Especially teams coached by Bill Belichick

Fortunately be it due to competition, genuis or morbid curiosity fightmakers are providing the necessary reality checks along this yellow brick road otherwise known as fights to snap us back from our fantasy world.. The New York Jets who started strong out of the gate at 3-0 have struggled to stay at .500 with a 4-4 record at the halfway point in the season. While technically still in the hunt for a Wildcard berth, the chances are slim and none when you consider strength of schedule and the fact they have must wins on the road at Buffalo and New England for playoff hopes to be possible.The remaining eight games have the Jets playing at least four playoff bound squads and two probable division champions in the Patriots and the Colts. These two could in fact windup the 1 and 2 seeds in the AFC. Things only get worse in Week 16 when they finish out at home against the Cincinnati Bengals in what could be a meaningless contest for both clubs as things stand right now.The Jets are facing eight teams with a combined record of 36-28 and are 1-1 against the Bills & Patriots. Let's breakdown the last eight weeks and see if the playoffs are in the cards for the Jets in this final season in the original Meadowlands facility.. The Jacksonville Jaguars like the Jets are hanging on for dear life when it comes to playoff aspirations.

Currently 4-4, Jacksonville is just 1-3 on the road and this is a must win for the Jets and probably a defining moment for 2009.If they can't beat Jacksonville in the Meadowlands, this season is over.I like the Jets to win at home and improve to 5-4.. Few teams ever sweep the Patriots.Especially teams coached by Bill Belichick.The last time the Jets won in New England was Eric Mangini's finest hour as head coach in his rookie season in December of 2006. The chances of Rex Ryan finding lightening in a bottle twice seem remote, but the Jets seem to relish the challenge of playing the Patriots all the time. While I think the Jets stay competitive, they'll fall on the road and back to .500 at 5-5.. There are just two starters with a worse pass rating than Mark Sanchez and Jake Delhomme is one of them. The Panthers are a great running team, but the Jets should be prepared for the obvious Look for the Jets to rebound and get to 6-5..

The fact that Dick Jauron still has a job in the NFL is amazing. At 3-5 and a 1-3 home record, the Bills are rudderless and the future remains dark and cloudy. This is the one "must" road game for the Jets to make playoffs and I say the Jets split with the Bills and get to 7-5.. If there's a game where the Jets need multiple sacks, INT's and pressure on the quarterback, this is the game. The Jets need to rattle Josh Freeman's cage and make him play like a rookie.Again, a must win for any realistic chance to sneak into the playoffs.The Jets passed on Josh Freeman in the NFL Draft for Mark Sanchez and the 1-7 Bucs probably believe they can win this game at home. This should be a competitive contest, but the Jets don't lose to Tampa Bay andNew York gets to 8-5 and three games over .500 since the 3-0 start!. If the Jets can string together three wins against Carolina, Buffalo and Tampa Bay, beating Atlanta at home could be the game of the season for Gang Green.At 5-3 and and just 1-3 on the road, the Falcons seemingly are up and down and this could be a fight to the finish with both teams still in the hunt for a possible playoff berth.

In December, the better teams usually win and I think the Jets could be in store for a heart-breaking home loss that drops them back to 8-6.This is the game that will make or break the New York Jets. The Colts are 8-0 and unbeatable at home. Peyton Manning is not only the quarterback and leader, but seemingly a player coach and offensive coordinator all in one package! After losing to Atlanta at home, hard to see the Jets rebound in Indianapolis in what could be a great game if the Ryan defense can pressure Manning up the middle. In a battle of ex-defensive coordinators from the Baltimore Ravens, Rex Ryan and Marvin Lewis could be playing for pride, seeding or nothing at all.Not only will we have the Raven connection, but a pair of USC alums will duke it out for who's the best quarterback from the city of Troy in Mark Sanchez and Carson Palmer. Given the circumstances come the final week, conventional wisdom dictates the Bengals will be in the playoffs.