Is a 9-8 Record a Delusional Expectation for the New York Jets This Season? (Asking for Rich)

Gary from East Meadow called in, and Rich walked him through the New York Jets schedule one game at a time. What came out the other end was a number that says everything about being a Jets fan.

Nine and eight.

The exercise started where the season starts, with the Jets visiting Robert Saleh. Gary called it a win. Packers coming to town in week two, also a win. Two and oh.

Then the schedule bit back. Loss at Detroit. Loss at Chicago, which Gary announced with a cheerful "go Bears" that suggests he saw it coming. Two and two.

Browns at home was a win. Three and two. Then a trip to New England, which Gary marked as a loss and did not need geography to justify.

"I don't think it matters where we play them," he said.

Rich, to his credit, pointed out the obvious. "See? Gary's reasonable, Chris."

The middle of the schedule is where Gary got generous. Dolphins at home, win. Raiders at home, win. Loss in Kansas City. Then the Bills at home, which Gary marked down as a win without hesitation, because home Bills is a win.

Rich backed him up with the receipts. Even the year Rodgers came out with the American flag and popped his Achilles, they still won that one.

"They lost a hell of a lot more after that," Rich added, which is the most Jets sentence available in the English language.

From six and four, the picture wobbles. Loss to Harbaugh's Chargers. Win at Miami. Loss to Denver at home. Win at Arizona. Then Rich openly rooted for the caller to go for it on the Patriots at home, and Gary obliged.

Nine and six. Then the Vikings at home, loss. Then at Buffalo, loss.

Nine and eight. Pie in the sky, as Rich put it, but a number a Jets fan would sign for in a heartbeat.

Here is the problem with pie in the sky, and Chris had it ready.

The Jets win total is five and a half.

"That's almost double," Rich said.

Nine and eight is not a moderate projection. It is nearly twice what the market thinks this roster is. Eight wins alone pays plus 250, which sparked its own small detour when someone at the desk had to explain that plus 250 means you bet a dollar and get 250 back rather than two dollars and fifty cents.

The best moment of the segment was not the record. It was the accent verification.

"You know he's a real deal Jets fan," Rich said, "when he's from East Meadow and he says the word loss, it's loss."

Not lawss. Loss.

Gary did not hate the exercise. He did say one thing out loud that most Jets fans keep quiet, though.

"I hate this team."

Nine and eight. It would take a home sweep of the Bills and Patriots and a couple of road wins the market does not believe in. But Jets fans would sign for it right now, which is its own kind of answer about where the bar sits.