Jets Vs Dolphins: A Must Win For Both Teams?

Why does it seem to me that every game since the Jets started the season someone in the media or on the team says that the Jets next game is a must win?

I don’t get it. Unless the season has been extended without my knowledge, and I can’t imagine anyone doing that to me, there’s still no more than 16 games and with a record of 4-3 why is this game in particular a must win?

Sure I get it. The Jets will be vying more likely than not for a wild card berth as we get closer to the last 1/3rd of the season. The Miami Dolphins have already beaten them once in Miami on a national media circus known as Monday Night Football. They lost that game by allowing the Dolphins to score three touchdowns in the fourth quarter with the winning score coming with eight seconds left on the clock.

The Jets inability to deal with Miami’s “Wildcat” formations has been duly noted and mouths have not been able to shut off since then. I also don’t have to remind any Jets fans out there that it was these same Dolphins that put the nail in the Jets playoff coffin in the last game of last season at the Meadowlands.

That game not only gave the Dolphins the division, but also knocked the New England Patriots out of the playoffs.

Nothing is quite like revenge when it comes to motivating a team, and the Jets certainly have revenge on their minds. I expect them to come out of the gate like wild Indians on both sides of the ball during the first quarter. The question is can they maintain that type of intensity for an entire 60 minutes or come back from a deficit that may happen once again?

I really see this if anything as a must win for the Dolphins. They are 2-4 and another defeat would put them in a position where they would to have to win their remaining nine games to finish the season with the same record as they achieved last year.

The Dolphins, who rank No. 2 in rushing offense, believe Chad Henne doesn’t have to win games for them, he just can’t lose any. Last week’s come-from-behind win by the New Orleans Saints again in the fourth quarter gives the Dolphins some real concerns that must be answered this week.

Of course, Mark Sanchez is no Drew Brees, so this week will be interesting indeed.

For the Jets to win, they must at least slow down the Miami running game with Ricky Williams and Robbe Brown doing the damage. Although nursing an injury, Jets Linebacker and defensive leader Bart Scott is expected to play. The loss of Kris Jenkins looms large today, unlike last week against the Raiders.

The Jets front three will have to step up and have a big game. If the defense can keep the rushing yardage to 100 yards or less and cause a couple of take away turnovers that will lead the Jets to victory.

On the other hand if the Dolphins run wild again the Jets offense may have to play matching touchdowns to stay in the game. They fell short against this team in Miami three weeks ago, and that loss, more than any other, hurt the most.

Prediction: An old Klingon expression, “Revenge is a dish best served cold”.

I believe the Jets will control their emotions and put a serious hurting on the Dolphins. Another 250 yard rushing day, a couple of key turnovers by the enthusiastic Jets defense and Miami will fall too far behind early, and they won’t be able to go to the passing game to pull this one out.

Jets 31 Dolphins 17.

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We’re Talking “Dogs” Here: Mark Sanchez and the Hot Dog scandal

Very few foods, or food groups, for that matter, are sacred to the American Way of Life. Unquestionably, the “Hot Dog” is one of those treats that have been associated with sports since the beginning of time.

As a kid going to a ball game with my dad, it would never seem complete unless we had a couple of dogs along with all the condiments that you could fit on a six-to-eight-inch bun.

It seemed that these dogs were always so much better at a game then the ones served at home with a side of sauerkraut, baked beans, and loads of mustard, ketchup, pickles, onions and whatever else might be available.

I have always been very picky about my dogs. Occasionally, I’d sprinkle a little ketchup on mine, but more than 90 percent of the time it was the dog on the roll and nothing else. My family thought it strange because after they finished putting all the toppings on their dog a keen-sighted visitor would have trouble identifying what was in the roll.

In my house, nothing but Hebrew National dogs crossed our threshold. On the street we would only but a Sabrettes dog from a cart. And on those rare trips to Coney Island, if anything but a Nathans dog crossed our lips, I was sure I would be sent to purgatory.

So what’s the big fuss about Mark Sanchez munching on a dog late in the fourth quarter when his team was up 38-0? Is there a rule somewhere hidden deep in the bowels of the NFL rule book that says there should be no eating or drinking on the bench during the game?

I think not, for if there was, Gatorade might just go right out of business. Let’s face it. The man was hungry and he saw an opportunity to munch down a dog to curb his already upset stomach. That’s what my doctor always said, if you’re having trouble keeping food down and you get a little hungry, it means your stomach is okay now. And a hot dog, if available, is as good as it gets.

Talk about scrutiny. Give this kid a break. He didn’t throw five interceptions again. He didn’t make foolish plays and cause turnovers, which would become scores against his team. He didn’t shoot himself in the foot or punch out his teammate.

He had a bleeping hot dog, so what, get over it and get your BBQ ready and let’s cook some up. It’s not like eating ice cream at 3:30 in the afternoon that will ruin your appetite for dinner. It just a hot dog.

It’s the American way. Hey Mark, pass the apple pie will ya.

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New York Jets vs. Oakland Raiders: Jets Win Big in Bay Area, 38-0

My long weekend trip to the Bay Area was topped by an outstanding performance on the part of the New York Jets defense, as it completely shut down an already suspect Oakland Raiders offense in front of an almost half empty Oakland-Alameda County Stadium. I know—as I said, I was there.

Before talking game details, I need to dispel some very untrue rumors, or urban legends if you chose, regarding the fans of the Oakland Raiders.

Is it true they have their own section called the “Black Hole” where even the most frenzied fans dress up in costumes that would have any trick-or-treaters on Halloween looking over their shoulders? Yes, it’s true.

Do they have tailgating parties that start at the crack of dawn and serve some of the finest food on the planet? Absolutely.

Do they talk smack to anybody and everybody who walks the parking lot in any jersey other than a Raiders’ one? For sure.

Are they miserable drunks and alcoholics that start fights, carry dangerous weapons, and give you no chance to enter the stadium as they run you down in Harleys? Not a chance.

Wearing my well-worn and rather faded Curtis Martin jersey that I dug out of storage for this rare event, I was ready for the worst of it. At least I wouldn’t have to hear my wife sling the “chicken*#%@” phrase at me for the rest of the trip. There I was ready to be entertained, or maimed—whichever came first.

The Raiders fans couldn’t have been nicer. Sure, they had their say, but it was no different from other home parks I have attended wearing the opposing team’s shirt. If anything they were milder than the fans in Philadelphia, by a long shot—and there I wore a Donovan McNabb jersey and I was trashed.

Anyway, as I said earlier, the food was outstanding and everybody was willing to share and that was perfectly fine with me.

The game was virtually over in the first quarter. After the Jets went up 14-0 in the first quarter after two costly turnovers, not only did it appear that the Raiders gave up, but their fans certainly did as well.

I spent most of the game listening to the Raiders fans around me blast not only the team’s head coach, Tom Cable, but the entire coaching staff and the game plan that didn’t seem to exist. JaMarcus Russell was replaced in the second quarter and for all intents and purposes the game was over right then and there.

Overall, the Jets played well. Mark Sanchez played this game not to lose while using his running game extremely well and his short pass game worked as well as it could be planned.

The loss of Leon Washington with a broken leg will cost the Jets dearly down the road, but yesterday it was Shonn Green whose performance opened more than a few eyes on the Jets coaching staff.

Green had 19 carries for 144 yards and two TDs while his partner Thomas Jones put another big game performance on the board with 26 carries for 126 yards and a TD.

Sanchez only had to go to the air 15 times, completing nine passes for 143 yards. His highlight reel came in the first quarter as he called his own number and scampered into the end zone on a quarterback draw.

The special teams unit was in on it as well, as they completed another fake punt attempt for a first down. If I have been counting correctly on those, that makes it two out of three successful attempts so far.

I’m surprised that other teams don’t try that more often, because you rarely see more than one guy rushing the punter, and when he is blocked out of the play, 30 yards down field is usually free and clear.

Any time your defense causes four turnovers and your tandem of running backs can scamper for more than 300 yards, the game gets easier. Easy enough to grab a fourth quarter hot dog? Sure, who not.

That’s what Mark Sanchez did yesterday after complaining that he was not being able to keep food down 24 hours prior to the start of the game. So with the game well in hand deep in the fourth quarter, there was Mark munching on a dog, and today, that’s all the New York press wants to discuss.

I am so glad to be out of there. Let’s just talk football.

The Jets have their three critical games ahead, along with a bye week.

They will have return matches with the Miami Dolphins, who blew a huge early lead yesterday to the undefeated New Orleans Saints, and the New England Patriots, who took it to the Tampa Bay Bucs in jolly old England, reminding our British forefathers that an American Patriot is still hard to beat even after 233 years or so.

The Jets will also get to see the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team not much like themselves whose game performances are not matching their expectations.

Should be fun. By the way, I’m picking the Phillies in seven games to repeat as World Series Champions. Look for that series preview tomorrow.

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The Jets Head To The Left Coast Not To Be Left Out

In what some media people are saying is that the Jets, after only six regular season games, have reached the crossroads to the 2009 season. After starting 3-0 and on such a high note with victories over Houston, New England, and Tennessee, the Jets have come crashing towards the ground with three consecutive losses against better teams for sure in New Orleans and Miami and the far less competitive Buffalo Bills.

That’s no knock against the New England Patriots, but they weren’t the same team in Week Two as they are now, agreed?

A loss against the 2-4 Oakland Raiders this Sunday in Oakland very well might be the end of the Jets season with upcoming games against Miami, Jacksonville, a bye week, and New England. At that point the Jets could be looking at a 3-7 season and a ranking among the five worst teams in the NFL.

That is exactly why, here in only week seven, that the Jets will play the most important game of their season.

They will have to do it without nose tackle Kris Jenkins, who is out for the season with knee damage, and Lito Sheppard ,who once again finds himself on the sidelines out with an injury. The loss of Jenkins is huge and a hole that the Jets hope to fill with Sione Pouha.

On the offensive side of the ball, coach Ryan will be looking for a bounce back game from his much criticized rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. With 10 interceptions so far this season, Sanchez is hardly looking like the next Joe Namath to lead the Jets to the promised land.

According to Ryan, Sanchez is “resilient” but I guarantee another repeat performance even by halftime of the Oakland game we very well might find former starting quarterback Kellen Clemens under the center.

The Raiders are coming off their biggest win of the season, a surprising 13-9 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles who certainly played its ugliest game of the season this past Sunday.

JaMarcus Russell played his best game of the season, but he too didn’t remind any Raider fans of the second coming of Jim Plunkett or Kenny Stabler or even Darryl Lamonica.

The Eagles were one touchdown drive away from winning that game all day long and if their once trusted field goal kicker David Akers hadn’t missed on two early field goals attempts the Raiders would have lost this game as well.

Prior to the Eagles game, the Raider had given up enough points to lose by at least 20 in those three previous games. The Raiders have scored a grand total of five touchdowns in six games and if the Jets vaunted defense returns to the fold the Raiders won’t be scoring many more this Sunday.

Over the years, the Jets playing in Oakland can only be described as a nightmare. They are 2-12-1 in Oakland since 1963 and one only has to look back to last year when the Jets visited the West four times and came away with four losses.

It’s no secret in the NFL that teams don’t travel well when going cross country. This team really is in a “make it or break” game going to the West coast to play in front of some very hostile fans.

I know there will be at least two Jets fans there as my wife and I take our annual football trip on the road to Oakland to see this game in person. We have debated back and forth as to whether or not we have enough “cojones” to wear our Jets gear, shirts, hats etc.

She says “Sure, bring it on”, while I tend to be more conservative about my well being. She’s still annoyed at me for not getting seats in the infamous “Black Hole” section where all the crazies hang out.

Prediction: I’m still on the Rex Ryan bandwagon. He says the team has great character and they will show it on Sunday. They had better for their season and my safety depends on it. Jets 27—Raiders 10

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The Jets Implode Before Our Very Eyes

While I was getting ready to sit back and watch my two favorite teams The New York Jets, and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon I was reminding myself why I loved living and following sports in Las Vegas.

On any given day of the year I can get in my car and in about the same time you can get to a Walmart near you I can be sitting comfortably in the Sportsbook Lounge at the Alliente Station Casino and Hotel. I’m sure they appreciate the plug.

On two rather giant screens, I couldn’t fit into my apartment, I was going to get to watch both my teams side by side for the rest of my afternoon. Other than being at either game, I figured it couldn’t be better than this.

My wife, a born and bred South Philly native was dressed to the hilt in Eagle gear and believe me when I tell you she can hold her own in any discussion about her Eagles for the past 25 years. Besides she’s amazing to look at even after 15 years.

Both teams were favored by the Vegas bookmakers. The Eagles were 14 1/2 point favorites to whip the hapless Oakland Raiders and the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets were 9 1/2 points over the equally hapless Buffalo Bills.

As Flounder said in Animal House, “Boy is this great or what?”

Almost 3 1/2 hours later I once again understood why Las Vegas is still known in many circles as “The City of Lost Wages.”

I have seen my share of football games live, and in person, with countless more on the screen since the mid 1950’s and I can truly say I have never seen two more identical, lousy, uninspiring football games in my entire life. Now I’m not going to focus on the Eagles game at all here other than to say, that a team coming off a bye week and traveling from the East Coast to the West Coast should have been more prepared. And not to have taken their opponent seriously is a statement of contention not on just the team but the entire coaching staff.

The Jets, I’ll have a lot to say about. My friend and colleague, Michael Cohen who writes for Bleacher Report was at the Meadowlands and he completely trashed the Jets, with particular emphasis on the coaching staff, especially new Head Coach Rex Ryan, and called his team nothing more than “The Same Old Jets”.

Is he correct? Are Jets fans after six games already disbelieving the promises of a new and hard hitting team who will shake President Obama’s hand while he is still in office during his first term?

Both the Jets and the Ravens are 3-3 but there is a world of difference between Rex Ryan’s present team and the New York Jets. Joe Flacco threw close to 400 yards and had two touchdowns on the road in Minnesota, while rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez had an embarrassing five interception day at home against the Buffalo Bills.

Here is something that is bothering me greatly. I have watched Mark Sanchez very closely in all the games he’s played in. As a rookie it is not unexpected to see the young man walk off to the sidelines frustrated and angry with himself and sit by himself looking and feeling dejected by the plays that he has not made.

I ask this. Why is he sitting there wallowing by himself in his self pity. Where is the coaching staff? Where is the offensive coordinator? Where is his back up Kellen Clemmens with his head set on talking and soothing this young QB, giving him the encouragement to get out there and try to limit his mistakes. Where the heck is everybody?

Sure he made some bad throws yesterday but a couple of his passes were tipped into the hands of the defense that might have been caught for good gains. Instead they were not and there goes Sanchez off the field with his head down dejected. Don’t give him a vote of confidence the next day, give it to him then and there while he’s struggling.

I don’t like that and I blame the coaches.

In a recent article, I said the Jets weren’t as good as their first three wins indicated and not as bad as their first two losses were. After yesterday’s performance I’m not that sure.

The Jets have a core of potentially great young stars. Bart Scott, Darrelle Revis, Braylon Edwards, Kerry Rhodes, Thomas Jones, Leon Washington and yes, Mark Sanchez.

Kris Jenkins is now out for the season with a knee injury that will require surgery. The team has still plenty of holes to fill and needs to come together as a unit. I believe that the Jets have still not yet recovered from the Miami loss and despite all the protests of taking the Bills seriously, they did not.

Ahead 13-3 at halftime the offense was non existent in the second half despite the fact that Thomas Jones set a new club rushing record of gaining 205 yards from scrimmage. The defense barely laid a hand on a third string Quarterback who brought the Bills back to tie the game in regulation and win it in overtime with a 47 yard field goal.

For Michael and most of our contemporaries I must remind you that six games does not make a season, but I will agree with you that those early results which just three weeks ago looked so promising have fallen by the wayside and comments about “The Same Old Jets” are understandable.

With that in mind these games are played week to week and hopefully unlike the Eagles, the Jets will take the Oakland Raiders who they meet this Sunday in Oakland more seriously then their 90 mile away neighbors did.

I will be attending the Jets/Raiders game in Oakland this Sunday. It’s one of two football trips I try to make each year. In November it will be on to San Diego to see Kimberly’s Eagles take on the Chargers.

I will do a re-cap of the Jets game Monday when I get back home. I hope the results will be more satisfying then the ride home from the Sportsbook Lounge yesterday. It seemed to take hours. I’m not ready to give up on this years team just quite yet. Lets talk again after this week and the after the games with Miami, Jacksonville and New England.

Let’s just hope we can get a day without snow in Foxboro. After yesterday, there’s no team in the NFL that wants to visit New England in the snow.

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Bills-Jets Part One at The Meadowlands

There hasn’t been much talk around Jets land this week about this upcoming game with the Buffalo Bills Sunday.

I can think of two reasons for this: One, the last time Jets players opened their mouths about an opposing team, the Miami Dolphins put a 31 on their pie holes and the talking suddenly stopped as fast as it started.

The second thought is that nobody is taking Buffalo very seriously. They have the 25th ranked defense in the league and their offense has been virtually non-existent. Ever since they blew a fourth quarter lead against New England in week one, the Bills have looked like they don’t even belong in the NFL.

Bart Scott was absolutely politically correct when he was quoted this week saying about the Bills, “They’re all professionals. The last time I checked they have some great players.”

I agree, they do especially their running back tandem of Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch. Trent Edwards is a proven NFL Quarterback, and the last I checked Terrell Owens is always capable of having a breakout day.

There is a reason for the expression, “On any given Sunday,” because it has happened so many times over the years.

The Jets can not get complacent here or they’ll find themselves behind in the fourth quarter and that’s not what is expected at the Meadowlands tomorrow.

Rex Ryan has called this game ” A must win,” which may or may not be true for a week six game, but he wants to make his players understand that anything less than a win and an excellent performance will not be tolerated.

Buffalo is coming off their worst game of the season, a 6-3 loss at the hands of the hapless Cleveland Browns. I watched part of that game and I needed a quart of Mountain Dew to stay awake.

The Jets defense has got to get back on track. They haven’t recorded a sack in either of their last two games, but I expect this to change with Buffalo nursing a makeshift offensive line.

This could also prove to be a breakout game for young Quarterback Mark Sanchez. He will be without two wide receivers and he must be prepared to look to other receivers besides Braylon Edwards.

Buffalo will have to play close to a perfect game to beat the Jets. Are they capable? Perhaps, but the Jets at least this week seem to have too many weapons, the least of which is motivation which they are not lacking at all.

This game should be over by halftime.

Prediction: Jets 38 – Bills 10

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Chad Henne, Dolphins Show Jets They Are Not Yet an Elite Team

In one of the most enjoyable Monday Night Football games in recent memory, the New York Jets showed that right now they are a very good football team, but not yet elite.

The normally stout Jets defense expected a run-happy Dolphins offense.  What they didn’t expect was to be beaten by another inexperienced quarterback, Michigan’s own Chad Henne.

Henne was simply brilliant, going 20-26 for 241 yards and two touchdowns, out-playing his much noted counterpart, USCs own Mark Sanchez.  Sanchez had an excellent game as well, helping the Jets put 27 points on the board, a turn-around many expected after last week’s performance in New Orleans.

The Dolphins put a total of 413 yards of offense against Rex Ryan’s vaunted defense.  The Dolphins featured the NFLs latest fad, “The Wildcat,” to move the ball repeatedly against the Jets.

Ronny Brown and Ricky Williams both hammered away at the Jets defense on the ground, and Williams looked like the Heisman Trophy running back he was while at Texas.

One of the few bright spots for the Jets was the play of their new number one receiver, recently acquired Braylon Edwards. He hooked up with Sanchez for five catches, 64 yards, and one touchdown. Edwards might have had two if he extended his arm one yard further on a brilliant pass from Sanchez.

Edwards was familiar with the Jets offense because it is similar to the one used in his time in Cleveland.  “It really was a game of just refreshing the memory”, he said after the game. 

Edwards, who has led the league in dropped passes in the past, looked like he would catch everything thrown at him by Sanchez, and he nearly did.  He would have liked to catch the “Hail Mary” pass that fell short to end the game.

The Jets are a very exciting team to watch.  What the fans must remember is that it is still very early in the learning process.  The Jets are not as good as their 3-0 start, but they’re not as bad as the two-game losing streak looks.

With a pretty favorable schedule over the next five weeks, the Jets have the opportunity to make a statement in the AFC East.

They have a rematch with both New England and Miami and games with Oakland, Buffalo, and Jacksonville who have a combined 4-11 record.

Next up for the Jets is the disastrous Buffalo Bills (1-4).  It will also be an opportunity to see the struggling Terrell Owens, who seems due to sound off in the very near future.

Should be fun.

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Did the New York Jets Obtain a Rotten Apple in Braylon Edwards?

The Jets who have, for the past six months, been trying to acquire a prominent wide receiver, took a giant step today by acquiring Braylon Edwards from the Cleveland Browns for wide receiver Chancey Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and two draft choices.

With all the hype coming out of Michigan, Edwards, for the most part, has been a flop in his first seasons.  He has shown signs of greatness, but his behavior off the field leaves one to wonder whether he can be pencilled in as the number one receiver each week.

There was never any doubt that Braylon would ever be on the same page as Eric Mangini.  Those two guys are just worlds apart.  Now, if Rex Ryan is keep Mr. Edwards in line and in game face mode, he will have to lay the law down early, and perhaps often, for this talented, yet troubled, young man.

My initial thought when hearing of this trade was, if Braylon could get in trouble outside a Cleveland night club, having him in New York is like being a diabetic and putting him to work at Hershey’s chocolate.

Perhaps Rex Ryan, who helped put Ray Lewis’s life back in order in Baltimore, can do the same for Edwards.  Braylon and the Jets can only wish for the same thing here.  When healthy and focused, Edwards will be a force that other teams will have to prepare for each week.  If he’s a bust, then we gave up a pretty talented number two receiver for him.

The future is anybody’s guess.  Let’s just hope that if Braylon Edwards is a rotten apple, he doesn’t get a chance to spoil the whole cart.

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Did the New York Jets Obtain a Rotten Apple in Braylon Edwards?

The Jets who have, for the past six months, been trying to acquire a prominent wide receiver, took a giant step today by acquiring Braylon Edwards from the Cleveland Browns for wide receiver Chancey Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and two draft choices.

With all the hype coming out of Michigan, Edwards, for the most part, has been a flop in his first seasons.  He has shown signs of greatness, but his behavior off the field leaves one to wonder whether he can be pencilled in as the number one receiver each week.

There was never any doubt that Braylon would ever be on the same page as Eric Mangini.  Those two guys are just worlds apart.  Now, if Rex Ryan is keep Mr. Edwards in line and in game face mode, he will have to lay the law down early, and perhaps often, for this talented, yet troubled, young man.

My initial thought when hearing of this trade was, if Braylon could get in trouble outside a Cleveland night club, having him in New York is like being a diabetic and putting him to work at Hershey’s chocolate.

Perhaps Rex Ryan, who helped put Ray Lewis’s life back in order in Baltimore, can do the same for Edwards.  Braylon and the Jets can only wish for the same thing here.  When healthy and focused, Edwards will be a force that other teams will have to prepare for each week.  If he’s a bust, then we gave up a pretty talented number two receiver for him.

The future is anybody’s guess.  Let’s just hope that if Braylon Edwards is a rotten apple, he doesn’t get a chance to spoil the whole cart.

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High Flying Saints Ground The Jets 24-10

It’s no wonder why Jet’s coach Rex Ryan told the media this past week he wished the Jets didn’t have to play the Saints. This was very out of character for the coach, who has told his team, and the world, that they would not bow down to anyone. I wonder what made him change his strategy this week?

Whatever it was it carried right down to his team. In a complete 180 degree reversal from the previous game against the Tennessee Titans, this time it was the Saints who jumped out in front early, and although the Jets valiantly tried to make a game of it coming within a touchdown early in the second half, it was the Saints who were the dominant team on both sides of the ball.

The Saints somewhere along the way found a lost defense, and forced four Jets turnovers.

Darren Sharper returned one of his two interceptions off rookie Mark Sanchez to a club-record 99 yards for a score. Will Smith forced a fumble in the end zone to produce a second defensive touchdown.

Sanchez definitely had his first wake up call, an unpleasant welcoming to the NFL. He definitely seemed out of sorts as the Saints were relentless in his pursuit. He still managed to go 14-27 and 138 yards, but his four turnovers were his undoing.

Darren Sharper was the defensive hero for the Saints. He had two interceptions on the day returning one of them 99 yards for a Saints club record.

Drew Brees turned in just an average day for him, as he was rushed by the Jets all day long. He was held to just 190 yards on the day, with zero touchdowns. However, it was the Saints defense that completely ruled the day.

Pierre Thomas led the Saints’ offense with 86 yards rushing, and catching four passes for an additional 46 yards.

I said in the preview article that if the Jets had lost this game it would not be time to panic, or have the calling for Rex Ryan’s head. With that said however, I am at a loss for the selection of play calling on two separate occasions when, with the Jets driving on two drives, Ryan chose to have Sanchez attempt a pass on third and one yard to go for a first down. This was called twice, in spite of the fact that Thomas Jones was finding holes in the Saints defensive line for yardage gains that might have kept the drives going.

Maybe we should look at the offensive coordinator for these calls. To me they made absolutely no sense, and with two in-completions they certainly sealed the day for the Jets. I will be watching this type of play calling in future games because if this were to become a habit, there will be plenty of noise coming from this reporter.

In the meantime, the Jets 3-1 are now tied with the Patriots on top of the AFC East. Not too shabby, but still along way to go until January.

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