You know the expression “not worth the paper it’s printed on?” Well, the pigskin prognostications I’ve made over the past few decades are surely worth at least the blank opposite sides of the paper I’ve used for them, on which I’ve made countless supermarket shopping lists, an enormous amount of to-do’s (more than half of which I never did because they were illegible) and, showing my MacGyver-like resourcefulness, even more really awful football picks.
In the digital age, of course, there’s no need to kill trees for my predictions for the Jets’ 2015 campaign, but you can rest assured that they’ll end up in the trash bin, at least metaphorically. Let’s just hope Gang Green's season doesn’t as well. So, without further adieu:
Week 1: vs. Cleveland - W (1-0) Tough call, as I think Browns will have a solid year under second-year coach (and former Jets DC) Mike Pettine. But I like the home team in this one.
Week 2: at Indianapolis - L (1-1) Defensive backfield much, much, much improved with Revis et al., but Luck and crew will still put up enough points for the win.
Week 3: vs. Philadelphia - W (2-1) Only question is who will be playing QB for the Eagles by then? Bradford? Sanchez? Morris? As long as it’s not Tebow, Jets will be fine.
Week 4: vs. Miami - L (2-2) I think Jets will split with Fish this season, just can’t quite figure out who will win first. But will give nod to visitors, who seem to cool off late in season.
Week 5: BYE - Bi L for Jets fans. Just try to get through it.
U.S. & World
Week 6: vs. Washington - W (3-2) I don’t think Snyder’s team could go .500 in CFL right now.
Week 7: at New England - L (3-3) ‘Nuff said.
Week 8: at Raiders - W (4-3) Oakland could very well be a CFL contender.
Week 9: vs. Jacksonville - W (5-3) Jacksonville, meanwhile, could very well not.
Week 10: vs. Buffalo - L (5-4) Again, I see a split here, but I think Rex wins round one.
Week 11: at Houston - L (5-5) Texans looking like a playoff team, even with Hoyer at QB.
Week 12: vs. Miami - W (6-5) Just about time for Dolphins’ swoon.
Week 13: “at” Giants - W (7-5) I won’t lie, I worry about impact of travel for this one. Players get worn down late in year. But looks like a win to me.
Week 14: vs. Tennessee - W (8-5) Mariota seems like the real deal, but the rest of his team doesn’t.
Week 15: at Dallas - L (8-6) Still not sold on Cowboys—and never will be unless Jimmy Johnson returns—but they should get the victory here.
Week 16: vs. New England - L (8-7) See week 6.
Week 17: at Buffalo - W (9-7) Fitz prevails in old stomping grounds.
Not quite good enough for the playoffs, as it looks like it will take 10 wins to get in, but a big improvement from 2014. Of course, I’m the same guy who predicted that Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow would be Pro Bowl QBs one day. Could still happen, right?
