How great is it that the playoff hopes of the New York Jets hinge on their juicy matchup Sunday in the Meadowlands against the Miami Dolphins, who are led by the man run out of New York when the Jets acquired Brett Favre. Chad Pennington has a chance not only to ruin the Jets' once-flourishing season but also the New England Patriots', as well.
Just four weeks ago, the Jets sat at 8-3 following back-to-back wins on the road against the Pats and unbeaten Tennessee Titans. But bad losses to Denver at home as well as San Francisco and Seattle on the road have left the Jets in a precarious situation. However, if they can beat the Dolphins on Sunday and have either New England or Baltimore lose, they will find themselves with a playoff berth and renewed life. The Pats travel to Buffalo to play the Bills, while the Ravens will host the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, the Jets must take care of business against a Dolphins team led by the castoff QB with the second-highest passer rating in the NFL. Pennington has helped lead the Dolphins' incredible transformation from a 1-15 team to a sound 10-5 group that is playing with the utmost confidence in coach Tony Sparano's first season at the helm. What many considered to be the one team with no chance of competing in the AFC East this season now stands as the team that controls its own destiny.
For the Jets, Favre has struggled mightily just when the team has needed him the most. He leads the NFL in interceptions with 19 and has looked, quite frankly, like a 39-year-old quarterback. His arm strength seems to have waned, and he is back to throwing the rock up for grabs. The key Sunday for the Jets is to employ a healthy dose of Thomas Jones and to utilize Dustin Keller and their wideouts in shorter passing routes. Third-and-long situations could bring out the worst in Favre and pave the way for--what at the beginning of the season looked like--a Dolphins victory and the ultimate vindication.
Showing posts with label New York Jets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York Jets. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
How 'Bout Them Cowboys?
Really, how 'bout them Dallas Cowboys? After pulling to within two points twice on Saturday night in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens, Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain ripped off two incredibly easy, long runs up the middle to take the life out of the Texas Stadium crowd and stun the Cowboys 33-24. The loss crippled Dallas' playoff hopes while providing the Ravens with a banner win in coach John Harbaugh's first season. Unable to pick up the Ravens blitz throughout the game, the Dallas offensive line looked sluggish, lost and old. Tony Romo threw two desperation fly balls to Ed Reed that had no business being tossed. And now, the Cowboys find themselves needing help to sneak into the NFC playoffs.
By the way, how tough is Derrick Mason? Certainly a nice contrast to the main wideout on the opposing sideline, as Mason played through a dislocated left shoulder and caught the lone Joe Flacco touchdown.
Another NFC East team flopped big-time this weekend, as the Philadelphia Eagles played a clunker of a contest in a 10-3 loss to the Washington Redskins. The Eagles blew a chance to move ahead of both Dallas and Tampa Bay in the race for the final NFC wild-card spot with a game to play and now need a victory over Dallas--and help--to get in. The loss also snapped the Eagles' three-game winning streak, as a seemingly resurgent offense during the streak went suddenly inept on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants remained the class of the NFC East--and of the entire conference--with a 34-28 overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night. The victory, fueled by Derrick Ward's career-high 215 rushing yards and Brandon Jacobs' three touchdowns, earned the Giants the NFC's top seed for the playoffs. The Panthers wasted a terrific effort by DeAngelo Williams, who rushed for four touchdowns en route to setting Carolina's single-season rushing touchdown mark.
The New York Jets wasted no terrific efforts in their pathetic showing in a loss to Seattle. The Jets continued their losing ways on the West Coast, falling to 0-4 in games three time zones away from home as Brett Favre failed to throw a touchdown for the third time in four games. He now has just one touchdown and six picks in that period as the Jets' playoff hopes are now on life support.
The Arizona Cardinals certainly looked playoff-ready in their 47-7 loss to the New England Patriots, as quarterback Kurt Warner went just 6-of-18 for 30 yards in his worst performance of the season. Just as the Jets can't win out West, the Cards can't win out East. The past two weeks have seen the Cards down at least 28-0 at the half, the first time a team has trailed by at least four touchdowns at the half in back-to-back games since the '61 Raiders.
Is there any reason at all to mention the AFC West "battle" taking place between Denver and San Diego? Good luck to both teams next week as the two collide in a battle of mediocrity on Sunday Night Football.
Finally, the Atlanta Falcons clinched an incredibly unlikely playoff berth with a 24-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. The Falcons forced four Minnesota turnovers and Matt Ryan was steady again under center, as Atlanta prevented the Vikings from clinching the NFC North division title. They now must hope the Bears lose at home tonight to Green Bay or at Houston next week, or the Vikes must beat the New York Giants at the Metrodome next Sunday.
By the way, how tough is Derrick Mason? Certainly a nice contrast to the main wideout on the opposing sideline, as Mason played through a dislocated left shoulder and caught the lone Joe Flacco touchdown.
Another NFC East team flopped big-time this weekend, as the Philadelphia Eagles played a clunker of a contest in a 10-3 loss to the Washington Redskins. The Eagles blew a chance to move ahead of both Dallas and Tampa Bay in the race for the final NFC wild-card spot with a game to play and now need a victory over Dallas--and help--to get in. The loss also snapped the Eagles' three-game winning streak, as a seemingly resurgent offense during the streak went suddenly inept on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants remained the class of the NFC East--and of the entire conference--with a 34-28 overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night. The victory, fueled by Derrick Ward's career-high 215 rushing yards and Brandon Jacobs' three touchdowns, earned the Giants the NFC's top seed for the playoffs. The Panthers wasted a terrific effort by DeAngelo Williams, who rushed for four touchdowns en route to setting Carolina's single-season rushing touchdown mark.
The New York Jets wasted no terrific efforts in their pathetic showing in a loss to Seattle. The Jets continued their losing ways on the West Coast, falling to 0-4 in games three time zones away from home as Brett Favre failed to throw a touchdown for the third time in four games. He now has just one touchdown and six picks in that period as the Jets' playoff hopes are now on life support.
The Arizona Cardinals certainly looked playoff-ready in their 47-7 loss to the New England Patriots, as quarterback Kurt Warner went just 6-of-18 for 30 yards in his worst performance of the season. Just as the Jets can't win out West, the Cards can't win out East. The past two weeks have seen the Cards down at least 28-0 at the half, the first time a team has trailed by at least four touchdowns at the half in back-to-back games since the '61 Raiders.
Is there any reason at all to mention the AFC West "battle" taking place between Denver and San Diego? Good luck to both teams next week as the two collide in a battle of mediocrity on Sunday Night Football.
Finally, the Atlanta Falcons clinched an incredibly unlikely playoff berth with a 24-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. The Falcons forced four Minnesota turnovers and Matt Ryan was steady again under center, as Atlanta prevented the Vikings from clinching the NFC North division title. They now must hope the Bears lose at home tonight to Green Bay or at Houston next week, or the Vikes must beat the New York Giants at the Metrodome next Sunday.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Jets Edge Pats in OT
The New York Jets took over first place in the AFC East on Thursday night with a 34-31 overtime victory over the host New England Patriots. The win enabled the Jets to take sole possession of the division lead for the first time since Nov. 19, 2001. Brett Favre was dynamite again, and the emergence of Dustin Keller has provided Favre with yet another downfield option. Both Keller and Jericho Cotchery had 87 receiving yards, and Thomas Jones was steady with 104 rushing yards and a score to give the Jets a four-game winning streak and a one-game lead over the Pats.
Meanwhile, Matt Cassel showed Patriots fans that a certain All-Everything QB is not the only one in town who could direct an offense. Cassel finished 30-of-51 for 400 yards--all career highs--and three touchdowns. He even added 62 rushing yards, finishing with the sixth-most in team history for a quarterback. But the defining drive of the game for the backup-turned starter was the game-tying drive which culminated in a beautiful pitch and catch to Randy Moss to send the game into overtime.
While these two teams have completed their season series, there's no doubt that they aren't finished battling this season, specifically at the top of the AFC East.
Meanwhile, Matt Cassel showed Patriots fans that a certain All-Everything QB is not the only one in town who could direct an offense. Cassel finished 30-of-51 for 400 yards--all career highs--and three touchdowns. He even added 62 rushing yards, finishing with the sixth-most in team history for a quarterback. But the defining drive of the game for the backup-turned starter was the game-tying drive which culminated in a beautiful pitch and catch to Randy Moss to send the game into overtime.
While these two teams have completed their season series, there's no doubt that they aren't finished battling this season, specifically at the top of the AFC East.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Favre's Landing
J-E-T-S. Jets! Jets! Jets!
For perhaps the first time in franchise history, the New York Jets will be the talk of the league--hell, the nation--heading into an NFL season. The same franchise that brought you Blair Thomas, Pete Carroll before the rah-rah, Richie Kotite, Kyle Brady and countless other forgettable and regrettable names has now acquired the most prolific quarterback in NFL history.
Does this make the Jets the best team in the AFC? No. Does it make them the best team in the AFC East? Well, no. But after an offseason of eyebrow-raising big spending in free agency, GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini have clearly stated that they are playing for the present and not the future. And Brett Favre as your QB over both Pennington and Clemens certainly represents the present. Never mind the eyebrows being raised regarding whether or not Brett can learn a new system. It's Brett Favre. The absence of West Coast terminology aside, I'm willing to bet that Favre will pick up the Brian Schottenheimer offense fast enough. Will it be painful watching the offense early on? You bet. But if the Jets can get through the first four games of the season 2-2 (the two losses coming to San Diego and New England), I think Favre can develop a nice rapport with Coles and Cotchery, along with Chris Baker and old pal Bubba Franks. The options before Favre: Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens. Now I very much believe Clemens can be a solid NFL quarterback. He just would not have been good this season. And as much as I love Pennington's moxy, he has always struggled to throw the 20-yard "in" and the 15-yard "out." But he still would be a very good backup and fill-in starter. They both have NFL futures. Unfortunately, neither player is Brett Favre.
For perhaps the first time in franchise history, the New York Jets will be the talk of the league--hell, the nation--heading into an NFL season. The same franchise that brought you Blair Thomas, Pete Carroll before the rah-rah, Richie Kotite, Kyle Brady and countless other forgettable and regrettable names has now acquired the most prolific quarterback in NFL history.
Does this make the Jets the best team in the AFC? No. Does it make them the best team in the AFC East? Well, no. But after an offseason of eyebrow-raising big spending in free agency, GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini have clearly stated that they are playing for the present and not the future. And Brett Favre as your QB over both Pennington and Clemens certainly represents the present. Never mind the eyebrows being raised regarding whether or not Brett can learn a new system. It's Brett Favre. The absence of West Coast terminology aside, I'm willing to bet that Favre will pick up the Brian Schottenheimer offense fast enough. Will it be painful watching the offense early on? You bet. But if the Jets can get through the first four games of the season 2-2 (the two losses coming to San Diego and New England), I think Favre can develop a nice rapport with Coles and Cotchery, along with Chris Baker and old pal Bubba Franks. The options before Favre: Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens. Now I very much believe Clemens can be a solid NFL quarterback. He just would not have been good this season. And as much as I love Pennington's moxy, he has always struggled to throw the 20-yard "in" and the 15-yard "out." But he still would be a very good backup and fill-in starter. They both have NFL futures. Unfortunately, neither player is Brett Favre.
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