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Schwartz: Some NYC-Area Teams Could Have Legit Title Hopes In 2016

By Peter Schwartz
» More Columns

It was quite an eventful year for sports in the New York Metropolitan area.

Speaking of "Metropolitan," the Mets made a surprise run to the World Series and the Rangers came out of the Metropolitan Division to get within one game of a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

As we head towards 2016, what lies ahead for our teams in the New Year? What should they be looking to accomplish? Does your team have any hope?

Here are my resolutions, in no particular order, for all of our local professional sports teams.

Jets

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Kenbrell Thompkins, Brandon Marshall
Ryan Fitzpatrick of the New York Jets, center, celebrates with teammates Tommy Bohanon and Brandon Marshall, right, after a win over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 19, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Get the job done and beat the Bills on Sunday. After a 4-12 season a year ago, expectations were not high, even with a new regime. But given how things have shaken out, not making the playoffs would be a big disappointment. I can't even say the playoffs are gravy. Anything can happen. If the Jets get in the playoffs, they can do some damage.

Giants

Big Blue needs to have the conviction to go in a new direction. It's time for both head coach Tom Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese to ride off into the sunset. The Giants should be loved by all of their fans for the two Super Bowl titles, but the team needs a new voice on the sideline and a new decision maker in the front office.

Mets

Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz
Jacob deGrom (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images), Matt Harvey (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images), Noah Syndergaard (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) and Steven Matz (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Has there ever been a team that has come so close to winning a championship but has a fan base ready to panic? Maybe this resolution is more for the fans, but relax! This is still a good team with an outstanding pitching staff. The general manager has a plan. If you learned anything from last year, it's that you can make moves mid-season to get better. And they will.

Yankees

I think six more closers should do the trick. That would take care of all nine innings! No, I'm just kidding. The Yankees should be determined to take another step in 2016. I don't think they can win the World Series, but with the moves they've made, I think they can win the AL East and then anything can happen.

Knicks

Coming off of the worst season in franchise history, there's no question that the Knicks are a much better team this season. I don't think Derek Fisher is a very good head coach and is certainly not the long-term answer, but this is a team that has enough talent to make the playoffs and that is what they need to do.

Nets

This is really more for owner Mikhail Prokhorov. So Mikhail, now that you are the sole owner of the Nets and Barclays Center, you need to get your priorities in order. Are you in or are you out? If you are in, then you need to spend some more time in Brooklyn. If you're out, then find someone who is not going to be an absentee owner.

Rangers

The Blueshirts need to stay the course. This is a very good team that went to the Stanley Cup Final and Eastern Conference Final in back to back seasons, so there's no reason why they can't win it all. The East is filled with some good teams, but the Rangers are right there and they certainly could be playing well into June.

Islanders

Islanders-Jets
The Islanders' John celebrates a second-period goal by Brock Nelson against the Winnipeg Jets at the Barclays Center on Oct. 12, 2015. (Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

I could go the easy route here and say the Islanders should just push the control-alt-delete buttons and come home to Long Island when the new Coliseum is finished, but that's not the most important topic facing the team. The primary goal is to finally end the soon-to-be 23-year drought and win a playoff series.

Devils

They just need to continue to be the antithesis of the other team that Josh Harris owns. While the Sixers continue to lose and lose and lose, the Devils have been one of the surprise teams in the NHL this season. Very quietly, New Jersey looks like a playoff team and that should be the goal.

NYCFC

As an expansion team, New York City's MLS squad was a big hit at the Yankee Stadium gate, but a big flop on the field. It takes some time to build a winner, but here's what I would say about the direction of the team: Ownership needs to figure out if it is serious about the team being successful in MLS or being a farm system for Manchester City.

Red Bulls

Red Bulls vs. Columbus
Sal Zizzo of the New York Red Bulls, top, jumps over Justin Meram of the Columbus Crew SC during the second half on Nov. 22, 2015 at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

Like I said with the Rangers, stay the course! They have won two out of the last three MLS Supporters Shields as regular season champions, but the Red Bulls are still chasing that elusive first MLS Cup title.  Many fans were up in arms after the tumultuous offseason a year ago that resulted in a new regime with a new plan, but that plan is working.

Cosmos

Coming off the seventh Soccer Bowl title in team history and second in three years, the storied franchise should continue to follow its mission statement that dates back to the late 1970s and early '80s and that is to win.

Liberty

I'd like to say I know a lot about this team but I don't, so here's what I'll say: the folks at Madison Square Garden should find the common sense to remove Isaiah Thomas as President of the Liberty. I'd hate to see this team win their first championship with that creep getting credit.

All of our local sports teams made news in 2015 for one reason or another and a big 2016 will begin in just a couple of days. Will any of the teams win a championship? Will any of them become an unmitigated disaster? Time will tell, but their objectives are right there in front of them.

Have a safe and happy new year everyone!

Follow Peter on Twitter at @pschwartzcbsfan

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