MossWelkowski

Is it good that this young patriots team has a rival that they need to keep up with?

No matter what the division winner will be the winner of the monday night game. But I think this competition back and forth between the jets and patriots is helping this young team mature even more.

convertedpatsfan

I don't think the Jets are helping the Patriots. I think the team is just learning to win games. If they were motivated by what the Jets were doing, they wouldn't have gotten their butts handed to them by Cleveland.

The winner of the Monday night game has a huge advantage towards winning the division, but I disagree that it'll be decided on that day. For one thing, there are 4 games left afterwards.

Both the Pats and Jets have to go on the road to play 7-3 Chicago, a surprise team that will be playing for their own division title chances. While both AFC East teams should be favoured, this is in no way a gimme game.

The Pats also play the other NFC North divisional hopeful (and pre-season Super Bowl candidate) Green Bay, also at 7-3. For the Jets, they go to 7-3 Pittsburgh to play the co-AFC North division leaders.

Both teams also have 2 divisional games remaining against Miami and Buffalo, and you know both of those teams would love to spoil somebody's season. So there's a lot more football to play even after the Monday night game. The Jets game is huge, but it's not the Super Bowl, unless you're Rex Ryan.

Dutchmaster617

6 games left so nothing is determined next week, though I do think Cincy and NE humble them, Pittsburgh and CHI too.

ATippett56

If the Patriots do not lose any more divisional games, the Patriots versus the Packers and the Jets versus the Steelers games will most likely determine the AFC East Division Champion.

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The End of the Chad Ochostinko Era!

billdog3484

that statement is simply not true. there's 6 games left, 5 not including the game against eachother

Dutchmaster617

No the standings will, too many ifs in a wide open NFL season.

xmarkd400x

If the Pats were to lose to the Jets, they would need to come out one game ahead of them (not tied) to win the division.

If the Pats lost to the Jets, that would make 3 losses on the season. They would need the Jets to have 4 or more. So, they would need the Jets to lose 2 of 5 for the rest of the season, and the Pats to lose none. Or Pats lose one and Jets lose 3, etc.

Based on how the season has gone so far, I don't really see the Jets losing that many more games than the Patriots for the rest of the season. I think that for the Pats to reasonably have a chance at the division, they need to win the Monday night game.

convertedpatsfan

Again, it's just one game, and it's not the Super Bowl. It obviously helps to win the game, but no single game decides anything at this stage of the season.

In any event, I'd focus a lot more on Detroit than the Jets or the Packers anyways. Short week on the road after a big emotional game means we shouldn't be looking too far down the road.

the wrothbroughterer

It might be one game but if they lose next Monday they are going to be a Wild Card team. I'm not expecting either team to go 14-2 but it would be far from shocking if both teams ended up at 13-3 or 12-4. Should the Pats lose to the Jets they'll be on the losing end of the first tie-breaker to decide the division.

Any way you look at it, it's a must win. But then again so is Thursday's game when you consider the common opponent factor.

AndyJohnson

I think it falls into the must win category solely because it is a game with more on the line than a normal game. Of course they can overcome a loss and still win the division, but at the time they play it both teams are playing as if it will decide the division. Winning in that type of game bodes well for the playoffs. "Must win" IMO includes going into the playoffs strong, on a roll of winning games that have an impact on seeding.

I dont think it is a must to win in order to win the division necessarily.
I think it is a tremendous longshot to think the Jets who are 8-2 and realistically could be 5-5 if the Lions, Browns and Broncos did not give them games that they had won, will go 4-2 or better in their 6 remaining games, all of which may be cold weather games, which the Jets figure to not be as good in. They must go to NE, Chicago, an Pittsburgh. The Jets so far this season are 1-2 against teams with winning records, 1-0 vs .500 teams, 1-0 vs 4-6 teams and have 5 wins vs 2-8 or 3-7 teams including the above mentioned games where they were beaten by 2-8,3-7 and 3-7 teams who then handed them the game.

They beatus in their house. Aside from that they are 0-2 against winning teams and have built their record win close wins against 2 and 3 win teams. The Jets are the most overrated team in the NFL, and that will be proven in the next month and a half.