Quote:
Originally Posted by 124
I hope we get two teams to lay down for us again.
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Jets at Indianapolis (Week 16)
At halftime the Jets were only down 9-3, and the 2nd half opening Kick Off was taken back 105 yards by Brad Smith to give us a 10-9 lead. Peyton responded with a 9 play, 81 yard drive to go up 15-10 (2 point attempt failed). Sanchez and the O were driving on the next possession against Indys starters, but ended up stalling. Weatherford and the punt coverage unti pinned Indy at their own 10, and from then on out Indy pulled their starters with about 5 mins left in the 3rd quarter, up 15-10, in a highly competitive, one score game.
Yeah we were given a gift by facing their second team for the last 20 minutes of the game, but it's not like we wouldn't of had a reasonable chance at getting the W if Peyton and co didn't sit since we battled and were well within reach prior to them resting their starters.
Cincinnati at Jets (Week 17)
The Bengals played every single healthy starter (other than Benson) for the whole first half and into the start of the 3rd quarter.
Palmer had all his wideouts (Ocho, Coles, Caldwell, etc), and finished 1/11 with an INT, with his team down 30-0 when they were pulled after the first series of the 2nd half. Cinncy could of played everyone and their mothers for the remaining 20-25 minutes of that game, there was
NO WAY THEY WERE BEATING THE JETS THAT DAY!!!
Now I will not pretend like if Indy played Manning and co the final 20 mins of the game it would of made a HUGE difference, and more than likely they end up winning the game. But EVERY TEAM benefits and is HURT by not only who you play, but also when you play them. For a comparison, lets use the Pats that same year.
Houston
Jets played them Week 1, on the road with their rookie QB and HC making their NFL debuts at each respective position. The Pats played them Week 17 in a meaningless game for NE, as they already had the division and playoff spot clinched.
Carolina
The Jets played them Week 12, with the Panthers having 10 days to rest and prepare for the game since the previous week they played the Thursday Night game. The Panthers also had their Starting QB for that game, where when New England played them in Week 14 without their starting QB.
Jets also lost BOTH their biggest Offensive threat in Leon and Dominant Defensive player in Jenkins for the season in back to back weeks against Buffalo and Oakland. Every team has games that they benefit from depending on what time of the year they play that team, and every team has a disadvantage going into a game depending on when they play an opponent as well.
We were helped out tremendously with Indy sitting starters the last 20 mins of the game......but it's not like we didn't have a chance to win the game outright if they didn't rest starters since it was 15-10 when it happened. We were NOT helped out by the Bengals sitting starters AT ALL since it was a BLOW OUT by the time they did take out Palmer, Ocho, etc.
Lets get the facts straight, and keep perspective. The Jets aren't the only team to benefit by when they play a certain opponent.