NFL Playoff Predictions: 10 Reasons The Jets Will Lose Just As Bad As Last Time

The Jets take on the Patriots for the third time this year, and this time, it's win or go home.

The Jets won the first meeting with the New England Patriots, one of only two defeats the Patriots would suffer in 2010, with the other being the upset by the Cleveland Browns.

The Patriots haven't lost since, and that include a very lopsided 45-3 victory over the New York Jets in Week 13.

The past is prologue, though, and now this game will be for all the marbles. However, there's a lot of reasons to think another blowout is in the making.

Here are 10 reasons why.

10. Jim Leonhard Still Is Injured

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 25: Jim Leonhard #36 of the New York Jets runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals at New Meadowlands Stadium on November 25, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the Bengal 26-10. (Photo by Chri

Jim Leonhard, the Jets strong safety, broke his leg in practice prior to Week 12, and now the Jets are operating with Eric Smith in the starter's role.

However, Smith did get his one sack this year versus the Patriots, but that's small consolation considering how bad the Jets secondary got ripped up that week.

9. Mark Sanchez Still Is Learning

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets drops back to pass against the Indianapolis Colts during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Jets won 17-16. (Pho

Mark Sanchez is developing at a fairly good pace, but he's still learning.

Bill Belichick completely shut Sanchez down in Week 13, and while it's safe to say it'll be hard for Sanchez to have a worse day this weekend, it's also safe to say Sanchez won't be happy with his stats at the end of the game.

Sanchez is still a year away from being ready to face Bill Belichick in a playoff situation.

8. At Some Point, Braylon Edwards Will Let You Down

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Braylon Edwards #17 of the New York Jets does a flip in celebration of the Jets 17-16 win against the Indianapolis Colts during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis,

Braylon Edwards is very hard to root for because he drops balls. He'll make very athletic, spectacular catches, and then he'll drop the the 3rd-and-8 pass along the sidelines when he's wide open and has a clear route to the end zone.

That's just how Edwards is, and the "Bad Braylon" will rear his ugly head at the worst possible time.

7. Tom Brady Still Is The Patriots Quarterback

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks on in the first half against the Miami Dolphins on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

In a recent podcast interview with Bill Simmons, ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer revealed Tom Brady still carries a chip on his shoulder because he wasn't picked until the sixth round of the draft.

Brady still is pissed the Patriots lost to the Browns, and he's publicly stated his hatred for the Jets.

There is little in this world more dangerous on the football field than an angry Tom Brady, and after Rex Ryan's latest swipe at Brady, you can bet Brady won't be in a very good mood this weekend.

6. Devin McCourty

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 19: Cornerback Kyle Arrington #27 of the New England Patriots (R) is congratulated for scoring a touchdown after intercepting the ball and running 36 yards by teammate cornerback Devin McCourty #32 during the third quarter of the g

Bill Belichick once again proved he's a master talent evaluator with his first-round draft pick Devin McCourty making an instant impact on the league.

McCourty has 82 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and seven interceptions for the 2010 season, his rookie season.

For Belichick to strike gold like that with his first-round pick almost seems unfair, but you can bet McCourty will be making sure Mark Sanchez has a very long day this weekend.

5. Wes Welker, Deion Branch And The Rest

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 26: Wes Welker #83 and Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots celebrate Gronkowski's touchdown in the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. (Phot

Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Rob Gronkowski and Brandon Tate still are catching passes from Tom Brady.

If that changes, let me know.

4. Rex Ryan Is Baiting The Patriots

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 02: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets celebrates their 38 - 7 win over the Buffalo Bills at New Meadowlands Stadium on January 2, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Rex Ryan can't resist the impulse to take swipes at Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the Patriots.

He's like a junkie looking for another fix with his addiction being "Foot In Mouth" Disease.

Ryan, while preparing for Indianapolis, had to say most of Tom Brady's success was due to Bill Belichick's preparation.

While we can sit here and debate the merits of that statement, the fact is that statement is guaranteed to make Tom Brady very angry.

Good luck with that.

3. The Jets Luck Has To Run Out At Some Point

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets walks off the field after the Jets won 17-16 against the Indianapolis Colts during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indi

Jim Caldwell calls one of the dumbest timeouts in the history of the game, the Jets get one of the luckiest bounces in the history of the game, and next thing you know, they're off to New England.

Look back through the Jets 2010 season. How many games did they win by a large margin, and how many games came down to the final minute, if not the last play in overtime?

Luck always plays a part in a team's quest for a Super Bowl, but at some point, there's got to be more than luck.

The Jets playoff luck runs out this Sunday.

2. Bill Belichick Rarely Gets Surprised

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots talks with head coach Bill Belichick before playing against the Green Bay Packers at Gillette Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won the g

Bill Belichick summed up the last meeting with Jets this way in an interview on NFL.com.

"Obviously, they didn't have a good night that night."

Belichick noted the series was tied at one game a piece this season and that whatever happened before doesn't matter, this is the playoffs and these teams will have to dig deep to find something new to throw out there.

Belichick has seen just about everything, so once again, good luck with that.

1. Bill Belichick Will Make Sure The Jets Go Home A Broken Team

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 19: Rex Ryan, Head Coach of the New York Jets greets Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots after a Jets 28-14 win on September 19, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Pho

Bill Belichick does not like the Jets, and while he may not come out and say media-friendly statements like Rex Ryan does, you can tell just by the way he wouldn't stop scoring in Week 13 that he was enjoying watching the Jets suffer.

Belichick, when asked if he started preparing for the Jets right away after the game last night, Belichick replied, no, "I'm' not much of a night person."

Belichick didn't need to start preparing that moment; he probably already has a dozen different ways of deconstructing the Jets already drawn up. So the remark, while funny, has a kernel of truth in it that he doesn't need to burn the midnight oil to take the Jets out again. He'll do it just fine first thing in the morning.