston, conveniently two of the same teams the Jets have beat. Although this tilt against Jacksonville may not seem like a marquee matchup, it will be a contest that will prove how good the Jets can be this season. Both teams have the same record and have beaten common opponents, but like Lady Gaga’s fashion choices, we have no idea where they’re headed, but to tell you the truth I am kind of glad to be the first dude ever to write “Lady” and “Gaga” in an article about football.

Moving on, Rex Ryan sent the players home for the beginning of the bye week. Mark Sanchez even went back to USC, inspiring them to lay an absolute egg against ASU to bring up the question – Why didn’t he visit the week they play Arizona instead?

The time off may or may not effect this team in a positive light. They may come out firing on all cylinders like they did at the beginning of the season, or they may not be able to move the ball like we have seen a couple of times already this year. If you may have noticed by now, I have no freaking idea where this team is headed. I have less of an idea of how to invest in the stock market as I do handicapping this team. I wasn’t supposed to invest in Lehman Brothers? I’ll apologize to my kids later.

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The truth is this matchup against Jacksonville isn’t very sexy. I know, I know it is a rematch of the 1999 divisional playoff matchup in which Keyshawn Johnson dominated offensively and a kid wearing a Jags jersey got booed during the Punt, Pass, and Kick contest. He deserved it. Still, I can’t get fired up about a matchup between two decent teams. I think Rex Ryan should be able to gear up the defense to stop MoJo Drew and David Garrard, but I don’t know. Darrelle Revis definitely shuts down Mike Sims-Walker on paper, but as we all know these games aren’t played on paper, or Adam Wins would have had a little more success the past two weeks.

This game doesn’t excite me at all. The Jets are a decent team. They’re not that good. They’re not that bad. They’re decent. They’re like Veronica from “the Ruins”. They’re all right, but you might not be too proud of the previous night’s conquest the next day taking them home.

The Jets need to come out and play a good game if they have any hope at salvaging this season. The Patriots have them in their rear view mirror. They’re waving goodbye. It pains me to say it, but it’s OK. The Jets have a rookie quarterback and have played great defensively. The rest of this season is about making progress. It is about proving they can win games. A trip to the playoffs would be an added bonus.

Will they get to the playoffs? Rosie O’Donnell has a better chance at being in the Maxim Top 100 of 2010.

The pick

Jaguars - 24

Jets - 22

Let’s pray that I’m wrong

VIVA SANCHEZ!

By Daniel Rein
ProFootball-fans.com New York Jets Correspondent