2009 Jets Preview: At Least Favre Is Gone

So here we go…season number 5! We’re going to try the NFL previews a little bit differently this season. We’ll go one team a day for the next few weeks (although I do have a couple of vacations planned…so maybe a whole bunch of teams in one day in the near future). We begin in the AFC, starting in the East, and we’ll go through the teams in ascending order. So even though the Jets shouldn’t be good in 2009, they get to be first on the ol’ Predictor page.

4. New York Jets
Projected Record: 6-10

Offense: D+
Defense: B-
Coaching: INC

What’s new: Rex Ryan comes over from Baltimore to be the head coach. He brings with him two former Ravens in Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard to help solidify the defense. Oh, and no Brett Favre. Favre was too busy doing his annual “who loves me” dance, and the Jets answer was a clear “not us” (thankfully). New York drafted Mark Sanchez to be his replacement.


Brett Favre left the Jets, but it would be even better if he just crawled into a hole and left the rest of the country in peace.

What’s good: The swap of Sanchez for Favre may not be great right off the bat, but it will be a great move for the Jets sooner rather than later. It appeared that New York would be screwed at quarterback for the foreseeable future after ridding themselves of the adequate Chad Pennington and the gamble on Favre failed miserably. But the Jets bet the farm on Sanchez, who will prove to be a better quarterback than #1 pick Matt Stafford. Also good: a solid defensive unit. The linebacking corps is deep and the secondary is in the top half of the NFL.

What’s bad: For starters, the schedule. The Jets begin the season with this: at Houston, New England, Tennessee, at New Orleans and at Miami. Houston will be much better than anyone expects, New England and New Orleans should return to form and Tennessee and Miami just got done making the playoffs. A 1-4 start would not be surprising. And despite the fact that the Smith-Ryan and Harbaugh-Flacco combinations did very well last season, a rookie head coach and rookie quarterback tend not to fare well in the NFL. I look at the 2008 season as the exception to that rule. Also, the offense lacks a true playmaker without Laveranues Coles and all four starters on the defensive line are huge injury risks.

What to expect: The AFC East is much better this season than it was last. The Jets missed their opportunity last year when Tom Brady was hurt and they got off to a hot start. On top of six games against a tough division, the Jets have to go through the NFC and AFC South, which are both tough divisions in their own rights. I see this team getting off to a poor start and never recovering.