KontradictioN

As Belichick and the team is so fond of saying, the postseason is a different season. The pressure that the Jets have put on themselves at the beginning of the regular season is moot at this point due to the fact that they (A) are not the #1 seed, (B) have gotten used to it as the year has gone on, and (C) have suffered a few bad losses since that preseason trash talk. So, let's take a look at what both teams have to contend with, pressure-wise...

Jets:
1. Trash talk from their coaches and players.

Patriots:
1. #1 seed in the playoffs.
2. League's best record at 14-2.
3. Target on backs not only due to success this year, but success in last decade.

There may be pressure on both teams, but the pressure is most decidedly on the Pats' side. Any time you're the #1 seed in the playoffs, have the league's best record, and have had the success that we've had throughout the last decade, the pressure is always on our side. Luckily, we have the type of coaching staff that can coach around it.

I agree that we can probably coach around the pressure of being the top seed. But let's not dismiss this so easily. This is a very young team, one of the youngest in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball. It would be quite easy for the pressure to get to them.

This isn't a particularly strong point. While I agree that Ryan's mouth puts pressure on his team, he was also dealing with a pissed off Brady in the Week 2 game this season. That pissed off Brady had one of the worst games of his season against Ryan's defense.

I hope, and expect, that it turns out like that. However, this isn't a very airtight argument, either. There have been numerous instances in playoff history when the top seed has bowed out early and often in the playoffs. I don't think the Pats will play harder because they're the top seed. I think they'll play harder because we have the best coach in the league, whereas I think the Jets will play as hard as they can because of the aforementioned individuals playing for what likely will be their last chance to get a ring.

I won't disagree here. Hopefully, we can jump out on them early so we can see these boneheaded mistakes early and often.

I'm not disagreeing that pressure is there for the Jets. Pressure is there for all playoff teams. However, the top seed is always the dog with the bullseye on it's back. Anybody that has ever played competitive sports will tell you the same thing. Add onto that fact that the Pats have blitzed through the NFL for the last decade or so, and the pressure scale is firmly tilted toward the Patriots.

I should say, as well, that I think that we'll win this game, and comfortably. The only thing that we need to contend with is their running game and I'm sure we can scheme around the injuries on D-Line to slow down the Jets running game enough. If Sanchez plays the way he did against the Colts in the Divisional round, the Jets are in for a long day at the office.

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CREDIT - Sicilian

PATSYLICIOUS

What is our record under BB coming off a bye week, when the other team had to play? I can only remember losing 1 game in that situation in 2002 when the team was in a major funk.

We should be good for Sunday

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Organized madness
The young Gott-stra
Young Frank Sinatra

aluminum seats

Not sure I see the point of saying "any given Sunday" as if that's a revelation or something. It's understood fluky stuff can happen. That's sports.

With that pointless caveat out of the way, apart from the typical Jet fan delusions (which admittedly can be sort of funny), this is a game the Pats should win easily. Nothing had evolved on the Jets' defense that leads you to think the Pats won't get their 30. I would expect Sanchez to play better (it'd be hard for him to play worse), but that just means the Jets might get to double-digits.

The Pats can win a blow-out, or with some breaks for the Jets, the Pats could win a closer game. Under the "any given Sunday" rule, the Jets don't turn it over, Brady's TO streak ends at the worst possible time (tipped balls), Pats miss a couple of FGs, and both teams end up in the mid-20's. That's the only possible Jets win.

Not gonna happen, though.

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"So I'm going to throw myself against the wall...
'Cause I'd rather feel bad than not feel anything at all."

Patriot_in_NY

Ummmmmm, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not playing next week so there is not "taking it lightly" from my perspective. I will cheer and talk smack like the homer I am without fear that it has ANY barring on the actual game itself.

People..... we are fans. Let's not take ourselves too serious.

Dunnieboy

I cannot argue with the sentiment of this post. However ... i will throw one final thought onto the stoop to see if the cat licks it up ....

If you were in a casino .. and were watching a roulette table that had 99% red numbers come up ... would you be tempted to bet on red or black ...

the Pats NEVER lose at home ... sort of the same thing.

coolworx

The difference is, the Patriots don't win by luck.
They execute.

aluminum seats

Except black already came up--Pats lost their last home playoff game by 19 points.

Back to red for the next 99 spins...

__________________
"So I'm going to throw myself against the wall...
'Cause I'd rather feel bad than not feel anything at all."

aluminum seats

Generally speaking, I think "pressure" is something that affects an offense more than a defense. Offensively, the QB and skill players have to play with a precision that pressure is more apt to affect than, say, a linebacker who can "let it all out" and shake off any pressure more easily.

__________________
"So I'm going to throw myself against the wall...
'Cause I'd rather feel bad than not feel anything at all."

weswelker#83

I predicted it a week ago, 01-08-2011:

"Strange things happen sometimes"

See you next year, guys.

Peace.