Jets-Bengals: 7 Players That Must Excel For The New York

For the New York Jets to advance to the divisional round of the AFC playoffs, seven players must bring their “A” game to Cincinnati come Sunday:

 

1. Nick Mangold

The Jets All-Pro center and anchor of the offensive line needs to ensure pass protection as well as big holes for Thomas Jones and company. If the Bengals rattle Mark Sanchez in passing downs due to a lack of protection and time, the Jets will lose and lose badly.

 

2. Alan Faneca

Another Jet All-Pro that needs to bring his best stuff to Cincinnati, especially on passing downs.

If Faneca starts opening huge holes that leads Thomas Jones to the open field, it could be a long day for the Bengals. His play along the offensive line is critical. Sanchez cannot be harassed in the pocket and the running game needs to be firmly established in the first series of downs.

 

3. Jay Feely

The usually reliable Jet’s place kicker needs to ensure the team converts all possible red zone opportunities should Sanchez fail to get the team into the end zone.

This has the look of a low scoring game and a win could come on the leg of Feely in the closing seconds if the weather determines a role in the play calling come Saturday afternoon.

 

4. Braylon Edwards

The Jets brought Edwards to New York to stretch the field and take the pressure off the running game from time to time.

While Edwards has looked great on some catches, he’s looked awful on balls right in his hands.

For the Jets to win, Braylon Edwards need to hold on to the football and keep the defense honest by getting himself open in obvious passing situations.

 

5. Mark Sanchez

Mark Sanchez must manage the contest and not be put in the position to have to win the game by passing the ball more than 25 times.

Short screens, short routes, and reliable pass routes will compliment a solid running effort by Thomas Jones. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer needs to keep the Bengals honest with some wrinkles in the Wildcat and not be afraid to stretch the field on first down should a lead develop early.

This game is about confidence and Mark Sanchez will feel the pressure of being in the playoffs the first time.

He’ll need to stay calm, cool, and collected and let the moving parts around this offense do the job.

Forced throws down the field and wild scrambling will spell disaster for New York if Sanchez deviates from what got them to this point thus far.

 

6. Thomas Jones

In my mind the team’s MVP, Thomas Jones, has quietly rushed for his best total ever as a pro and his fifth consecutive 1,000 yard season.

Now over 9,000 yards lifetime, Jones is without question one of the most underrated players in the league and this game is his opportunity to shine.

If Thomas Jones has a big day against Cincinnati and rushes for more than 150 yards, the Jets will not lose.

 

7. Darrelle Revis

The best cover man since the days of Ronnie Lott, Aaron Glenn, and James Hasty in a Jet uniform, Darrelle Revis has shut down Andre Johnson, Randy Moss twice, and Chad Ochocinco with relative ease.

The absolute leader of this defense I like to call the “Monsters of the Meadowlands,” Darrelle Revis needs to provide that key turnover that will be the game changer that ultimately delivers victory for the New York Jets come Saturday’s contest.

If Darrelle Revis can force the Bengals to turn the ball over, the Jets should dispose of the Bengals.

These are the seven players that must perform well for the Jets to win in Cincinnati.

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Playoff Bound! New York Jets Take Care Of Business and Humiliate Bengals, 37-0!

Taking care of business, everyday.

Taking care of business, every way.

Taking care of business is exactly what the New York Jets did as they shutdown the Cincinnati Bengals 37-0 in the swirling winds of the Meadowlands Sunday evening,  as the curtain came down one last time on this 34-year old facility.

The Jets closed Giants Stadium in a way the New York Giants could not. They continued their December hot streak by providing constant pressure on Carson Palmer while Darrelle Revis shutdown Chad Ochocinco in an impressive  destruction of the AFC North champions!

The victory clinched the final playoff berth on the final day of the last game of the 2009 NFL season. This is fifth time the New York Jets would clinch a playoff berth on the last day of the regular season in this decade.

The scenario was simple.

Win and advance to the AFC playoffs and Wildcard weekend.

They did exactly that.

It was so easy, it was scary.

For the New York Jets, it’s been a season of ups and downs. The Jets begin the year with a 3-0 start but then fall under .500, only to roar back in December with a 3-1 record and finish 9-7 for the second consecutive season.But unlike last year, the Jets in finished with their fifth  playoff berth since 2001.

The New York Jets dominated the first quarter while keeping the Bengals offense off the field by refusing to give up a first down while Carson Palmer started the game 0 for 6.

The Jet faithful were pumped and loud as they got behind this defense that has progressed throughout the year.

Trash-talking wideout Brad Ochocinco was irrelevant all evening as the wind was just as much a factor as anything else swirling about the Meadowlands!

For the Jets, it was a historic night for a nomadic franchise that’s never had a true home of its own.

A team originally known as the New York Titans that played in the old Polo Grounds until they built Shea Stadium. Even at Shea, the newly named Jets were essentially tenants of the New York Mets. The baseball club prevented the Jets from playing home games until after baseball season was over. This situation and a new building across the Hudson known as Giants Stadium lured Gang Green to New Jersey to a facility built exclusively for football.

But with the exception of a few seasons, the Jets were second fiddle to the New York Giants, who won two Super Bowls and three NFC conference championships.  During that period, the Jets were only able to muster a third appearance in an AFC championship game under the guidance of a former Giant coach named Bill Parcells with a 12-4 record in 1998.

But tonight, the Jets owned the Meadowlands.

The dominant Monsters of the Meadowlands defense, led by Darrelle Revis and Bart Scott, kept Palmer and the Bengals under check in this unusual circumstance of having to face each other next week based on tonight’s victory.

With a  commitment to the run and the emergence of Brad Smith as the gadget player they miss with the loss of Leon Washington, the Jet offense has successfully lessened the burden on a rookie quarterback for the most part who played mistake free football since the 10-7 embarrassment to the Atlanta Falcons two weeks ago.

The Jets all but sealed the fate of the Bengals when Brad Smith ran the Wildcat to perfection with a 32-yard scamper to the end zone which extended the lead to 17-0. The touchdown brought a high-five from Head Coach Rex Ryan to embattled Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who many believe leaned way too hard on Mark Sanchez to keep the offense moving when not necessary.

Since the questionable play calling of the Atlanta loss, the Jets have stayed true to their strength as the offense has been anchored by the running of Thomas Jones and the quick strike capability of Brad Smith as both an offensive and special teams weapon. There is no doubt that Smith’s contributions to the Jet surge are a reason this team has extended the season to a 17th game and an opportunity to play in the AFC tournament.

The Jets played with a pride and sense of urgency that simply stampeded the Bengals into oblivion. The loss has to shake the Bengals’ confidence regardless of the fact they’ll have Rex Ryan’s Express at home in Cincinnati.

With a 24-0 lead, the Jets forced a Carson Palmer interception that lead to yet another Jet score that had the game out-of-control at 27-0 as Jay Feely nailed a 39-yard field goal at the 14:58 mark of the second quarter.

The Jets rolled up 250 yards in the first half wrecking of the Bengals who managed just 7 total yards while the Jets controlled the football for over 24 minutes! If the New York Jets are hitting their stride, they picked the perfect time as they prepare for what looks like a legitimate playoff run!

Things got no better in the second half as the Jet faithful could begin to leave for the heat of an outside fire in the parking lot or the warm confines of a heater as the Jets extended the lead to 30-0 with another Feely field goal.

The game got so out-of-hand that Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth did an interview with Texan quarterback Matt Schaub, who secured their first 9-7 season with a win earlier in the day with the hope that a Bengal win tonight would give the franchise its first playoff berth.

It was not to be.

With Palmer pulled from the game late in the third quarter, the only question was whether the Jets would shutout the Bengals. The only bright spot offensively Bengal fans could root for was a great one-handed grab by ex-Jet Laveranues Coles, who left the team after two stints to play with Cincinnati.

For the Jets, the team amassed over 2,700 yards on the ground this season which eclipsed the old record held by the 1979 squad.

So as incredible as it may be, the 2009 version of the New York Jets finish 9-7 are the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs.

A cocky rookie head coach and a talented rookie prone to the interception have turned this season around in about as dramatic fashion as possible.

The Jets win four of the last five and go 3-1 in December and 1-0 in January.

In a season where the talk was about undefeated squads, the Jets have had their ticket punched for a trip to the Queen City on the river and we’ll see just how far they can go with a defense that seems ready for a serious postseason run.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Rex Ryan, Stop Talking About the Colts Game and Prepare for the Bengals!

As former Jet Head Coach Herm Edwards used to say, “you play the game to win.”

That’s what the Jets did on Sunday.

That’s what the Colts didn’t do.

That’s not the concern or business of the New York Jets, so please stop talking, Coach Ryan!

With a 15-10 lead on Sunday the Indianapolis Colts made a strategic decision to abandon a quest for perfection vs. resting players and getting prepared for the greater goal of winning a second Super Bowl in the Peyton Manning era.

Whether this was the right or wrong thing to do will be decided by how far the Colts travel in the AFC tournament and ultimately a trip and win in the Super Bowl.

While Colt fans scream forfeit and veteran sports talk radio personalities like Mike Francesa slam Coach Ryan for even slightly suggesting the Jets deserve some credit for beating an undefeated team, it’s time Ryan just shut up and prepared for Week 17 and the Cincinnati Bengals!

For just a week prior, Jet fans like myself were trying to explain how the team didn’t show up at home in a miserable 10-7 defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons, who were eliminated the day before from playoff contention?

Just a week later, elation seems to hit the team as Miami and Baltimore along with Denver lose to slide the Jets back into contention with the defeat of the Colts, 29-15.

From a spin perspective, the best spin is no spin at all.

The Jets didn’t beat an undefeated squad, they beat an undefeated squad that decided being undefeated doesn’t really matter.

This is not the fault of the Jets, but simply the reality of what occurred.

Yes, the Jets did play well.

They did have a great special teams return with Brad Smith and the defense held Manning in check somewhat in the first half.

But we’ll never fully know what would have occurred had Manning remained in the game.

Based on past history, it’s safe to say the Jets would be 7-8 vs. 8-7!

For this can all change again in the final week of the season should the Jets once again play Mr. Hyde and decide not to show up for this final contest that they must win, unless all the same teams that lost last week once again choke, leaving an 8-8 Jet squad clinching a spot in the post season.

While personalities like Francesa are correct in assuming the Jets in all probability would have lost if Manning played the entire game, I don’t know of a crystal ball that Mike reads from his perch at The Fan studios in New York!

It seems to me Mike Francesa would rather slam Coach Ryan than evaluate the terrible performance by the New York Giants against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, where they embarrassed the memory of Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands by forgetting to show up.

This is far more inexplicable than the Colts sitting starters in a game that meant nothing to their objective of winning another Super Bowl.

Let’s not forget Mike Francesa is a Giant fan at heart.

Beating up the Jets for winning vs. slamming Tom Coughlin and the 3-7 collapse of Big Blue is far more painful when it’s obvious where his allegiances lie.

While others make the case that every fan knows that the only undefeated team is the Dolphins and thus the opportunity to seize perfection must be chased?

Do you think the same fans also know the New England Patriots are the other team that went undefeated at 16-0, but also finished like a bride left at the altar at 18-1?

If you asked a Green Bay Packer fan who won Super Bowls l and ll, you think they know the answer?

How about if you ask a Jet fan who won Super Bowl lll?

This notion of perfection is noble, but does it guarantee greatness?

Does it signify you are without question the best?

Don Larsen was the best pitcher for one day. Does it make him a Hall of Famer?

Because Earl Morrall led the undefeated Dolphins, does that make him better than Tom Brady or Peyton Manning?

For the New York Jets, the object is to win the next game.

Why, who and how the Bengals approach the contest is irrelevant to what the Jets must do come kickoff.

If Carson Palmer plays or not, the New York Jets must win to qualify for the AFC tournament and that’s all that really matters at the end of the day!

So I ask Coach Rex Ryan to stop commenting about the game to the media.

No more interviews on Manning and other issues in which you have no control or say. What you do control is the preparation and mental state of your team to win on Sunday in the final NFL game in the Meadowlands.

That’s all that really matters, Coach Ryan, so let’s stop talking and start motivating this Jet squad to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals!

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Jets Stun Colts, Snap 23-Game Win Streak and Back In Playoff Hunt at 8-7

As former New York Met Tug McGraw used to say, “ya gotta believe.”

Unable to do the probable last week at home against the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Jets took a giant step back into the playoff hunt today by doing the impossible and defeating the Indianapolis Colts 28-15 to spoil a perfect 14-0 run while snapping a 23-game regular season streak, the longest in NFL history.

The Jets, now 3-1 in December are sitting pretty in the #5 spot as the #1 Wildcard leap frogged over the Miami Dolphins as well as the Baltimore Ravens who both lost Sunday along with the Denver Broncos. With just one game to play, the Jets are now back in firm grasp of their own destiny should they close Giants Stadium in grand style come January 3rd with a win over the playoff-bound Cincinnati Bengals.

The Jets needed an inside straight of sorts on Sunday and things looked very good going into the afternoon start as the Dolphins were getting hammered by the Texans and the Steelers came-from behind to keep their playoff hopes also simmering at 8-7. The Jets got the added benefit of the 11-4 Philadelphia Eagles defeating the Denver Broncos which dropped them from #5 to #6 in the AFC seedings!

Unlike last week, the Jets were disciplined and refused to abandon the running game at any cost which they did at home in Atlanta. This week, the offense was focused and for the most part turnover free as the Jets easily won their most important game in years!

With over 200 yards on the ground, the Jets took time off the clock and let the defense do the talking.

A vicious sack of Peyton Manning forced a fumble and the Jets took advantage in the red zone to put seven points on the board. But the game breaker was fan favorite Brad Smith, who ran back a 107-yard kickoff for a touchdown, further proving why he is without question the most dangerous and versatile weapon on the team’s roster!

But it was the Jet defense that shut-down the Manning less Colts in the second-half to close the sale with a Thomas Jones score with about 5 minutes to play.

The win proved the Jets not to be quitters in the worst of scenarios as the football gods from above made it possible for the team to somehow find a way to will themselves into a playoff picture that seemed almost impossible just a few hours before game time.

Instead of being on the outside looking at 8-7, the Jets are now the #5 seed and a win in the Meadowlands sends them to the post season for the fifth time in this decade!

For the first time all season, you got the feeling the Jets figured it out offensively with the right mix of passes and runs as rookie Mark Sanchez was not put in the position to win the contest, but simply manage the outcome as Gang Green played to their strengths all afternoon!

With the Bengals solidified in the AFC tournament, the Jets could again find themselves in a contest where Cincinnati Head Coach Marvin Lewis might be sitting and resting some folks as the Jets look to retain their current wildcard status.

In what can be described as the most efficient and complete effort of the season against an undefeated Colt squad, the Jets look more and more like a very dangerous team that could do damage in the playoffs. The running game is on all cylinders and the defense continues to play aggressive and physical football that’s essential for any post season success.

Head Coach Rex Ryan and Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer seemed to shorten the playbook as the Jets made it very clear they were going to run the ball and force the Colts to stop them. Add a great special teams touchdown and defensive turnover deep in Colt territory, and the New York Jets today looked like they belonged in the playoff picture.

How deep the Jets can go remains to be determined, but today’s win went to the character of this coach and the players who seemed determined no matter what the odds to make amends for last week’s 10-7 disaster against the Atlanta Falcons.

So just like that from the brink of elimination the New York Jets are seemingly in the driver’s seat with a win and back in the post season for the first time since 2006.

How sweet it is!

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Memo to Jet OC Brian Schottenheimer: Give Thomas Jones The Ball!

The New York Jets will play for pride and respect the rest of the way as they start to look at the direction this offense needs to take next year if the team is truly to  compete with a declining New England Patriot club for the AFC East in 2010.

The game in Indianapolis will give the New York Jets one last opportunity on national television to prove to someone, anyone that this offense has somehow improved under Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

Specifically, why is Brian Schottenheimer passing first when he has a rookie quarterback who’s now thrown 20 interceptions in 13 games?

Why did the Jets pass 32 times in a game they should have dominated on the ground?

The Jets once again showed complete ineptitude in the red zone going 0-for-3 and missing three field goals on a botched snap, a fumble by Kellen Clemens, and just a bad miss by Jay Feely with so much riding on a victory and potential playoff berth?

Can someone please point out the fact to Brian Schottenheimer we have a running back on this team named Thomas Jones who’s now rushed for over 1,000 yards for the fifth consecutive season?

Can someone please tell Mr. Schottenheimer we have a versatile athlete in Brad Smith who can throw as well as catch the football?

Why isn’t Brad Smith deployed more in a bad weather game like yesterday to confuse the defense?

Given the imminent departure of Kellen Clemens come 2010, why isn’t Brad Smith given the opportunity to run the offense as well as the Wildcat to diversify the schemes and make the attack more creative?

Thomas Jones had 19 attempts for 52 yards, including a 13-yard gain.

Why the lack of confidence in Thomas Jones to shoulder the offensive burden vs. trying to force the ball downfield in a game that should be about field position and ball control vs. some aerial show in frigid Giants Stadium?

Brian Schottenheimer wants to be a head coach in the NFL. The problem with that for Jet fans is that pushing Mark Sanchez vs. developing him does more for Brian Schottenheimer’s employment opportunities than Mark Sanchez’s overall maturation as an NFL quarterback!

With an offensive line anchored by Nick Mangold, the Jets should be in every game, every week.

Sanchez has plenty of time and the line opens holes I can break through for extra yardage!

The question remains why are we passing more than we’re throwing in a game that meant so much?

If Brian Schottenheimer wants to experiment, do it in Indianapolis with nothing to lose.

Don’t put the game and season in the hands of a rookie who’s interception prone when you have a Thomas Jones in the backfield who can break one at any given moment!

For the Jets to improve, a real commitment to the running game needs to show up every Sunday.

Mark Sanchez needs to learn, not to be forced into mistakes because that’s what will get Brian Schottenheimer an interview for an NFL head coaching position down the road.

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Missed Field Goals and Three Sanchez Picks End Jets’ Playoff Run In 10-7 Loss

It wasn’t supposed to end this way.

But as usual for Jet fans, it did.

There will be coal in your stocking, Jet fans, for the third year in a row as the offense fumbled, stumbled, and intercepted its way out of the playoff picture for 2009.

For frustrating is the only way to describe today’s 10-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons which ended any hope of a postseason berth for the New York Jets.

The loss drops the Jets to 7-7 and while mathematically not done, it’s all over but the mopping up.

Botched field goals, questionable play calling, and less than a full commitment to the running game left the Jet defense on the field for most of the day, as it became apparent Mark Sanchez and the offense was not going to be much help in beating a 1-5 road team that had just been eliminated from playoff contention.

With a three-game win streak and the wind behind their sails, the New York Jets squandered a golden opportunity to move forward as a team and franchise in a game they simply let slip away!

The normally reliable Jay Feely missed three field goals and one in the red zone when high snaps seems to plague the special teams all day long.

Bonehead penalties in key situations extended drives for the Falcons and eventually caught-up with New York on the fourth and goal when Tony Gonzalez found a space in the zone to put Atlanta ahead for good with less than two minutes to play.

One has to wonder why this game plan was not simplified to suit the elements of the Meadowlands as Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer continues to put the ball in Mark Sanchez’s hands vs. giving the football to Thomas Jones to control the tempo as well as the clock!

In the end, Sanchez was 18-for-32 for 226 yards with one touchdown and three more interceptions, moving his season total to 20!

When you take away the Braylon Edwards 75-yard connection, Sanchez threw for just 151 yards on 31 attempts, less than 5 yards per completion!

In a game where Thomas Jones should have had 30 carries, he had 19 for just 52 yards. Given the elements and the success of the running game, why did the Jets put this game in Sanchez’s hands to lose versus Thomas Jones to win?

All day long the Jet defense bent, but it did not break until the final drive of the game.

While they never got to Matt Ryan, the secondary played stellar as Darrelle Revis proved why he’s one of the best cover men in the NFL.

The Falcons played well when they had to in the end and the Jets simply squandered three scoring opportunities, thanks to fundamental break-downs in execution which should have been converted for a 16-10 victory vs. a 10-7 defeat.

But all the talking is now over for the 2009 New York Jets.

They had another golden opportunity in a season of endless opportunities to get in the playoffs and they just couldn’t get it done.

The three-game win streak came to an end because the offense failed to do what it does best and that’s run the football.

The Falcons didn’t beat the Jets.

The Jets beat themselves.

Now back at .500 and only one victory against a team over .500 (New England), the Jets need to show themselves what kind of character they have by going to Indianapolis and giving Peyton Manning and the Colts all they can handle.

A win in Indy would go a long way in soothing some of the pain of a season that has no reason ending after 16 games given the infinite amount of chances the Jets had to make a serious run at 10 wins and a spot in the post season.

Disappointing is putting this loss mildly, Jet fans, and Rex Ryan needs to really evaluate the reasoning why the running game was not clearly established when this is what got you to this point of the season in the first place!

I need a drink.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Colt Victory Makes Decision To Start Sanchez Easy For Ryan, Jets

Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez will do his best impression of Jet icon Joe “Willie” Namath come Sunday at the Meadowlands as he seeks to lead his team to a playoff berth for the first time in three years.

With two braces and the elements to deal with plus the pesky Atlanta Falcons, Mark Sanchez was given the start in wake of the Indianapolis Colts becoming the third team in NFL history to go 14-0 while all but knocking the Jacksonville Jaguars out of playoff contention as they dropped back to .500 at 7-7.

The Jets have been mum for weeks since the December 3rd injury to Sanchez in Toronto when trying to dive for a first down when the young quaterback sprained his right knee to go with an already damaged left one.

Sensing a playoff spot as hopeless, the Jets gambled and started the uninspiring Kellen Clemens against the last place Tampa Bay Buccaneers who was lingered on the bench for the better part of four years.

All Clemens needed to do was hand the ball off and not turnover the football.

He did exactly that.

But the Jets needed some help to seriously consider putting Sanchez back in harm’s way and they got it last night in the form of a Colt victory and Jaguar defeat which leaves the team in excellent position for the final Wildcard berth with three to play including Sunday.

Should the Jets win and keep there undefeated December run intact, they could still use some help from the Bears, Bills and Titans if they can defeats the Ravens, Patriots and Dolphins.

Should that occur, the New York Jets will be the second Wildcard behind the Denver Broncos.

Can you say playoffs Fireman Ed?

For this improbable playoff run has been spurred by a smash mouth running game and shut down defense that is now #1 in the NFL in least points allowed.

For the Jets of Rex Ryan are beginning to resemble the Buddy Ryan Bears of 1985 when it comes to defense as the Monsters of the Midway have been transformed into the Monster of the Meadowlands!

At 6-7 the Falcons are just 1-5 on the road and the elements will be an even bigger challenge without Matt Ryan. The Jet faithful can get delerious in a snow played game and I like the chances of Gang Green finishing the day at 8-6!

December football is back in the Meadowlands and these are not your father’s New York Jets!

Smash mouth football that punishes the defense?

A defense that stifles the offense?

Are these the New York Giants or my New York Jets?

An 8-6 record will make a great stocking stuffer for every Jet fan young and old Mark Sanchez!

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

If Colts Win Tonight, Ryan Will Start Sanchez Sunday Versus Falcons

To play or not to play, that is the question.

New York Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan, as predicted in a previous post, will not name a  starter until at least Friday.   This gives the team the ability to factor in a Jacksonville win or loss as part of the decision making process.

While Mark Sanchez took a lion’s share of snaps today in anticipation of a Colt victory, an Indianapolis loss might cause the Jets to rethink putting Sanchez on the field with a healing knee.

The Jets, notorious for keeping their cards close to the chest, are waiting for the results of tonight’s match-up between the 13-0 Colts—with nothing but perfection to play for—and the 7-6 Jaguars who are all but eliminated from playoff competition with a loss.

As usual, Ryan was vague and non- committal in his analysis of the situation and whether the Jets would stay with Kellen Clemens or go back to Sanchez. 

While the prognosis for recovery seems excellent for the young rookie, is the team prepared to put him on the field when the team’s chances are slim and none for a playoff berth?

This game of football has become a game of chess this week, as whatever decision is made by the Colts to play starters will have a direct impact on the whether or not the Jets can secure a Wildcard slot.

Should Peyton Manning play just the first half, if the game is competitive, the Jaguars could win by default.

Others believe because the Colts are 13-0, and have a shot at an undefeated season, is exactly the reason why Manning & company will go all out for victory.  Unless, of course,  the game gets out-of-hand.

A Colts win, coupled with a Ravens loss, Dolphins loss and Jets win, would secure the final Wildcard berth for New York at 8-6, with 2 games to play.

That scenario would leave the Jets in control of there own playoff prospects.

Look for the Jets to start Mark Sanchez on Sunday if the Colts win tonight. If not, we might have seen the last of Mark Sanchez for 2009.

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

New York Jet Defense: The New Monsters Of The Meadowlands?

Has the New York Sack Exchange been replaced with the new Monsters of the Meadowlands?

Given the fact the New York Jets statistically have the most dominant defense since the 1985 edition of the Chicago Bears more commonly referred to as the Monsters of the Midway, is the connection just coincidental or fate given Head Coach Rex Ryan’s dad is former Bear defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, the architect of that 15-1 squad that shutout the New York Giants (21-0), Los Angeles Rams (24-0) in the playoffs and pasted the Raymond Berry led New England Patriots 46-10?

While the Meadowlands sports complex is a long way from Chicago’s South Side, this defense is playing there best football of the season when it matters in December, where the Jets are now 3-0!

The numbers are getting more and more impressive for the Ryan’s Express, which is allowing just 104 yards on ground and 160 through the air.

The Jets are #1 in yards and points allowed. The last time that occured was in 1985 when the other Ryan named Buddy was guiding the “46” to a Super Bowl Championship!

More impressive is the third down play where the Jets have now stopped opponents 24 times in a row and allowed just five 3rd down conversions in the last 41 attempts.

Now the Jets haven’t exactly played the Colts & Saints, but this defense is playing December football in a place built for smash mouth and a cloud of dust known as Giants Stadium where it always seems dark, cold and dreary for any opponent after Thanksgiving!

Ryan has moved the Jets from 18th in yards allowed to #1 and 16th in points allowed to #1 this season without the services of Kris Jenkins for most of the year and not a very reliable pass rush although the sacks have increased in the second half.

Granted, the Jets have beaten just one team (New England) that’s over .500 all season long and they’ve feasted on bad teams the past three weeks.

But the confidence is back in a defense that lost it’s way during that seven-game stretch where they went just 1-6 with heartbreaking losses to Miami, Buffalo and Jacksonville.

On third down, the Jets are stopping the opposition 68% of the time (59/179). The secondary has been shut down perfect and Darrelle Revis is slowly becoming the first defensive back to lead this defense since the days of James Hasty!

Whatever may happen on Sunday and whomever starts, the Falcons could be in a for a long afternoon with this defense playing its best football of the 2009 season.

Look for Ryan to let his defense and running game do the talking as Jet management tries to figure out a very fragile and delicate situation at quarterback with a potential playoff berth hanging in the balance.

 

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

If Sanchez Is Really Hurt, Do The Jets Draft a QB In 2010?

It’s been almost two weeks since the December 3rd injury that has Mark Sanchez on the shelf with no word from the New York Jets if we’ll see the struggling rookie again in 2009.

With a second injury to another knee, Jet management has been quiet and mum as to his availibility this Sunday against the 6-7 Atlanta Falcons that could move the Jets to 8-6 and stay in the playoff mix for another week.

The playoff picture will clarify itself somewhat on Thursday night should the Jacksonville Jaguars (7-6) take advantage of the Colts (13-0) playoff status that has them as the #1 seed for the AFC tournament. Should the Jaguars get to 8-6 with two games to go, the Jets will need to run the table at 10-6 with no guarantee that will qualify them for the post season regardless!

For a team with a great secondary led by Darrelle Revis and a monster running game with Thomas Jones, why are the Jets struggling to get in the playoffs? This has been the best December for the Jets since 2006 when they entered the month 6-5 to finish 10-6 and qualify as an AFC Wildcard.

So the talk seems to be that the Jets are going “all-in” on Kellen Clemens if the playoffs are in fact in the cards for Gang Green.

It seems ownership is not going to expose Mark Sanchez to a possible career threatening injury should he need to wear two braces to play come Sunday. Some say the Jets have no interest in putting Mark Sanchez at risk for a possible “one and out” playoff scenario.

But with the kind of defense and running game the Jets are playing, could they do some damage in the post season?

Ironically, some Jet fans are suggesting that team bring back former Jet Chad Pennington as the appropriate mentor for the developing Mark Sanchez. Pennington, who benefited from Vinny Testaverde’s presence on the roster when he assumed the starting job is the missing link in providing Sanchez with a mentor on the field during the game.

For the Jet situation at quarterback has become a question mark based on Sanchez’s status and the lack of a solid back-up.

Jet fans are rallying around Kellen Clemens to get it done with some luck along the way. Should Clemens win Sunday, will the Jets go back to Mark Sanchez against the Colts if a playoff berth looks all the more possible?

No matter how the season ends, the Jets will need to evaluate there options at quarterback based on the long-term status of Sanchez and the simple fact you need two quarterbacks to win in the NFL. Add a larger role for Brad Smith in 2010, and the Jets could be one player away from becoming a dominant force in the AFC East for years to come.

 

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010