Brown has played 99.7% of the offensive snaps, is graded in the top half of tackles in the league and his cap hit is $1.2MM. You have a quarterback with an $18MM Cap hit [scheduled to be $48MM next year], you have 3 guys with a combined cap hit of $32MM on IR. Our capologist better be a wizard.
Of the 7 current playoff teams, Chiefs, Jags, Browns, & Steelers all have starting tackle sets ranked below Dawkins and Brown.
I ran the NY Times simulator, picking current team with better W-L for all but the Bills games, from what I see, Bills have to win out to get a WC, otherwise they need a LOT of help. This week is major, and have to beat Miami in Wk18.
The players union will have to agree to 18 games. That will probably require either expanded rosters and/or practice squads, and a larger salary cap and it's doubtful the union will settle for a mere 1/17 (5.9%) increase in the cap to allow this massive revenue generator for the owners.
And who do Moss, Ford and Singletary play for these days? 4/7 on this list isn't a great draft record, esp since this board has been fairly unhappy with Brown for the past three season.
Well, special teams gave up the OT punt return in the first Jets game, 12 men on the field on the Denver FG miss, and our kickers are below the Mendoza line. Food for thought.... 8-4 vs. 6-6 is a big difference
Playoff simulator says we have a 15% chance of getting the 7th wild card.
If we win out [unlikely] we have a 98% of making the playoffs at 11-6
If we lose only to the Cowboys, and wind up 10-7, we only have a 65% chance.
Any AFC loss would basically mean game over.
Jets defense is no kidding, they have the Q. Williams brothers, Sauce, Mosley and Reed, who are all top 5 defenders at their positions.
Meanwhile our defense is currently without our best DL, LB, CB, and S. Don't have a good feeling about this one.