2011 New York Jets Predictions
The Jets are the only NFL team to play in the last two conference championship games, but they failed to reach the Super Bowl both times.
Their chances of reaching the Super Bowl for the first time since 1968 will improve if they can earn a first-round bye and home-field advantage. In order to achieve those things, they’ll have to win their division, something they haven’t done since 2002.
Offense: The Jets ranked 11th in the NFL in total offense in 2010 with 351.0 yards per game. They finished 13th in scoring with 22.9 points per game.
For the second straight year, New York boasted one of the best rushing attacks in the league. It ranked fourth with 148.4 yards per game on the ground.
After two seasons in a backup role, Shonne Green is ready to become the feature back. The former Doak Walker Award winner rushed for 766 yards and two scores last season. LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 914 yards and six touchdowns but showed his age down the stretch when he only averaged 3.3 yards per carry in his last 10 games.
Led by quarterback Mark Sanchez, the Jets ranked 22nd in passing offense with 202.6 yards per game. Sanchez, who got off to a blistering start with eight touchdown passes and no picks in his first five games, ended up with 17 touchdown strikes and 13 interceptions. He threw for 3,291 yards but completed under 55.0 percent of his throws.
The Jets were able to re-sign Santonio Holmes, who caught 52 passes for 746 yards and six scores in 2010, but they weren’t able to bring back Braylon Edwards. That’s why they grabbed Plaxico Burress fresh out of the jail cell.
Dustin Keller is one of the best tight ends in the game. He led the team with 55 receptions last year.
The offensive line is led by blindside protector D’Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold, who have made Pro Bowl trips the last two seasons.
Defense: The Jets have been one of the best defensive teams in the league since Rex Ryan took over. They ranked third in total defense last season with 291.5 yards allowed per game. They finished sixth in scoring defense with 19.0 points allowed per contest.
The run defense was outstanding, ranking third in the NFL with 90.9 yards allowed per game. In order to ensure it remains stout, the Jets drafted temple end Muhammed Wilkerson in the first round and Hampton nose tackle Kenrick Ellis in the third round. Wilkerson is projected to start and Ellis should be in the rotation behind Sione Pouha.
Despite a banged up Darrelle Revis, the Jets still managed to finish sixth in the league against the pass with 200.6 yards allowed per game. He was back to being the best cover corner in football once he recovered from a hamstring injury. He didn’t allow a single touchdown reception in his final 12 games (including playoffs).
Antonio Cromartie was able to pick up the slack while Revis was banged up. He tied for the team-lead with three interceptions.
The linebackers make up the weakest unit of the defense. David Harris is the real deal while Bart Scott, Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas are solid but unspectacular. Ryan’s aggressive scheme, however, gets the most out of this group.
Prediction: 2nd Place AFC East – A division championship isn’t out of the question this year, but it’s hard to bet against a New England team that has won the last two and seven of the last eight AFC East titles. The Jets have shown what a ferocious defense and ball-control offense can do in the postseason, but the Pats showed what an explosive offense can do in the regular season last year. Tom Brady is at the top of his game, and the Pats will be gunning for the team that knocked them out of the playoffs. NFL odds makers have listed the Jets at +180 to win the AFC East.
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