Do you know what you'll be doing Thursday night? There's no doubt in my mind that I'll be glued onto my couch, chips and salsa in hand, watching Panthers v. Broncos in primetime.
There's no other time of the year quite like opening week for the NFL. Each year starts with unbridled optimism--everyone is 0-0. It doesn't matter if you were 0-16 or the Super Bowl champs the year before, you the fan have faith that this year will be better than the last.
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For Jets fans though, it's hard to look at the season with such thoughts. We've been conditioned to taper our expectations and except the worst case scenario. Is it going to be our lack of a quality QB, or an untimely injury that will unravel us? Is it gonna be a missed field goal, a dropped pass, or a butt-fumble that will be our downfall?
This time around, what most tampers the positive outlook on the season is the daunting schedule to start the season. However, let's forget for a second that four of the first six games are on the road, and that we are facing a plethora of playoff powerhouses in that span.
Let's instead look ahead to a season of more ridiculous Brandon Marshall catches. Let's watch as the Jets' defensive line sacks more quarterbacks than any other team in the league. Let's watch Ryan Fitzpatrick throw clutch TD passes to Eric Decker. Let's enjoy the formidable duo of Matt Forte and Bilal Powell rack up hard-earned yards. Let's revel in the lately unappreciated greatness of Darrell Revis and his penchant for timely picks.
Yes, last year ended in disappointment. Losing that last game, with a chance of going into the playoffs, especially to Rex and Co., truly stung and lingered all offseason. Yet, last year's team exceeded all expectations. They improved six games from the year before. Fitz and Marshall had career years, and the defenses was stellar, as usual.
There's no guarantee that this year will be better than last. Aside from a much tougher schedule, consistency in the NFL is hard to achieve. Although I hate the Patriots with a passion, (mainly because they're always so good), they are one of the few franchises that can enjoy the luxury of knowing they'll witness competitive, winning football.
But hey, Tom Brady is gone for the first four games, right? Maybe this is the year--the year the Jets supplant the Patriots as kings of the AFC East. Perhaps they can restore the glory of those 2009-10 teams that went to back-to-back AFC Championships. Nobody expected those teams to go that far, and hardly anyone is saying that about this team. The Jets have never been heavy favorites, mainly to their detriment but sometimes to their benefit.
Therefore, I shall proclaim that 2016 will be the year of the Jets. I'm obviously saying this mostly in a subjective lens, but also with a bit of reason to back it up. Just take a look at their unexpectedly productive offseason. Will they win the Super Bowl? Probably not. However, I have a strong feeling that this team will overcome their intimidating schedule, dismantle the Patriots reign as division champs, and make the playoffs for the first time in five years.
Are you hype yet? If not, then you might just be a true Jets fan. But I plead to you to go into the year with that aforementioned unbridled optimism. It will certainly make Week 1, and all the weeks of the season, much more worth the watch. J - E - T - S. JETS. JETS. JETS.
