2-9 For Gang Green, A Historical Perspective
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by Alanschech
2-9 for the Jets, and heading into a game against the winless Miami Dolphins. Another tyypical Jets week that is very quiet. I thought it a good time to take a look at their start from a historical perspective, because as most Jets fans know, we have had a lot more embarrassing moments than this.
Let's take a look using 1980 as our starting point, a good reference for most Jets fans young and old. There have been 4 other starts of 2-9, in 1980, 1989, 1995, and 2005. 1995 was the season the Jets were the least competitive, with an average deficit of 15.5 points in the 9 losses of the 2-9 start. Compare this to the present, where they are averaging 11.7 points per loss, but if you remove the New England and the Dallas game, they are averaging 6.8 points per loss. Anyone watching can tell that although they have been losing, they are much more competitive than past losing Jets teams.
Now let's take a look through the years at some low moments that make 2007 not so bad:
1982
The Strike Year, where the Jets fought through to an AFC championship game against the rival Miami Dolphins. In an attempt to thwart the Jets speed attack, the field in Miami was left uncovered during a storm the night before the game, and the field was a quagmire, which stopped the Jets attack and they lost 14-0, not to return to the AFC championship game until 1998.
1986
After a 10-1 start where they are the talk of the league, they fall completely to pieces, losing their last 5 games and squeaking into a wild card playoff spot. After beating the KC Chiefs in the wild card game, they are up 10 points late in the divisional playoff against the Cleveland Browns. While apparently forcing a punt on a late Cleveland drive, Mark Gastineau is called for a late hit penalty on Bernie Kosar, extending the drive and giving the Browns the opportunity to tie the game and eventually win in double overtime.
1989
They fall completely apart, opening 2-9 and never really becoming competitive at all, ending the Joe Walton era come season's end.
1994
This is a season a lot of us won't forget, as we went into the November game against Miami at home playing for the AFC east lead. Up 24-6 in the 3rd quarter, Miami staged a furious comeback, to be finalized by the famous fake spike TD pass to Mark Ingram. Jets lose 28-24, don't win another game all season, and it leads to the firing of Pete Carroll.
1995-1996
The Rich Kotite era, enough said. 4 wins, 2 years. The famous "they were swarming" quotes from the coach. Coach fired.
1999
After reaching the AFC championship game in 1998 the Jets were primed for a run at the big dance. That run was short lived, however, after Vinny Testaverde was attacked by the turf monster in the second quarter of week one, rupturing his Achilles tendon and ending his season. The Jets struggled to an 8-8 record.
So Jets fans, as bad as things have been this year, they have been in almost every game. And take a look back at history, we have had it worse than this.
