
New England Patriots vs. New York Jets: What Are Experts Saying About New York?
Coming off just their third victory of the season, the New York Jets face one of their biggest challenges of the year in the red-hot New England Patriots.
Gang Green gave its biggest rival all it could handle the last time these two teams played, as a blocked field goal in the final seconds sealed a Patriots win.
However, things have a different feel this time around. The Jets have very little to play for except pride, and the Patriots are in their typical dominant December form.
Much of the speculation surrounding New York heading into the Week 16 matchup revolves around the team's future, as the Jets' season is lost.
Click through to see what the experts are saying about Rex Ryan and Co. ahead of the AFC East battle.
Rich Cimini: Jets Have Plenty of Options for Head Coach in 2015
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With Rex Ryan's fate all but sealed, the Jets will be searching for another head coach this offseason.
As Rich Cimini of ESPN New York explains, there is no shortage of options.
Jim Harbaugh, one of the most successful NFL head coaches of the last few years, will be one of the most sought-after men in all of football, so competition for him will be fierce.
Other options include Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Both have had tremendous success in recent years, leading two of the most productive defensive units in football.
If John Idzik sticks around, Quinn or current Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell could be the top options, due to Idzik's ties to Seattle.
There are also several college coaches who may be attracted to an NFL job. Auburn's Gus Malzahn, Notre Dame's Brian Kelly and Stanford's David Shaw are all proven winners and would be a fresh perspective into the franchise.
It'll be an interesting head coaching search for Woody Johnson and Co., as potential replacements are aplenty.
Ryan Alfieri: Calvin Pryor Still Has the Ability to Succeed
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New York's secondary has been the center of all its problems.
The unit has allowed a staggering 29 passing touchdowns this season, while recording just five interceptions.
Rookie safety Calvin Pryor has contributed to its issues. The first-round selection has struggled to adjust to the speed of the NFL, and he's been plagued by mistakes in coverage and missed tackles.
However, it's way too early to give up on Pryor, according to Ryan Alfieri of Bleacher Report.
The Louisville product is terrific at targeting the ball-carrier and closing in on him for the tackle or big play, but his aggressiveness often leads him to lose his balance and miss the tackle.
If Pryor can learn to control his body when making tackles and make a great number of big plays, he could easily turn into the player New York thought he'd become when it took him with its first pick last offseason.
CBS New York: Jets' Chances at Top Pick Are Astronomical
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The Jets' victory over the Titans may have looked like a win on the scoreboard, but it could result in a much greater loss.
By beating the awful Titans on Sunday, the Jets basically played themselves out of contention for the first overall selection in this offseason's draft.
CBS New York, through numberfire.com, reports that Gang Green's chances of claiming the No. 1 pick went from 11.82 percent to 0.02 percent with the win.
Of course, the Jets want the first overall pick so they can select the franchise's next "franchise" quarterback, Marcus Mariota.
Mariota won the Heisman Trophy this year after a phenomenal season with the playoff-bound Oregon Ducks. Mariota has tremendous speed and mobility, along with great accuracy and playmaking ability.
Sadly, the Jets will now have to trade up to receive his services.
Darryl Slater: Jets Likely to Hang on to Percy Harvin
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The Jets traded for Percy Harvin a bit too late in the year, and they have only continued to crumble following his addition.
However, Harvin has actually been very productive in seven games as a Jet. The former Florida star has recorded 25 catches for 306 yards and a touchdown, along with 20 carries for 109 yards and another score.
Harvin's speed and elusiveness have opened up the offense and provided Geno Smith with a dynamic target.
With Harvin signed through 2018, there are some serious questions surrounding his future with the team.
Darryl Slater of The Star-Ledger believes Harvin's future is directly related to the fate of Idzik.
If Idzik is brought back, the former Seahawk will undoubtedly remain a Jet.
If the general manager is fired, Harvin's future would be a bit more cloudy.
However, Slater believes retaining Harvin would be a smart move for any Jets GM, as there are few, if any, players in the league with his kind of playmaking ability.
Pete Prisco: Patriots Too Good for Motivated Jets
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Rex Ryan will get his last shot to beat Bill Belichick and the Patriots on Sunday, so expect the Jets to give it their all.
However, a victory will be hard to come by for Ryan and Co.
As Pete Prisco of CBS Sports points out, New England is in the driver's seat for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but it cannot afford a loss.
Prisco thinks a motivated Ryan and his team will "hang around for a while" but will ultimately come up short against a much more talented opponent.
The CBS Sports expert has the Patriots winning 27-13 in a hard-fought game.
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