A week of bluster and smacktalk -- some blunt, some hidden -- will finally end Sunday when the Jets visit the Patriots in an AFC Divisional Playoff. Rex Ryan got the ball rolling by pitting the game as a matchup between him and Patriots counterpart Bill Belichick. Then Antonio Cromartie got in the act by calling Tom Brady a few expletives -- the Pats quarterback said he's "heard worse" and Wes Welker responded by weaving in several foot references to his news conference on Thursday.
But now discussion time is over. Do the Jets have a legitimate shot to win on Sunday? Of course. The Patriots smoked the Jets, 45-3, on Dec. 6, but the Jets did win the Week 2 matchup between the clubs. If the Jets can force Brady to turn the ball over -- he hasn't thrown a pick since Week 6 (that's 335 pass attempts) -- they have a shot. If not, they are probably doomed. Mark Sanchez didn't play well until the final drive of last week's win at Indianapolis, and he certainly didn't play well in the December drubbing.
The Patriots have weaknesses. They were outgained this year despite their 14 wins, and their pass defense is suspect. But they are favored by nine points for a reason. As much as Ryan may want to believe the teams' talent levels are equal, the Patriots are better. The Jets are good enough to overcome that difference though. Will that happen? If it does, Ryan will be safe from eating crow for another week. If it doesn't, he'll have to be quiet until August.
