I agree because I don't think 9-7 gets us a playoff berth. If somehow we go on a Miracle 2009 Jets esque playoff run at 9-7 where we go to an AFC title game, I doubt Philbin gets fired.
Of course. Title games and Super Bowls get you a lot more time. Tom Coughlin backed himself into two rings. That team has been all levels of horrid but he is still there.