A bad bounce, an ill-advised penalty, maybe a field goal that clanks off an upright, and the team that was left for dead by its own coach will represent the AFC in Miami in Super Bowl XLIV.
The Jets are just 60 minutes -- and a fortuitous break -- away from the franchise's first trip to the Big Game in over 40 years.
Can the Jets beat the Colts straight up in Indianapolis with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line? No! But, then again, Gang Green wasn't going to beat the Chargers in San Diego.
In sports -- and life -- capitalizing on fortunate situations is key to moving forward.
Whether or not the Jets should have ever been in the playoffs is debatable. What's not up for discussion is that Rex Ryan's club took advantage of every handout that came its way.
All too often, teams get a gift only to let it slip right through their collective hands. This loud-mouth Jets squad seizes every bit of good fortune and makes the most of it.
The Jets would not have beaten the Colts had the teams matched-up in, say, Week 12 of the regular season. But the Jets took full advantage of Bill Polian's questionable philosophy to rest the starters in a meaningless game -- at least from Indy's viewpoint.
Next up was a back-to-back with Cincinnati. While the Bengals were a legitimate playoff team early in the season, Cincy hit a rough sport late in the season losing two of three -- albeit to good teams -- before facing the Jets.
Once again, the Jets took full advantage: First beating the Bengals to garner entry to the postseason, then winning the Wild Card Game in Ohio.
The Bengals weren't playing as well as they had while getting off to a 7-2 start. But the Jets didn't play down to the competition nor make a key blunder to lose the game.
Moving on to San Diego, once again, Gang Green played mistake free -- for the most part -- and let the Chargers stumble, bumble and kick the game away.
The Colts have the next opportunity to break the glass slipper of the only Cinderella left standing. And Indy has what to worry about: One misstep, a single errant throw and the Jets will take full advantage.
With the way things have been going for this charmed team, don't count 'em out.
Showing posts with label Jets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jets. Show all posts
Monday, January 18, 2010
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Jets Stampede Buffalo
As if repenting for past egregious sins, the Jets went North of the border and took care of business against the inferior Bills, 19-13.
However, the victory may have cost Gang Green the main purpose for playing out the schedule: The development of rookie QB Mark Sanchez.
Sanchez left the field early in the third quarter and did not return.
How much faith does the Jets coaching staff have in backup Kellen Clemens? The Jets handed the ball to a back on 18 of the 25 snaps that Clemens was in the game (not including two kneel-downs).
True, running backs Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene were running all over Buffalo -- even fullback Tony Richardson got in the act with 36 yards on two carries -- but it was clear Rex Ryan and Co. was not going to allow Clemens to lose the game.
The rushing game had another sparkling day running for 249 and averaging nearly six yard a carry.
Sanchez was in the midst of a solid performance before he was forced to the locker room injuring his knee on a head-first dive for a first down.
The rookie completed seven of 14 passes for 104 yards and one TD. Those numbers would look considerably prettier had Braylon Edwards not dropped an 84-yard sure-touchdown pass late in the first quarter.
Edwards continues to display why he'll always have an NFL job, scoring the only New York touchdown in Canada by fighting off several tacklers on the way to the goal line.
But, the reputation of slippery hands continues to stick to the talented wideout.
Darrelle Revis had yet another All-Pro day, this time holding Terrell Owens to three catches for 31 yards.
The win keeps alive the faint hope of a playoff appearance but even that wishful thinking would be quashed should Sanchez be forced to sit any length of time.
With the extra time to prepare the Jets should run all over Tampa Bay in Florida.
However, each of the following three match ups (Atlanta, at Indianapolis and Cincinnati) will be tough tests, and the Jets will have a difficult passing any of them.
The rough schedule will be bearable if Sanchez plays and shows signs of the future. If Sanchez is sidelined, then the whole team may as well be eating hot dogs.
However, the victory may have cost Gang Green the main purpose for playing out the schedule: The development of rookie QB Mark Sanchez.
Sanchez left the field early in the third quarter and did not return.
How much faith does the Jets coaching staff have in backup Kellen Clemens? The Jets handed the ball to a back on 18 of the 25 snaps that Clemens was in the game (not including two kneel-downs).
True, running backs Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene were running all over Buffalo -- even fullback Tony Richardson got in the act with 36 yards on two carries -- but it was clear Rex Ryan and Co. was not going to allow Clemens to lose the game.
The rushing game had another sparkling day running for 249 and averaging nearly six yard a carry.
Sanchez was in the midst of a solid performance before he was forced to the locker room injuring his knee on a head-first dive for a first down.
The rookie completed seven of 14 passes for 104 yards and one TD. Those numbers would look considerably prettier had Braylon Edwards not dropped an 84-yard sure-touchdown pass late in the first quarter.
Edwards continues to display why he'll always have an NFL job, scoring the only New York touchdown in Canada by fighting off several tacklers on the way to the goal line.
But, the reputation of slippery hands continues to stick to the talented wideout.
Darrelle Revis had yet another All-Pro day, this time holding Terrell Owens to three catches for 31 yards.
The win keeps alive the faint hope of a playoff appearance but even that wishful thinking would be quashed should Sanchez be forced to sit any length of time.
With the extra time to prepare the Jets should run all over Tampa Bay in Florida.
However, each of the following three match ups (Atlanta, at Indianapolis and Cincinnati) will be tough tests, and the Jets will have a difficult passing any of them.
The rough schedule will be bearable if Sanchez plays and shows signs of the future. If Sanchez is sidelined, then the whole team may as well be eating hot dogs.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Playoffs Expectations Too High For Jets
What's with New York football teams and losing in gut-wrenching fashion. Last week it was the Giants against the Chargers, this week the Jets vs. the Jaguars.
Neither team played dominant football for the first 55 minutes, yet both were in position to walk away with a victory late in the fourth quarter.
For Gang Green, it was the Maurice Jones-Drew Show early and a lack of communication in the end that did them in -- and ended any dreams of a playoff run.
While in ordinary times having a decent season with a rookie head coach and quarterback is acceptable as part of the growing pains, there is a sense of disappointment surrounding the franchise.
In the past, starting a first-year QB from Week 1 was suiciding the year. And a head coach with no experience as the top-dog would be given a year to figure himself out.
Not for these Jets, not this year.
There are several reasons why expectations were higher than usual for this bunch:
1) Hot start: At the start of the season, there were no high expectations for this team, after getting out of the gate 3-0 that changed.
While many Jets rooters were attempting not to let it get to their head, it certainly changed the perception of the year. No longer was there the thought of this being a throw-away season, a playoff berth was certainly within reach.
2) Talk is cheap: Following the lead of Rex Ryan, many Jets were quite boisterous early on. Ryan was speaking of winning "multiple championships" before winning a game.
Sanchez wasn't exactly keeping a low profile himself. Posing for GQ before taking an NFL snap is no way to keep the pressure off yourself. Although appearing in a magazine is not the reason the Jets have lost four out of the last five, it did add unnecessary exposure (read: expectations).
3) Last year's success: Matt Ryan in Atlanta and Joe Flacco in Baltimore have many believing that putting quarterbacks behind center as a rookie is the wave of the future.
While the belief is true, few teams will duplicate their feat of going to the postseason with a novice head coach and first-year signal caller.
Despite the seeming disappointment, the Jets are actually having a decent season. With several eminently winnable games remaining on the calendar a .500 record is not out of the question.
There is obviously an issue closing out games as the numerous narrow losses prove. Many of those games come down to a play or two deciding the outcome.
Will the added experience change the Jets' fortunes in a close game later this season? Time will tell.
Neither team played dominant football for the first 55 minutes, yet both were in position to walk away with a victory late in the fourth quarter.
For Gang Green, it was the Maurice Jones-Drew Show early and a lack of communication in the end that did them in -- and ended any dreams of a playoff run.
While in ordinary times having a decent season with a rookie head coach and quarterback is acceptable as part of the growing pains, there is a sense of disappointment surrounding the franchise.
In the past, starting a first-year QB from Week 1 was suiciding the year. And a head coach with no experience as the top-dog would be given a year to figure himself out.
Not for these Jets, not this year.
There are several reasons why expectations were higher than usual for this bunch:
1) Hot start: At the start of the season, there were no high expectations for this team, after getting out of the gate 3-0 that changed.
While many Jets rooters were attempting not to let it get to their head, it certainly changed the perception of the year. No longer was there the thought of this being a throw-away season, a playoff berth was certainly within reach.
2) Talk is cheap: Following the lead of Rex Ryan, many Jets were quite boisterous early on. Ryan was speaking of winning "multiple championships" before winning a game.
Sanchez wasn't exactly keeping a low profile himself. Posing for GQ before taking an NFL snap is no way to keep the pressure off yourself. Although appearing in a magazine is not the reason the Jets have lost four out of the last five, it did add unnecessary exposure (read: expectations).
3) Last year's success: Matt Ryan in Atlanta and Joe Flacco in Baltimore have many believing that putting quarterbacks behind center as a rookie is the wave of the future.
While the belief is true, few teams will duplicate their feat of going to the postseason with a novice head coach and first-year signal caller.
Despite the seeming disappointment, the Jets are actually having a decent season. With several eminently winnable games remaining on the calendar a .500 record is not out of the question.
There is obviously an issue closing out games as the numerous narrow losses prove. Many of those games come down to a play or two deciding the outcome.
Will the added experience change the Jets' fortunes in a close game later this season? Time will tell.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
My Two Cents Worth III
As far as I'm concerned this year's NBA playoffs are very similar to College Football's Bowl games. While an individual series may have some excitement and drama, there are only two teams who have a chance at winning a championship. If the Lakers and Cavaliers are not there when the conferences are decided it will be a major upset.
Give the Jets and Mike Tannenbaum credit for getting Mark Sanchez. They wanted Sanchez from the start, and had the conviction to do whatever it takes to bring him in. Now, they have to hope they turn out to be right about the Q.B. or Tannenbaum will be looking for a job.
I'm a bit disappointed that the Giants didn't end up with Anquan Boldin. I hope the reason they didn't pull the trigger has to do with the salary cap and not the Draft picks. Receiver is the only glaring weakness on the team, a third round pick wouldn't mean a whole lot for a team with that much talent.
With that said the first pick of WR Hakeem Nicks is a good one. Eli Manning is not exactly the most accurate thrower, and needs someone who can catch the ball even if it's not between the numbers. Hicks has huge hands - glove size of 4XL - so he can reach out and catch anything in the vicinity.
Apparently the Mets' issues from last year had nothing to do with the Manager or Stadium. As a club they still can't hit with runners-in-scoring position, and the starting rotation has one reliable pitcher in Johan Santana.
There have been an unusual amount of home runs hit to right field in the new Yankees stadium, and many people have been screaming and yelling "how could the Yankees let this happen." Will everyone please calm down. Number one we only have a week to judge by. Two if it is a long term issue don't you think the team will do something to cut down on the wind in that direction. What does need to be fixed is the fact that the fans sit right up on the wall and can easily interfere with a ball still in play.
As far as the Yankees on the field are concerned, the team will go as far as the pitching carries them - A-Rod or no A-Rod. Both the starting and relief pitching have been terribly inconsistent. Brian Bruney going on the DL is going to hurt. And no, there is still no reason to be worried about Mariano.
The Devils and Hurricanes are going to Game 7 which is exactly where the series belongs. It has been such an even match-up and both goalies have been so good, it would have been a shame had this series not gone the distance.
However, Game 7 is not where the Rangers should be. With a 3 games to 1 lead, the team has been flat for games five and six. This has been a one man team all year, if Henrik Lundqvist is on top of his game there is a chance otherwise it is all but an automatic L.
Is John Tortorella the epitome of do what I say not what I do? Torts benches Sean Avery for Friday night's game for being undisciplined, sure enough in the third period of that game the coach squirts a fan with water and then throws a bottle into the stands. The NHL suspended him for game 6 and rightly so, no league can afford its players, coaches etc. to interact with fans that way. We have all seen what happens when it gets out of hand.
Give the Jets and Mike Tannenbaum credit for getting Mark Sanchez. They wanted Sanchez from the start, and had the conviction to do whatever it takes to bring him in. Now, they have to hope they turn out to be right about the Q.B. or Tannenbaum will be looking for a job.
I'm a bit disappointed that the Giants didn't end up with Anquan Boldin. I hope the reason they didn't pull the trigger has to do with the salary cap and not the Draft picks. Receiver is the only glaring weakness on the team, a third round pick wouldn't mean a whole lot for a team with that much talent.
With that said the first pick of WR Hakeem Nicks is a good one. Eli Manning is not exactly the most accurate thrower, and needs someone who can catch the ball even if it's not between the numbers. Hicks has huge hands - glove size of 4XL - so he can reach out and catch anything in the vicinity.
Apparently the Mets' issues from last year had nothing to do with the Manager or Stadium. As a club they still can't hit with runners-in-scoring position, and the starting rotation has one reliable pitcher in Johan Santana.
There have been an unusual amount of home runs hit to right field in the new Yankees stadium, and many people have been screaming and yelling "how could the Yankees let this happen." Will everyone please calm down. Number one we only have a week to judge by. Two if it is a long term issue don't you think the team will do something to cut down on the wind in that direction. What does need to be fixed is the fact that the fans sit right up on the wall and can easily interfere with a ball still in play.
As far as the Yankees on the field are concerned, the team will go as far as the pitching carries them - A-Rod or no A-Rod. Both the starting and relief pitching have been terribly inconsistent. Brian Bruney going on the DL is going to hurt. And no, there is still no reason to be worried about Mariano.
The Devils and Hurricanes are going to Game 7 which is exactly where the series belongs. It has been such an even match-up and both goalies have been so good, it would have been a shame had this series not gone the distance.
However, Game 7 is not where the Rangers should be. With a 3 games to 1 lead, the team has been flat for games five and six. This has been a one man team all year, if Henrik Lundqvist is on top of his game there is a chance otherwise it is all but an automatic L.
Is John Tortorella the epitome of do what I say not what I do? Torts benches Sean Avery for Friday night's game for being undisciplined, sure enough in the third period of that game the coach squirts a fan with water and then throws a bottle into the stands. The NHL suspended him for game 6 and rightly so, no league can afford its players, coaches etc. to interact with fans that way. We have all seen what happens when it gets out of hand.
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