How Bittersweet It Is: Jets Should Savor Impressive Victory over Colts

For the second consecutive season, the New York Jets assumed the role of roadblock on the path to perfection, effectively dropping the Indianapolis Colts to 14-1 yesterday with a 29-15 victory in Lucas Oil Stadium.

In November 2008, Gang Green handed the Tennessee Titans their first loss after a 10-0 start to the season. Except the complexion following that victory was of a different hue.

The Jets’ 34-13 dismantling of the Titans in 2008 was met with grandiose declarations of Super Bowl contention. Yesterday’s victory was met with disdain. The agony of defeat is being credited to Indianapolis coach Jim Caldwell and not the Jets’ top-ranked defense. 

The rookie head coach robbed the league’s winningest team of the decade of one more notch in the ‘W’ column when he decided to rest select starters, including MVP-candidate Peyton Manning. The criticism is an irrational oversimplification. 

“We tried to score as many points as we could,” said Manning during his postgame press conference. His words should stand as a testament to the effort the Jets placed forth in pursuit of their first playoff berth since 2006.

The writing was on the wall, clear as day for anyone watching closely enough. The New York Jets were not going quietly into the night.

And the Indianapolis Colts benched themselves.

 

Jets Frustrated Manning from the Opening Kickoff

No player questioned his coach’s decision to rest select starters after the game. But no player made it difficult for Caldwell to pull rank on them either.

Manning commanded two touchdown drives before becoming a spectator, but his disappointment was captured by CBS’ cameras long before he took to the sidelines.

Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne may have helped Manning become the fastest player to eclipse 50,000 passing yards in a career yesterday, but they were also a step slow, missing opportunities against a defense that doesn’t give many.

Outside of dissecting Jets’ cornerback Lito Sheppard, Manning struggled to find a real rhythm in the passing game. The Colts’ offense relied on running backs Joseph Addai and rookie Donald Brown to score the team’s only touchdowns.

Jets’ safety Eric Smith set the defensive tone early when he flipped a leaping Austin Collie upside-down for a one-yard loss. That was Caldwell’s first warning.  

When linebacker Bryan Thomas blocked Adam Vinatieri’s extra point attempt following Addai’s 21-yard dash to the end zone, Caldwell recognized the Jets defense wasn’t going to be deflated by a two-score deficit.

Brad Smith’s franchise record-setting 106-yard kick return for a touchdown to start the second half and give the Jets a 10-9 lead confirmed Caldwell’s concerns.

It’s safe to assume that Caldwell had seen enough when the Jets stopped the two-point conversion after Brown’s one-yard touchdown on an impressive nine-play, 81-yard drive.

The world was then introduced to Curtis Painter, and a Colts quarterback was sacked for the first time in more than 150 drop backs.

 

Manning Doesn’t Tackle

There’s no naïveté here. The Jets’ confidence surged when No. 18 remained on the sideline. But to say that the Colts lost because of Caldwell’s decision is an insult to the roster.

The likelihood of Manning and friends leading another scoring drive in the second half is a near certainty. Winning games in the fourth quarter is what Peyton Manning does; losing them is what the Jets had done a week prior against the Atlanta Falcons. 

But turning the Colts’ loss into a one-man circus surrounding Caldwell only vindicates the players who should be held responsible for the lost shot at history.

Running backs Thomas Jones and rookie Shonn Greene rumbled to 202 yards on the ground, validating the Jets’ top rank on the rushing charts.

Gang Green did something yesterday that longtime watchers aren’t accustomed to seeing. They won a game when it was necessary, and they did it in convincing fashion; no matter what the talking heads say.

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Two Rhodes Diverged: Kerry Rhodes, Jets Safety, Still Missing the Message?

“I shall be telling this with a sigh…” — Robert Frost, 1920.

New York Jets safety Kerry Rhodes sent a message on Sunday that didn’t take 140 characters or fewer against the Carolina Panthers. 

The avid tweeter delivered a two-interception performance to stamp a final exclamation point on a tumultuous week that started with a demotion. Jets coach Rex Ryan had removed the fifth-year safety from his base 3-4 packages.

Yet, Rhodes still didn’t say enough. Making a turnover-plagued quarterback look like a turnover-plagued quarterback doesn’t signal the long-awaited return of the Jets’ playmaking superstar. 

But if you ask Kerry, he’ll imply that the demotion was all he needed to reignite his fires.

“The message was sent,” said Rhodes, briefly. “Now I am moving on…You saw Kerry today and that is what you will see.”

A peculiar notion, to say the least.

The Jets’ 2008 defensive captain shouldn’t need a message to become the blitzing ball hawk who was snubbed in Pro Bowl voting, following strong 2006 and 2007 campaigns.

And he definitely shouldn’t have needed a message after an offseason he peppered with expectations of performances akin to that of Baltimore Ravens five-time All-Pro safety Ed Reed.

Former Jets quarterback Ray Lucas and NFL analyst Adam Schein discussed Rhodes’ performance on SNY after the game, and they agreed on something fans believed was missing from Rhodes’ preparation all season: he played like a man who studied the film on Jake Delh-“Oh my God! Where are you throwing?” and took advantage.

If Lucas and Schein were right about Rhodes improving his preparation with more film study, then that speaks to a much bigger problem with the player who’s posted more than 7,100 messages to his Twitter profile .

Regardless, the intention is not to vilify Rhodes for his extracurricular activities. It’s inappropriate. But his motivation shouldn’t be beyond reproach.

When former Jets coach Eric Mangini shipped Jonathan Vilma to the New Orleans Saints, he also shipped the defensive leader who kept Rhodes in the film. The result: David Harris emerged as a quiet leader where Vilma once stood, and Kerry Rhodes regressed to a playmaker by previous reputation.

As it stands, fans have to wonder if Rex Ryan should consider making the demotion even stronger than just a message. Perhaps it could signify a real change.

Granted, Rhodes’ success could have been a result of added determination after an embarrassing public demotion. And then his performance could also have to do with the decrease in responsibility in his new role. 

Finding the field in nickel packages didn’t require Rhodes to have sideline-to-sideline range in the defense against the Panthers. He played a support role and waited for Delhomme to toss one of those errant passes he’s become infamous for since January.

Rhodes is more athletic than Eric Smith, the safety who replaced him. But one has to wonder if he’s diagnosing plays with the efficiency needed to play the deep safety position. 

Nonetheless, consider these the cracks in the wall that separate fan from journalist:

1. I own an authentic Kerry Rhodes jersey.

2. Kerry Rhodes’ autograph is permanently Sharpie’d onto another jersey of mine.

It’d bring me great joy to declare the end of Rhodes’ two-year regression. But in the spirit of responsibility, it must be understood that such a declaration would be premature. 

Until then, I’m looking down the road as far as I can, hoping the demotion made all the difference.

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Darrelle Revis Speaks: A Conversation with the Jets’ Shutdown Cornerback

The New York Jets (3-3) ascended quickly during the first three weeks of the 2009 season, only to course directly into the most turbulent of skies.

With three disappointing losses to contrast against their three impressive wins, Gang Green is searching for a break of light in the Bay Area’s treacherous black hole when they face the Oakland Raiders (2-4).

Yet, through the Jets‘ darkest moments remains one illuminated constant.

Darrelle Revis, a third-year cornerback out of Pittsburgh, has started every game since being drafted 14th overall in 2007. The flashes of greatness were evident from the onset.

Revis arrived late to training camp after lengthy contract negotiations and stepped in as the team’s No. 1 cornerback. It was a role he would never relinquish—and one no ever second-guessed, either.

He followed a three-interception rookie campaign with a five-interception, one-sack season for Pro Bowl honors in 2008. And he’s continuing his gradual climb, vying for consideration as the league’s best cornerback on a weekly basis.

Revis has kept every team’s primary receiver in his sights, refusing to let some of the NFL‘s most dominant—the Texans‘ Andre Johnson, Patriots‘ Randy Moss, and Saints‘ Marques Colston—take over games as they normally do.

It was an oddly warm October night, and Revis was looking comfortable backstage after a rushed rehearsal.

The 24-year-old cornerback was an hour from making his stage-acting debut with the 12 Angry Mascots at Comix in New York’s Meatpacking District, looking ready for a night of sports-themed satire to benefit the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.

Revis took a moment to discuss his methods on the field, two-year-old grudges against receivers who scored on him, and life for the Jets’ defense after Kris Jenkins’ season-ending knee injury.

 

Angel Navedo: Is it safe to say that tonight is your acting debut?

Darrelle Revis: Yeah (smirks). I don’t know. It might be. [There is] going to be comedy with it, though. I just want to have fun with it. I joke a lot, so this is something that’s going to open me up and let people see Darrelle Revis off the field.

 

AN: Any plans to do a more work behind the camera down the line?

DR: (thinks for a moment) Eh, if it presents itself, [then] I’ll look more into it. But right now, I’m just doing this for a good cause—for Crohn’s and Colitis disease research. I’m here to have fun in the city tonight. [The 12 Angry Mascots] asked me to do it, and I just want to enjoy it.

 

AN: Now, most cornerbacks consider themselves either ball-hawks or physical guys, but you do both well. Do you prefer a certain style?

DR: It can be both ways. I try to think of myself as an all-around corner. I like to cover, but I like to come up and tackle as well. In certain situations, I might be a finesse type of corner on receivers or with the quarterback.

And sometimes I might just wanna get in your face and tear it off (laughs).

 

AN: When you watch film, do you still identify problem areas in your game?

DR: It depends. We all make mistakes, week in and week out. The one thing I try to always preach on to myself is being consistent in my play, even at practice. I go back and look at the practice film and see if I made a step the wrong way, or did something else. I try and critique myself.

Usually, nine times out of 10, I know as soon as I mess up. If it’s in a game or if it’s in practice, I automatically know. It’s something you have to know and follow to keep your game consistent against some of the top receivers in the league.

 

AN: Do you feel like your mistakes are things you mostly do to yourself, or were you caught off guard?

DR: It’s moreso something I did to myself. Don’t get me wrong, these top receivers get paid a lot of money, too. I have to have my A-plus game on these guys. You can’t try to relax or give in. 

Every now and then, there might be a false step here and there, but you can recover and do other things. It depends on how athletic you are. But if you know yourself, you can avoid getting caught in bad situations.

 

AN: Any situations where guys really try and test you?

DR: I was tested real good last week by [Buffalo Bills‘ receiver] Terrell Owens. [On the] first play, he tried to come off the ball and knock my head off. And he saw that I was meeting him head on.

You can’t show that you’re weak out there. 

 

AN: I remember you last played Owens in your rookie year. And if I’m not mistaken, he’s one of two guys who did catch a touchdown on you.

DR: Yes (laughs).

 

AN: But you bounced back and kept him covered this time around. What was it like getting another chance at him?

DR: That actually stuck with me for two years (laughs). I really took it to heart, and I always wanted to get a chance to play him again—to compete with him and show him that it ain’t gonna happen this time.

I was so excited when he signed with the Bills, because now I get to see him twice a year. I know he’s a great player, so I have to match every step with what he does. That’s what I tried to do [on Sunday] to get him back, and I actually did. He caught three balls for 13 yards.

 

AN: But what about the other guy who scored on you in 2007?

DR: Braylon Edwards (laughs). And now he’s my teammate, but I can’t do nothing to him.

 

AN: Maybe see him in practice?

DR: Not during the season (laughs). We don’t want to hurt the star players. Maybe in training camp, though. It might get a little bit heated in the offseason.  

 

AN: Speaking of injuries, how is the defense adjusting to the loss of Kris Jenkins?How does losing him change things for the secondary?

DR: We have to focus on what we do. Our first job is to not let any balls go over our heads. Through the six games we’ve had, we’ve been doing fairly well, but we have to keep focus on that. But now it comes to a point where we might have to come up and tackle more.

Kris Jenkins is a big loss. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and everything; big body at 6’4″, 380 pounds. He takes up two guys sometimes.

 

AN: He’s listed at 360. Are you saying he’s actually 380? 

DR: I don’t know. I just know he’s a big cat (laughs). But we still believe in the guys who are going to step in for him. They wouldn’t be in the NFL if they couldn’t.

[Injuries are] just tough, man. We’re even kind of short at the receiver position. [Losing] Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith hurts. We want to get them back, but they have to come back healthy.

 

AN: And this Sunday you’re going to Oakland to face a Raiders team that looks to be improving. How’s coach Rex Ryan preparing you to come back from the Buffalo loss?

DR: Basically, don’t take [the Raiders] lightly. They beat a good Philadelphia Eagles team, [and] they beat us last year in Oakland. [Coach Ryan] told us this is a trap game. This is a situation where we have to go out there and prove not just to them, but to the NFL that we’re still a top contending team in this league.

 

AN: Thanks a lot, Darrelle. Good luck this week and have a great show.

DR: You’re welcome, man. 

Click here for excerpts of Darrelle Revis’ performance with the 12 Angry Mascots, courtesy of the New Jersey Star-Ledger. 

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Jets Lose Kris Jenkins for the Season: Is Torn ACL Career Threatening?

The pain is all too familiar for New York Jets All-Pro nose tackle Kris Jenkins.

A 6’4″, 360-pound defender by trade, but persistent competitor at heart will be forced to the sideline for the rest of 2009 with a devastating, season-ending knee injury.

The torn anterior cruciate ligament was confirmed by Rich Cimini of the New York Daily News, ending speculation and sprinkling salt on the Jets’ wounds after a crushing 16-13 divisional loss to Buffalo.

It was the second quarter when Jenkins stopped Bills running back Fred Jackson. Jenkins remained on the turf as the congestion around him cleared, grimacing as trainers examined him before hobbling gingerly off the field with help.

He never returned, but now fans have to wonder if he’ll be able to return as the same Kris Jenkins after surgery.

The road is one Jenkins has already traveled. In 2005, he was with the Carolina Panthers when he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee. The season-ending injury followed a shoulder injury that sidelined him in 2004.

Although he returned to All-Pro form after finding a home with the Jets in 2008, the injuries happened to a younger, smaller Jenkins.

Given his massive stature and age—Jenkins turned 30 in August—is it reasonable to expect No. 77 to return to All-Pro form on two surgically repaired knees?

Jenkins is a recently married man with two young children. He may reach a crossroads when deciding if he’d like to continue playing a game where injuries come back to haunt players.

Under such circumstances, Jenkins’ return could rely more heavily on his feelings as a family man than it does on the rehabilitation of his knee.  

But it’s far too soon for such speculation, right?

As it stands, coach Rex Ryan must figure out how to help his defense recover from the dagger that was driven into his unit’s heart. Make no mistake about it—the defensive scheme doesn’t function properly without Jenkins on the field.

His ability to collapse the pocket, devour runs, and occupy the line of scrimmage is a skillset the Jets require to function properly. Without him, Ryan is forced to concoct a new defensive formula to disrupt the offense.

Sione Pouha, a 6’3″, 325-pound defensive tackle, moves up the depth chart with Jenkins’ injury. But can the Jets expect a 30-year-old perennial backup in his fifth year to fill the void Jenkins’ injury created?

If the Pouha experiment doesn’t work, Ryan may have to deviate from his 3-4 defensive scheme and explore more four-man fronts with a rotating defensive line.

Defensive end Shaun Ellis could be move inside in some situations with some outside linebackers taking a three-point stance to seal the edges. But that’s only more speculation in a confusing time for the Jets defense.

Whatever the situation, fans should expect a significant trial and error period before Ryan develops new schemes for his players strengths.

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Mark it Down: Jets Learn Jerricho Cotchery’s Value to Sanchez in Loss

How many ways can one team lose a football game?

The New York Jets discovered a few more creative ways in their crushing 16-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. It was a masterful showing of ineptitude in all phases of a football game after two previous flirtations with disaster.

A second-quarter, season-ending injury to All Pro nose tackle Kris Jenkins triggered a tragedy of errors, highlighted by rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez and his five-interception outing.

Coach Rex Ryan showed his rookie colors again with poorly-timed challenges and a mismanaged clock. A lost fourth-quarter challenge exhausted a valuable timeout following a Buffalo punt return for an insignificant six yards.

Penalty flags flew early and often with everything from false starts to unnecessary roughness. While Ryan’s Jets are certainly more aggressive, they’re also undisciplined when it matters most.

Gang Green’s disgraceful performance received it’s final stamp of emphasis when punter Steve Weatherford bobbled the snap on what should have been the game-winning field goal in overtime.

At least that’s what this brand new excuse machine of mine sputtered for the first few hours after the loss before settling on a small shred of vindication.

 

Turbulence through the air

In losses to the New Orleans Saints and Bills, Jets’ fans witnessed the kind of quarterback Sanchez will be when he doesn’t have receivers he can trust. 

Jerricho Cotchery, the Jets most sure-handed receiver, missed Sunday’s game against the Bills with a hamstring injury—his first since December 2007—severely staggering the offense.

Through five games, Cotchery’s 360 receiving yards are tied with Arizona Cardinals standout receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Except Cotchery has 24 receptions and one touchdown to Fitzgerald’s 35 catches and five scores.

Cotchery was a league leader in receiving yards early in the season until the Saints defense neutralized him in Week Four. He was identified by New Orleans as a favorite of Sanchez and was double-covered. 

The fifth-overall pick went on to throw three picks in the Superdome, and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum pulled the trigger for an early October trade with Cleveland for receiver Braylon Edwards.

The transaction is still expected to be a successful one. But the expectations are contingent upon how well Cotchery and Edwards complement one another. If Cotchery’s not available, it’s unreasonable to expect Edwards to fill the void of two receivers after 10 days on the roster.

With no viable receiving threat to play opposite Edwards, the Jets newly-acquired receiver faced double coverage from Buffalo’s fourth-ranked pass defense. Sanchez targeted Edwards nine times for three completions and 40 yards.

Losing versatile receiver Brad Smith in the lineup didn’t help either.

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First and 10: Early Season Favorites for the NFL’s Annual Awards

We’ve seen quarterbacks make 300-yard games look routine; we’ve seen defenders completely neutralize offensive superstars; and we’ve seen coaches turn their teams completely around, for better and for worse. 

Amazing that we can say this at the start of every season, yet remain surprised as if we’ve never seen it before. 

I battled with myself a lot while compiling this list of too-early predictions. Paragraphs were deleted, my laptop was closed violently, and Facebook and Twitter came through in the clutch with the 20-minute distraction.

But after I finally deciphered the messages in my crystal ball and tea leaves, I settled on my most impressive candidates for the annual awards.

It’s first-and-10 right now and I’m in hostile territory. Hopefully no one is flagged for a false start. Let’s see what the defense shows me before the snap.

 

MVP

QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

Listen. I didn’t think Peyton Manning deserved the MVP award in 2008. He received too much credit for the Colts’ nine-game winning streak when they had the benefit of playing through mediocre competition.

This is where Colts’ fans remind me their team beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers on that run. Don’t care.

As far as the first four weeks of this season are concerned, no quarterback is playing better. And yes, I’m aware of Drew Brees’ existence.

Manning’s 1,336 yards and nine touchdowns have him off to the best start of his illustrious career. If that doesn’t say it all, then you’re simply not listening.

For your consideration: QB Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers – It really is unfortunate that a pair of losses damages a man’s credibility. But should Rivers really be faulted for his defense’s inability to secure the victory when he’s brought 1,245 yards and six touchdowns to the field?

Also noteworthy: LaDainian Tomlinson, who? Just saying.

 

Offensive Player of the Year

QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore and prolific offense used to be the grandest of contradictions. The two do not go together. But in his second season, Joe Flacco is testing history with the Ravens, churning out 300-yard performances and challenging Baltimore’s decade-long identity.

With 1,103 yards and eight scores, Flacco is hiding the biggest elephant in the room: Baltimore’s defense is running on reputation this season. The Browns don’t count.

For your consideration: QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints – I swear I’m not going with the “shock” angle by waiting until now to nominate Brees. I promise you. 

His production in the first two games was mind-boggling, but two weeks don’t make a season. When his high-octane offense is neutralized, the only thing stopping his Saints from being the 8-8 team of 2008 is a scoring defense.

 

Defensive Player of the Year

S Darren Sharper, New Orleans Saints

Too generous? Any player who’s returning interceptions for more than 95 yards in his 13th NFL season should be acknowledged accordingly.

Darren Sharper leads the league with five picks, proving his speed is still perfectly synchronized with an elite sense of awareness. Most defensive backs watch that skill fade in the twilight of their careers, but Sharper remains as omnipresent as ever.

His 33 years really can’t be disregarded in all of this.

Most elite defenders are usually reduced to reserve roles at this stage of their career, whereas Sharper’s arrival in New Orleans made him the centerpiece of the Saints’ new defensive tradition under Gregg Williams. 

For your consideration: CB Darrelle Revis, New York Jets – In his third season, Revis turned shutting down top receivers into an art. The one thing that keeps Revis a notch below Sharper is the empty touchdown column. Locking down receivers is all fine and dandy, but he needs to create turnovers and convert them to points every now and again, too.

 

Comeback Player of the Year

QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots

This award is his to lose.

For your consideration: LB David Harris, New York Jets – In 2007, Harris replaced the injured Jonathan Vilma and recorded 52 solo tackles in his first three starts. He went on to lead the team with 127 tackles with production to rival that of 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

And then injuries happened in 2008. Harris was sidelined for most of the season and was a shadow of the All-Pro potential he showed as a rookie.

With Rex Ryan in town, and working with linebacker Bart Scott to form “Assault & Battery,” the Jets’ Punisher forced a fumble, picked off a pass, recorded 33 tackles, and notched two sacks.

Is This a Little Silly? QB Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings – Is it possible for someone to comeback after being voted to a Pro Bowl?

Favre was written off after last season’s stint with New York. I helped seal the envelope. His two touchdown, nine interception disaster to close out 2008 with the Jets was supposed to spell the end.

Now with the Vikings, Favre has a 104.6 passer rating, eight touchdown passes and only one interception. Adrian Peterson doesn’t have to do it all alone anymore.

Oh, and two thrilling victories to boot. Welcome back, again.

 

Offensive Rookie of the Year

QB Mark Sanchez, New York Jets

So the Saints game was really ugly. The fifth-overall draft pick laid the first egg of his young career, and you’d be naïve to assume it’s the last. But that doesn’t change the veteran-like presence Sanchez had in his first three outings.

Jets coach Rex Ryan wasn’t forcing his prize quarterback onto the field when he named Sanchez the starter. He said Sanchez was the best man for the job, and it’s hard to argue after watching him play. 

For your consideration: WR/KR Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings – He’s every bit the playmaker he was expected to be coming out of college. His speed makes him a threat from anywhere on the field, validating why the Vikings drafted him out of Florida.

Harvin will be even more dangerous once he stops running on pure instinct and actually understands what a defense is trying to do neutralize him.

 

Defensive Rookie of the Year

LB Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers

I’ll be honest with you: I’m making this call off the strength of one play. Crazy, huh?

I was sold when Clay Matthews ripped the football from the clutches of the NFL’s best running back, Adrian Peterson, and returned it for a touchdown on Monday Night Football.

There was no doubt in my mind that he’s a good player, but that’s the kind of play that prefaces a highlight reel when you’re inducted into the Hall of Fame. Too soon?

For your consideration: LB Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins – Call me a fan. I like Orakpo’s style…a lot. He’s turned his raw power into 13 tackles and two sacks, and is showing flashes of being an elite pass-rush specialist once the game turns on for him.

 

Coach of the Year

Eric Mangini, Cleveland Browns

Just kidding.

Rex Ryan, New York Jets

All trash talk and bravado aside, Rex Ryan knows how to make a football team work. He isn’t only coaching a talented team, but he’s working towards changing the culture for an entire fanbase. How’s that for leadership?

He might be rough around the edges, but isn’t about time the NFL saw a coach who actually speaks from his soul?

Regardless of those intangibles, Ryan identifies what his team needs to improve, and he gets it done. Once it became clear that his offense would struggle without a premier receiver, he made sure the Jets pulled the trigger on a trade for Braylon Edwards.

The attack-style approach he promised in New York turned his team into 3-1 contenders when most analysts presumed them as bottom-dwellers.

For your consideration: Brad Childress, Minnesota Vikings – Idiot savant? Sorry. That was harsh.

Childress took a lot of heat in the offseason for delivering pies to Brett Favre’s door every morning throughout the summer. People questioned why he was so desperate to entice a quarterback ready to turn 40, with a surgically repaired arm, back to the field. 

After four weeks, his Vikings are undefeated and Childress gets to smile the whole way through. His defense is lights out with Jared Allen performing like a monster (sorry if you Vikes fans feel he was snubbed for Sharper).

The Vikings last second victory against the San Francisco 49ers was the kind of thing Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels couldn’t do. Childress’ desperation for the gunslinger sure looks different from this side of September.

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Jets-Titans: New York Wins in Hard-Fought Battle Against Reeling Tennessee

Ups and downs, highs and lows, and everything in between. The New York Jets emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle against the desperate Tennessee Titans, improving to 3-0 and leaving Tennessee winless.

“Their record is not indicative of how tough that team is,” said Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez of his opponents.

Throwing for 171 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, Sanchez had his struggles against a proud defense looking to prove the Titans are better than their record.

The fifth-overall draft pick capped off a strong opening drive with a 14-yard scamper to the end zone and followed it up less than three minutes later with a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ben Hartsock on a convincing play-action fake.

Then Sanchez started to look a little like a rookie. The wet weather forced him into mistakes as the Titans’ defense pushed the Jets into five consecutive three-and-out drives.

It was the NFL’s top-ranked defense at the start of Week 3 that salvaged the game for New York. It bent for quarterback Kerry Collins, but never broke for running back Chris Johnson.

When there was a game to be won, linebacker David Harris stepped up to intercept Collins to end one drive and sack him for an eight-yard loss to stifle the Titans’ comeback bid in another.

 

There May Be a Kitchen Sink Out There, Too

When Kerry Collins was named the starter in Tennessee, the expectation was that he’d be the game manager for a strong running team with a ragtag crop of receivers. At 36, Collins played that role well for the Titans, working more diligently than anyone in an effort to secure his team’s first victory.

Sure, he may have thrown 13 consecutive incompletions as the offense stalled Tennessee’s attempt at a fourth quarter rally, but Collins stands out for throwing directly at Darrelle Revis, challenging the cornerback who Matt Schaub and Tom Brady avoided in previous weeks.

Ultimately, Collins opened the run game with his passing, threw two touchdowns, and allowed Johnson to dash for 97 yards while LenDale White smashed for the first offensive touchdown scored against the Jets this season.

Tennessee’s defense didn’t let New York off the hook, either.

The Jets’ offensive line had an all-pro opening drive, but couldn’t open any holes big enough for Thomas Jones.

Tennessee showed that adapting to life after Albert Haynesworth is simple enough, limiting Jones to a dismal 20 yards rushing on 14 carries, while the defensive ends applied consistent pressure, flushing Sanchez out of the pocket to end drives.

The Titans’ secondary, featuring three Pro Bowl defensive backs, succeeded in not allowing a 300-yard passer for the first time this season, an accomplishment even though Sanchez is a rookie quarterback.

 

“How Dare You?”

The season is young, and with youth comes questions as to the reality of a team’s abilities. For New York, every contest has been about finding out who the real Jets are while pundits hesitate to acknowledge the impressive nature of their victories.

The reality of Tennessee’s talent should only serve as a testament to the quality of the new, New York Jets.

Gang Green didn’t squeak by with a sloppy victory—they created opportunities, taking advantage of mental errors, particularly at critical moments in the game.

“We’ve played three outstanding football teams. We’re 3-0, right here, maybe that says something about us,” said coach Rex Ryan during the Jets’ postgame press conference.

“For anyone out there who thinks this is a gimmick defense, that this is a defense that can’t play smash mouth: How dare you?” asked linebacker Bart Scott.

“This team’s built on tough, gritty players that can adjust to any style of football.”

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NFL Power Groupings: Steelers Reign, but One-Man Armies Threaten Champs

The 2009 NFL season is officially upon us, and with it comes the first real opportunity for premature evaluations and knee-jerk reactions.

With the meaningless preseason out of the way, now is the appropriate time to cue every optimist offering their reminders that it’s only Week One. But with all positivity aside, the reality of the regular season is that a loss only serves as a step away from the ultimate goal.

Oddly enough, the ultimate goal is actually open to interpretation. Many would lead you to believe it’s all about the Super Bowl, except it’s really not in some cases.

If you’re Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, the goal is to break Jim Marshall’s record for most consecutive starts and stick your tongue out at the Green Bay Packers.

If you’re the Detroit Lions, the goal is to not supplant the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the record books for the most consecutive losses.

If you’re Marvin Lewis, the goal is keep your job with the Cincinnati Bengals through the end of the season. Actually, that probably wouldn’t be in his best interest.

But that’s enough tone-setting rhetoric for right now.

Doing a little Nino Colla swagger-jack, I’ve decided to break the NFL down into my own four tiers of power, with an irrefutable leader sitting atop. How comfortable they are up there will be open to my interpretation, of course.

The categories will be subject to change as I settle into this new task, but you’re all thoroughly encouraged to rock with me in the meantime. Let the scorn begin.

 

Competition Is None

Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams

The thrill of starting the NFL season may have dissipated very quickly if you pledge your allegiance to any of these teams.

While the Bengals, Lions, and Rams remain constant from 2008, the expectations for the others made their losses even more deflating than the final scores would indicate.

Browns coach Eric Mangini looked most ridiculous in his first outing with his new-ish team. His ridiculous handling of the quarterback situation backfired severely.

Someone should remind the Mangenius that the best competitive advantage comes from having better players—not castaways from the franchise that fired you.

But if there’s a coach who’s in legitimate danger of not finishing the season, it has to be Marvin Lewis.

Sure, the Bengals were victims of circumstance, as their loss transpired in a scenario that no one could have foreseen. Somehow it feels like we’re always saying this about Cincinnati.

Without question, Carolina suffered the most disturbing defeat of all, receiving no return on their good faith investment in Jake Delhomme.

With each turnover more crippling than the previous, the Panthers are in a legitimate soul-searching situation. Was this an embarrassing setback for their freshly extended $42 million quarterback or a gross miscalculation of a 34-year-old’s ability?

 

You’re Doing It Wrong

Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins

ESPN’s Monday Night Football kicked off with what should’ve been a doubleheader of upsets. But then again, “should have” really has no place in NFL discussion, does it?

We deal in what was around these parts.

The Bills and Raiders failed to cash in on opportunities against reputedly stronger teams, letting victories slip away when they were all but guaranteed.

Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin should have taken a knee in the end zone, and the Raiders defense should have avoided the prevent defense, as the aggressive approach slowed Chargers running back Darren Sproles all night.

They didn’t, they lost, and so they did it wrong.

Joining them are the Bucs’ defense for allowing three Cowboys receivers to make emphatic statements about life after Terrell Owens with long touchdown receptions, and the defending NFC Champion Cardinals for not looking like a team that nearly won the Super Bowl seven months ago.

The Bears mortgaged their future on QB Jay Cutler and left no opportunity to build a team through the draft. Maybe receiver Michael Crabtree can fall to one of the draft picks they didn’t give away in desperation for a franchise passer.

The only winning team in this tier is the Broncos. Outside of Brandon Stokley’s circus catch, I’m open to suggestions of anything they did right.

 

Results Were Inconclusive

Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

This was the tricky section to piece together.

Technically, the teams could’ve been broken up into two more categories, but I wanted to avoid redundancy. The objective here is to identify the teams who aren’t quite there yet.

Without tip-toeing around it, the Patriots belong here. The return of Tom Brady was never enough to make me believe the NFL should tremble again. New England’s offseason moves only validated that for me.

The offense aged with receiver Joey Galloway and running back Fred Taylor. But the defense took the biggest hit with all the lost leadership. A Bills team that scored six points in four preseason games and fired their offensive coordinator exposed that glaring weakness.

Brady is Brady, and he can still stage thrilling fourth-quarter comebacks. But that defense might make him do it more often than ever before.

While the Eagles abused the Panthers at every turn(over), it’s another injury to QB Donovan McNabb that hangs in the balance for Philly.

Backup Kevin Kolb will likely be released as the Eagles’ sideline will house two capable quarterbacks—Jeff Garcia and Michael Vick—if McNabb can’t play.

The Colts and Jaguars played a close game, and the NFC West teams only won because someone had to. The Jets carved the Texans up real nice, but they easily dispatched of a team that’s been known for their slow starts to the season.

 

Pursuit of the Throne

Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans

Trying to pick the most impressive of all the bunch is no simple task.

The Falcons’ decision to trade for future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez will compete with the free agent acquisition of LB Mike Peterson for smartest offseason move.

Or, if you prefer, we can discuss the Saints, Drew Brees, and his machine-like passing touchdown performance. The addition of Darren Sharper to a defense in need of a leader could be exactly what Brees needed to keep his season alive.

The Chargers are probably receiving the most generous position on this list. At times they looked like every bit of the 8-8 team they were in 2008 against Oakland. Then they showed flashes of that threatening postseason team when it mattered.

Ultimately, San Diego receives credit for coming to terms with LaDainian Tomlinson’s age versus Darren Sproles’ explosiveness. There was a game to be won in the final minutes, and Norv Turner asked Sproles to pick up where he left off late last season.

As for the Titans, it’s actually quite simple: lol @ the Redskins for paying Albert Haynesworth so much money.

But the best settling point in this discussion has to be Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and how he bullied the Browns on Sunday.

Brett Favre made his debut with the Minnesota Vikings, and it didn’t even matter. The man who was expected to be the difference-maker for a young team was rendered useless by a running back who can win games alone. Was there anything the old gunslinger did that Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels couldn’t?

 

View from the Top

Pittsburgh Steelers

It’s not going to be so lonely for the Steelers up here much longer.

They default to the top position for winning their first game as defending Super Bowl champions and should hold it until they’re defeated convincingly; or maybe until a team like the Saints or Vikings obliterates a contender of yesteryear—not sure yet.

But between now and then, the Steelers have to figure out where their running game went and how to get it back.

Ben Roethlisberger continues to show his worth as a legit quarterback, but can his offensive line protect him well enough to keep him alive when the running backs struggle?

Losing Troy Polamalu after a monster first half of play is going to hurt.

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Jets-Texans: Ryan’s Defense Smothers Houston as Sanchez Shakes Jitters

Even those who fully subscribed to rookie coach Rex Ryan’s optimism and bravado were taken by surprise.

Ryan and his New York Jets had to deliver on a lot of offseason lip service, or join the Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, and Chicago Bears in the Monday morning funny papers.

But the Jets avoided any such criticism and made an emphatic statement to the NFL on Sunday when they took the field at Reliant Stadium. Rex Ryan proved to be a man of his word.

Analysts and gamblers alike predicted gloom for Ryan’s debut against Houston and their high-powered offense. Yet, from the opening kickoff New York absolutely suffocated the heavily-favored Texans.

 

The Mad Scientist Didn’t Lie

New York’s variation of Baltimore’s organized chaos didn’t disappoint in their regular season debut. The Jets’ new-look defense swarmed to the ball and took every opportunity to make contact with the Texans.

Linebacker David Harris built on his strong preseason, notching 11 tackles, slamming Schaub to the ground for a sack, and introducing himself to any ball carrier in his vicinity. The expectations fans had for Harris and linebacker Bart Scott to complement one another were met from the onset.

Fans are already thinking of nicknames for the inside linebacking duo, with Assault and Battery being a personal favorite.

The Texans’ offensive line was shredded by New York as the defense registered two sacks and eight hits on Schaub. Second-year running back Steve Slaton ran for more than 1,200 yards in 2008, but was limited to a paltry 17 yards on nine carries.

All-Pro nose tackle Kris Jenkins continued his dominant ways, swatting linemen away and swallowing anyone he could behind the line of scrimmage.

Third-year cornerback Darrelle Revis limited receiver Andre Johnson, the NFL’s 2008 reception leader, to a modest four catches for 35 yards. And newly-acquired cornerback Lito Sheppard picked off Schaub on a desperation toss while under pressure.

 

It’s the Little Things That Count

Offensively, all the attention rested upon rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, his 272 passing yards, and a second quarter touchdown strike to receiver Chansi Stuckey. But the fifth-overall draft pick proved his value in another way.

The fifth-overall draft pick displayed his intangible leadership quality in the first quarter after a scuffle broke out following kicker Jay Feely’s field goal for the first points of the game. Fourth-year tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson was flagged on a personal foul triggering Sanchez to leave the sideline and lead his teammates away from the fracas.

The 22-year-old’s footwork and pocket presence impressed everyone, but if there’s anything that validates Ryan’s decision to start Sanchez, it’s that natural sense of responsibility for his team.

 

Jets’ Alpha and Omega

While Rex Ryan stands at the center of his football team, it’s evident he’s entrusted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to do what he sees fit. And after one week of play, the decision has the makings of a great one.

Presumably handcuffed under ex-coach Eric Mangini, it was Schottenheimer who had to re-establish himself as one of the NFL’s emerging masterminds. Schottenheimer’s willingness to experiment while never straying from a struggling rush attack spoke volumes of the Jets under Mangini.

The Jets were unafraid of showing the Texans an unorthodox formation, lining right tackle Damien Woody to the left of Ferguson.

Schottenheimer also debuted his own variation of the popular Wildcat formation, dubbed Seminole in honor of running back Leon Washington and his Florida alma mater.

But it’s Schottenheimer’s ability to remain steady that helped New York put the game away.

Running back Thomas Jones could not find any openings in the Texans defense for the first three quarters of play. But the game plan never strayed from the 10-year pro, allowing Jones to put the game away in the fourth quarter on a 38-yard touchdown run—his second of the day.

Perhaps Rex Ryan is a psychic, of sorts. Or maybe he’s the confident coach New York needed to realize it’s full potential.

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Jets-Texans: Will Rex Ryan Define the New, New York Jets in Houston?

The best first step will always be the one that supports your preferred stance. For first-year coach Rex Ryan and his New York Jets, the time to tie laces is rapidly drawing to a close.

Gang Green will kick off their 2009 season in Reliant Stadium when they take on Gary Kubiak and his Houston Texans. But this isn’t the same expansion team the Jets defeated in all three of their previous meetings.

The Texans are a team no longer interested in learning curves. They are a talented team, starved for respect in a competitive AFC South with hopes of sending an early message to the NFL.

For the Jets, Houston represents an immediate challenge in a schedule loaded with ever-present danger.

While all eyes will be on rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, fans should realize that the fifth-overall draft pick is not expected to be the actual star of the show. It’s Rex Ryan who has to prove his value through the tenacity of his defense on Sunday.

Ryan is a big man with an even bigger shadow cast over him. Ryan must shoulder the burden of his father Buddy Ryan’s reputation—a brilliant defensive mind, but mediocre head coach—in his first season.

The architect of Baltimore’s defense cannot show any signs of being overwhelmed with the responsibility of commanding an entire team.

Ryan’s first task places him in the unenviable position of standing behind his own strong words. The loquacious coach has to back up all of his offseason bravado or suffer the wrath of the media as they analyze his rhetoric.

The only way Ryan can avoid any criticism will be if his Jets support his confidence, and remain relentless at all times.

He must become the complete anti-Mangenius, so to speak.

One of the chief criticisms of ex-Jets coach Eric Mangini rested upon the flat performances his teams brought forth when the game was on the line. Under Mangini, the Jets were never devoid of true talent; their strategies simply lacked creativity when victory was imminent. 

Fourth-quarter leads were blown when Mangini and former DC Bob Sutton defaulted to a prevent-style defense with a bland, four-man rush. No pressure was applied to any offense as sub-par players looked like reincarnated Hall of Famers against the Jets.

Mangini failed to counter any and all adjustments his opponents made at the half. That’s the brand of football that Rex Ryan cannot subscribe to if he hopes to be successful in New York.

New DC Mike Pettine joins Ryan to make sure the Jets’ new-look defense doesn’t crumble when there’s a game to be won. But the new style and improved personnel face a direct challenge from the Texans.

Starting the season with a hackneyed expression may seem premature, but Sunday’s match-up should be determined by the ultimate battle of wills. Both teams match up against one another fairly evenly.

Second-year running back Steve Slaton looks to build upon a stellar rookie season where he rushed for over 1,200 yards. But he has trouble in front of him with All Pro nose tackle Kris Jenkins and the bolstered front seven he leads with linebacker Bart Scott.

Complementing Slaton is wide receiver Andre Johnson, one of the best players in the NFL—on and off the field. Johnson led the NFL with 115 receptions in 2008, yet remains underrated for his relatively low media profile.

“He really flies under the radar because he’s a soft-spoken individual who just goes out, plays, and performs. He comes to work every day to get better,” said Texans’ QB Matt Schaub last month.

“He’s not one of those, ‘typical’ receivers you see in the game today who’s gonna have the camera in his face all the time with the media,” continued Schaub. “He goes to work and whatever it takes to win is what he wants to do.”

All of Johnson’s hard work will be put to an immediate test when he lines up against Jets’ star cornerback Darrelle Revis. The third-year pro is regularly acknowledged as one of the best defensive backs in the league, blanketing top receivers at every opportunity.

On top of having to throw against Revis, Schaub has been hobbled by a preseason ankle injury that’s brought his status for Sunday’s game into question.

If the sixth-year pro cannot play, Kubiak is prepared to start the season with ex-Bears QB Rex Grossman.

Ultimately, the only matchup of significance is the one between Rex Ryan and his Jets. The sooner the players can synch up with Ryan’s vision of Jets football, then the sooner the New York can produce results and fulfill some of the coach’s promises.

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