AFC East 2006 Jet Kingdom Throne Picks

While many are predicting the Jets to have a season of troubles probably not besting their 2005 record by much, we here at Jet Kingdom see a land of opportunity ahead for our beloved Jets this year.

Back From 2004

Clearly there have been upgrades over the miserable 2005 season, but we consider that season to be an aberration, not the norm. The 2005 New York Jets were taken down by injuries not lack of skilled players or coaching fiasco. Teams that lose both quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends, a center and a handful of defensive players aren't going to do much. The 2004 Jets on the other hand were a team that was a wisp away from going to the AFC Championship. We see the 2006 season as a merging of the two seasons, some good some bad. We put a lot into the schedule as well and the 2005 schedule was not easy, ranked the third hardest before the season started. The Kansas City game was the start and in some ways the end of the whole thing. That game showed that Chad wasn't ready for prime time, our running game wasn't there and our defense was going to give up a lot of yards on the ground. All those things proved themselves out over the season.

Reborn

That leaves us with the positives of what could happen this year. Repeat after us, this is not a rebuilding year. Rebuilding is done in the off season and that is where the Jets rebuilt from the ground up or top down, whichever way want. Young Eric Mangini takes over the controls this year adding huge additions to the team through free agency and the draft. From Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson to Brad Smith, from Andre Dyson to Kimo Von Oelhoffen there is more talent on this team this year. The Jets come back with a healthy Chad, a playmaker in Coles and what looks to be shaking up like a very after school special, special teams with players like Leon Washington.

Not All Clear Skies

There are some worries out there, some things that just don't look right even after this off season. The running game doesn't look like it is going to make any big waves this year. A rookie offensive line plus no Curtis Martin for at least half the season is tough and we are not sure Derrick Blaylock can carry the load. We also think that we had a better backup in Jay Fielder last year than we have in Kellen Clemens and Patrick Ramsey this year. Clemens might be the one to bring home the championship in years to come, but he is a rookie this year and won't see much time. Ramsey has shown much in preseason and almost looked like he wouldn't make the team.

The Predictions

Enough banter about pros and cons, rookies and veterans, it is time to make the picks for the season. The New York Jets will go 9-7 this year and will be in the hunt for a wild card spot in the AFC East. We see them finally winning against the Pats in the home opener and splitting the other two games with the AFC East rivals. We seem them losing to the Colts, Jaguars, Browns and Bears. Here is how it all breaks down.

• W: Titans - A good start
• W: Patriots - Great Mangini powered win
• L: Bills - Always play well at home
• L: Colts - Just too good.
• L: Jaguars - Great defense.
• W: Dolphins - Frying fish at home
• W: Lions - A team not ready for this year
• L: Browns - A playoff team this year
• L: Patriots - They play better at home.
• L: Bears - Going to be hard to score
• W: Texans - Still has troubles
• W: Packers - Favre rounds out his season
• W: Bills - We get their number at home
• W: Vikings - Brooks gets some playing time
• L: Dolphins - Close but they pull out a Christmas Miracle
• W: Raiders - We need the win for the playoffs, we make it happen

The Rest of the AFC East

So how will the Jets stack up against the AFC East this year. We think pretty well. The Pats will still dominate with a healthy Tom Brady and mad genius Coach running the game. The Dolphins will hit .500 as Daunte Culpepper doesn't come back to his 2004 form and the Bills will have a 6-10 season as no quarterback steps up to get it done.

• 10-6 - Patriots
• 9-7 - Jets
• 8-8 - Dolphins
• 6-10 - Bills

Disclaimer

Our disclaimer this year is that while going against the tide and predicting a winning season after a 4-12 one is totally nuts, we admit we are crazy but are also Jet fans and that makes it all OK. Read up on why we are such homers below and come back for the rest of the season as we do weekly Throne Picks for the AFC East games and one or two others. We will also revisit this after the season to see how we did.