I know I’ll be caught up in the hype this week along with everyone else. In fact, I’ll probably be leading a lot of it. But first, let’s just remember that while this game will be hyped like the Super Bowl, especially if you’re still watching Sportscenter, it’s not the Super Bowl.
If the Jets win, the Patriots will be almost assured a wild card spot and probably end up back in San Diego, Kansas City, Jacksonville or maybe even Indianapolis (I don’t write off Peyton Manning, at least in the regular season).
So it’s pretty clear the Patriots need this game more than the Jets do. It wouldn’t be an impossible road to a division title and bye if they lost, but it would be pretty close to impossible, requiring almost certainly a 4-0 final quarter of the season.
Either way the road doesn’t get any easier for the Jets or the Pats, and for either team to win all four of their remaining games would be impressive.
Both teams must go to Chicago. The Pats head there on a short week right after MNF. The Jets see Miami then head to Pittsburgh before making a trip of their own to see the NFC North-leading Bears. They close out the season hosting the Bills.
The Pats play their final game against the NFC North by welcoming a Green Bay Packers team that will be in the thick of the playoff hunt and badly need a win.
The Jets do have one advantage, both their final two AFC East games are at home. The Pats must travel to Buffalo, where I hear the weather at the end of December is beautiful and ideal for football, before welcoming Miami for the finale.
If the Jets win they will have a virtual lock on the AFC East crown with essentially a three game lead on New England with four to play, since they would also own all tie breakers. That doesn’t really make it fun for anybody, does it?
Pats need this one more, and especially being at home, that usually is a pretty good recipe for success. And of course a little Spygate bullshit never hurts either.