JETS' SEASON ON THE LINE

Well let's hope that Rex Ryan's tears sparks something in his team because they are going to need every bit of motivation to match the intensity of the New England Patriots this Sunday.

The Jets are reeling, there is no question about it. After beginning the season with a 3-0 record, they have lost 5 of their last 6 and their record now stands at 4-5 and their season down to one game. Now most Jets fans consider the season to be over because of the loss to the Jaguars just 5 days ago. However, I am not Jets fan and do not consider the Jets' season over just yet. Things can definately turn around for them with a victory this week, easier said than done.

I chided the Jets earlier this season for the trash-talking prior to their first meeting with the Patriots, but they did back it up with a win. That was a much different Patriots team than the one the Jets will play this week. In fact, much is different for both teams entering the second meeting:

• Tom Brady is back to being Tom Brady.
• Mark Sanchez is playing like a rookie.
• The Patriots defense while still not great, is better.
• Wes Welker is back for the Patriots.
• Laurence Maroney is running the ball well.
• The Jets do not have Kris Jenkins or Jim Leonard.
• The Jets do have Braylon Edwards.
• This game is in Foxboro.
• The Patriots are coming off a humiliating defeat against the Colts.
• The Jets are not coming in beating their chests, but rather with their chests beat in.
• The Patriots coach has been criticized for trying to win a game.
• The Jets coach has been laughed at because he cried in front of his team.
• It is in the Patriots head that the Jets already beat them.

But it is the fact that the Patriots are back to being the Patriots that makes this game that much more important for the Jets.

Outside of the division leaders, there are 6 teams; Steelers, Chargers, Ravens, Jaguars, Texans, and Dolphins, that have a better record than the Jets, and they are all competing for 2 playoff spots. The Jets would have to run the table if they had any shot at the post season. Most would say impossible from looking at the Jets in recent weeks. But consider this, should the Jets pull off an incredible upset and beat the Patriots in Foxboro, why can't they run the table?

After a week in which there head coach poured his heart out to the team in an effort to inspire belief in his players, and with their backs against the wall, there is no reason to think that the Jets won't come out and leave everything on the field. And should it yield a victory, the Jets remaining schedule looks like this; vs. Panthers, at Bills, at Bucs, vs. Atlanta, at Colts, vs. Bengals. The first 4 are winnable games, especially if the Jets can ride the momentum of a win against the Patriots. And by the time they play the Colts and Bengals, those teams are likely to have playoff spots and maybe bye weeks sewn up and will probably rest their starters.

It's not impossible, and there are those who dare to imagine. The Jets have not inspired much confidence in their past couple of games, but one upset victory could be the beginning of something amazing. Of course that victory will be anything but easy since the Patriots have the bitter taste of last week's loss as well as the first loss to the Jets in their mouths.