The future looked very bleak last year for the New York Jets before the start of the season. Chad Pennington was coming back from his second shoulder surgery, Eric Mangini was a young and inexperienced new head coach and there was no Curtis Martin in the backfield. How far we have come.

Jet Kingdom's 2006 Picks - Revisited

Just a quick recap of how we did last year in our 2006 AFC East Throne Picks.

• Predicted 10-6 for the Patriots who actually went 12-4
• Predicted 9-7 for the Jets who won one more and went 10-6
• Predicted 8-8 for the Dolphins who lost Duante and went 6-10
• Predicted 6-10 for the Bills who won one more at 7-9

Not bad as we were only off by 6 wins total.

The 2007 New York Jets

The Jets surprised everyone last year hitting a 10-6 season and a place in the post season against the Patriots. Pennington was healthy for the entire year and while the backfield was a little empty without Curtis Martin players like Leon Washington, Brad Smith and Justin Miller made the team fun to watch.

The 2007 Jets come back with all the weapons of last year and one big new one in running back Thomas Jones. A bruising back from Chicago, Jones has put up over 1,200 yards in his last two seasons. A huge upgrade for the Jets and for Pennington the most. From the draft the Jets picked up Darrelle Revis and David Harris who should help on the defensive side of the ball as the second year Mangini 3-4 system tightens up and picks up where it left off last year.

The big loss, or at least on paper was left guard Pete Kendall who was traded to the Redskins for a 2009 draft pick. The question is can green rookie Jacob Bender fill that gap and protect the quarterback as well as give Jones somewhere to run.

Schedule Strength

The thing that stands out the most in comparing the Jets from last year to this year is the schedule. Last year the Jets, for the most part, lost to good teams and beat bad teams. Teams play the schedule they are given but when given an easy one you should win those game and the Jets did. This year though, the AFC East is matched up against the NFC East which means the Jets will be taking on the Eagles, Cowboys, Redskins and Giants. Not a lot of easy games in there, or at least as it looks right now. Add to that the AFC East teams including the Patriots, a always tough to beat Bills and wily Dolphins and the Jets have a lot of work ahead of them.

The Predictions

That is enough banter about pros and cons, schedules and players, 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 once again in the AFC.

• W: Patriots - A good start and surprising a team missing a few players.
• L: Ravens - The defense is too good and our offensive line not good enough.
• W: Dolphins - Trent Green better look out. Leon is licking his chops.
• W: Bills - Another win at Buffalo.
• W: Giants - Home field advantage all around.
• L: Eagles - McNabb is back and throwing bombs.
• L: Bengals - A close one but Palmer has too many weapons.
• L: Bills - They haunt us at home again.
• W: Redskins - Bounce back from the losses
• L: Steelers - Parker runs amok.
• L: Cowboys - Toughest part of the schedule and shortest week.
• W: Dolphins - Back on track with a win against whatever team is left in Miami
• W: Browns - Payback for last year and we might meet a Brady we can beat
• L: Patriots - The Brady we can't beat is at home.
• W: Titans - The curse has already struck Young we just rub it in.
• W: Chiefs - Herm returns and gets sent back home. Plays to win, but doesn't.

In Other Kingdoms

So how will the Jets stack up against the AFC East this year. We think they will do pretty well once again. The Pats will still dominate with a healthy Tom Brady and added weapons to throw to so they are still the team to beat in the division. The Miami Dolphins, with a healthy Trent Green will try to hit .500 but will fall short as the defense shows its age and the offensive line shows it can't protect a 37 year old. The Buffalo Bills improve on their season and hit .500 and JP Loseman shows he can win more games but might not be the long term answer.

• 11-5 - Patriots
• 9-7 - Jets
• 8-8 - Bills
• 7-9 - Dolphins

Disclaimer

We will admit that we had put pen to paper many months ago and written down 10-6 for the season but after seeing the pre season games and trouble on the offensive line we knocked them down a win which in our case was the Eagles game.