Move over Namath. Here comes Broadway Cro.
Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie made a bold prediction yesterday, saying the 3-5 Jets are going to make the postseason. It was not quite Joe Namath guaranteeing Super Bowl III, but it was gutsy nonetheless.
“The Jets will make the playoffs this year,” Cromartie said on the NFL Network yesterday.
Cromartie’s talk might seem far-fetched, but there is a strong belief in the team’s locker room that the playoffs are not out of reach considering the AFC standings and their soft second-half schedule. The Jets most likely have to go 6-2 in the second half, starting Sunday in Seattle against the Seahawks.
“We believe in each other, we believe in what Coach [Rex] Ryan and his staff is putting us to schemes and stuff,” Cromartie said, “so we definitely are going to make the playoffs this year.”
Ryan welcomed players back this week with a speech about how they are not out of the playoff race. He showed the team the AFC standings. The Jets are two games behind the Patriots in the AFC East and two games behind the Steelers and Colts in the wild-card race.
Ryan was happy to hear about Cromartie’s prediction.
“I feel as an entire football team that we should all feel like that and I think we do feel like that,” Ryan said. “Nobody wants to hear it, but who cares? That’s really how we feel. That’s our mentality, whether you like it or not.
“I would think Jets fans and the Jets community, they would want us to feel that way and we do. We’re not happy with where we are with that 3-5 record. We know it’s tough to get into the playoffs, especially when you back yourself up with that 3-5 record. But, again, we’re going to keep swinging until they tell us that we’re out. All of us, in my opinion, believe that we can make it.”
Predictions and guarantees became a way of life for the Jets during Ryan’s first three years, but the coach backed off his brash talk this year, feeling it backfired last season. It is notable that now the Jets are only talking playoffs when they used to predict Super Bowls.
If the Jets do turn around their season, the schedule could be a big reason why. The Jets played the third toughest schedule in the NFL over their first eight games, according to ESPN. They have the sixth easiest schedule the rest of the way.
The Jets are far from out of it. They are clustered with the Bengals, Titans, Bills and Raiders at three wins. The Chargers and Dolphins both are 4-4. Even with that, it’s hard to find anyone who gives the Jets a chance of playing in January.
Jets safety Yeremiah Bell said the team is using its doubters as motivation.
“You’ve got to,” Bell said. “People aren’t giving us much of a chance and we know that. I tell people all the time when you look at the AFC, we’re 3-5 but we’re right there.
“It’s not where we want to be. People are quick to count us out, but if you look at the big picture we’re right there in the pack. We still think we can get it done and that’s how we’re going to prepare.”