New York Jets coach Rex Ryan believes the New England Patriots should be worried about playing his team this season. Ryan, full of confidence, also said last week he knows the Jets will make the playoffs.
New York has typically struggled against divisional-rivals New England, but Ryan believes the 2014 season will be different.
"Somebody asked me if we focus on New England. Bull----," Ryan told the New York Post. "We're focused on us. We're focused on us and how are we going to be better. I have to be honest, I don't worry about them. They need to worry about us. I think that's really where we're at now."
Ryan's squad finished 8-8 last season and missed the postseason for the second straight year. Ryan, though, believes his team is vastly improved from last season with quarterback Geno Smith and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson entering their second year and the addition of new talent such as rookies Calvin Pryor and Jace Amaro.
"8-8 is not going to be good enough for us, for anybody in this organization," said Ryan, whose contract was renewed in the offseason. "Am I going to get fired if we're 8-8 or whatever? I don't know. But I can tell you one thing - our goals are set a hall of a lot higher than that. I don't care where they rank us or whatever. I know what we've got. That's why I can't wait. I can't wait to get to prove it. Not by me. I'm going to prove it. I am going to prove it. But so is my team. That's the mission we have."
Ryan predicted last week the Jets would return to the playoffs this season.
"I believe we're better than that. I believe we're a lot better than that," Ryan told The Post last week. "Eight and eight would be a hell of a disappointment for us. I'm just telling you that I believe this team is on the cusp of doing some special things ... I'm confident we will be a playoff team."
