If only we had a time machine. Then we could elope back to September to revise our predictions through Week 11: The Patriots would be undefeated, the Jaguars atop the AFC South, Chargers the AFC West, Matt Hasselbeck would be making mincemeat of the NFL's worst division, Tony Romo the NFL's best division, and the Lions, well, not to call them cowardly but...aw, shucks folks, I'm speechless.
Of course, none of these popular predictions have come to fruition?far from it. The Patriots are behind the Dolphins, the Chargers the Broncos, Matt Hasselbeck has been made mincemeat, Romo as well and the Lions are WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE (where is Denny Green, by the way?)!
Going into Week 12, one might have been enticed by a Pittsburgh/Cincinnati Thursday nighter (brought to you by the best broadcasters around, of course), a possible Super Bowl preview featuring the Jaguars and Vikings, or an AFC Title preview in San Diego versus Indianapolis.
But stunningly, none of these games mean very much with respect to what each team strives to contribute to at the end of every season: the playoff picture.
No, I seriously mean to tell you that none of those games has much relevance, and that the most intriguing game of the year will take place at the anticlimactic timeslot of 1 p.m. at the anticlimactic venue of LP Field (formerly known as Adelphia Coliseum), where the AFC East-leading/tied for second in the AFC New York Jets, fresh off their dramatic overtime victory over New England (in New England), will square off against the undefeated (10-0!) Tennessee Titans, in what is probably the most unlikely of significant match-ups?or so you think.
Every summer when the Jets schedule is released to the public, I take it, examine it, and then dissect it, breaking down every game and predicting to the best of my ability New York's record at the regular season's conclusion.
An automatic two losses versus the Patriots, one against the Bills (sometimes two), and a sweep of the Dolphins tends to be the beginning to my usual formula. Then, I will combine that record with that against the other teams from different divisions, and for whatever reason, almost every single year I peg them to finish 9-7. This year was no different.
But they've already split with the always affable Belichick & Co.?it's like they're missing something this year? and dropped Buffalo and Miami separately on the road with one more to come against each club at home.
And at 7-3, I can't remember a time in recent memory where it actually felt good to be a Jets fan. But it gets even better.
I was speaking to a friend of mine on Skype just the other day, who happens to be a diehard Pats fan, and we were chatting about the Titans' improbable run to perfection thus far, and how incredible it would be if they went undefeated merely a year after New England did it (at least in the regular season, that is. Thanks again, Eli!)
My friend was not amused: "That would just be exactly like when Bonds broke McGwire's record 10 seconds after he had shattered Maris'; I really don't want something like that to happen again."
Of course he doesn't. Which is exactly why this match-up is even more intriguing: who will my arch-nemeses root for this Sunday?
If the Jets win and Patriots lose to Joey "Popcorn-muscles" Porter, the gap will double between the two division rivals, and if the Titans win, their next three games feature Detroit, Cleveland and Houston?a trifecta of winnable fixtures which could catapult them over Pittsburgh and Indianapolis to close out the year, and a perfect season for only the third time in league history?second in two years.
No, New England fans would want that about as much as a Dustin Pedroia trade (I'm sorry, but how did he win MVP again?), let alone it to happen to a team that represents the near antithesis of last year's 18-1 Patriots. That is to say, this year's Titans are a team full of nobodies.
Chris Johnson? Dave Ball? Justin Gage? Who ARE these guys? Oh, Kerry Collins. That sounds kind of familiar.
After Week One when the franchise's only marquee player Vince Young succumbed to injury and heavy criticism of the whereabouts of his head, the 35-year old Collins stepped in and hasn't lost in 2008. The Daniel Day-Lewis/Britney Spears of the NFL, Collins seems to disappear on end for seasons at a time, only to reemerge every five to eight years and step back into the spotlight.
I think we all remember when he single-handedly dismantled the Minnesota Vikings in the 2001 NFC Title Game 41-0, only to bow out to the mighty Ravens in the memorable Super Bowl XXXV, now with the undefeated Titans, and back in 1996 with the sophomoric Panthers, leading them to the NFC Title Game in just their second year of existence, only to lose to the Packers 30-13.
And who was under center that year for Green Bay? Hmmm...oh, that's right!
It was Brett Favre; the same guy who will be under center this Sunday, trying to spoil everything for Collins once again. But wait...there's more!
Who knew that when the Jets first began play back in 1960, they were known as the New York Titans (and the Titans the Oilers before establishing themselves in Nashville)?
The only reason I knew that is because it seems like every other Sunday they don their putrid retro navy blue and gold Titan uniforms, which makes me cringe every time.
But of course, exceptions can always be made, and if the Jets opt not to mirror their unbeaten foes Sunday under the same exact name, then I will be disappointed in Jets' management and life in general. How could anybody pass up a literal clash of Titans?
Whatever happens though, I have no doubts that it will be a highly entertaining affair between two of the league's best (a nd perhaps even the top AFC elite).
But most of you will miss it because of the Patriots-Dolphins game that will be broadcasted at the exact same time on the exact same network; either that or you'd rather watch mediocre football than get up off your lazy butt, drive to the nearest sports bar, and seize the opportunity to remember the Titans. I know I will.