Week 17 was a historic night for The New York Jets franchise. It was their last game at Giants Stadium, and a night where the Jets clinched a playoff spot since 2006.
They defeated the Cincinnati Bengals easily, 37-0 to clinch a spot in the playoffs. They now had confidence into the playoffs and knew that they deserved to be there. But the Jets really got their "swagger" when the defeated the undefeated colts at Indianapolis in week 16, and was now a team that everyone finally respected and recognized. Even though some might say they only won their last 2 games because the starters didn't play for the Bengals and Colts, they still earned their spot like every other team that made it into the playoffs.
The Jets finished the season with a 9-7 record and came in second in their division and first in the wild card. They were the number 1 defense in the league allowing only 14.8 points a game, in a league with the best passing quarterbacks, as in Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and shutting them down and having a 2-2 record against them. Their defense was led by their stud pro bowl corner back Darrel Revis, who is in some eyes the best corner in the league right now. Holding top wide receivers in check, as in Randy Moss, Chad Ochocinco, Reggie Wayne, and Andre Johnson. The Jets also led the NFL in rushing yards, averaging 172.2 yards per game. Thomas Jones was a big factor with that accomplishment. For the 5th straight year Thomas Jones rushed for over 1,000 yards, and being recognized in the league as a top runner. He did not just do it alone, with the help of Leon Washington and Shonn Greene, a rookie from the University of Iowa, who took the role of Leon Washington after his season ending leg injury. Shonn Greene was a major factor at the end of the year for the Jets. He also took the load off Thomas Jones and ran just as well, rushing for 135 yards on 21attempts and scoring 1 touchdown against the Bengals in his first playoff game and the first round of the playoffs to secure a 24 to 14 win.
The Jets are now moving on to face the hot San Diego Chargers, who have a won 11 straight games and winners of their division with a 13-3 record. Philip Rivers was a huge role for the Chargers' winning streak, throwing for over 4,000 yards with 28 touchdowns and only throwing 9 interceptions. He also had a quarterback rating of 104.4, which was top 5 in the NFL, earning a ticket to the pro bowl for the second straight year. Philip Rivers also earned his team the 4th ranked offense in the league, averaging 28.4 points a game. Philip Rivers also finished top 5 in passing yards a game with 271.1 yards a game. But the Jets just can't focus on Rivers, the Chargers also have explosive runners as in LT and Darren Sproiles, who can change a game in one play.
The Jets will have a hard time stopping this explosive offense but coach Rex Ryan seems very confident in his team. His defensive secondary was the best in the league allowing only 8 touchdown passes all year outside the red zone. This was due to the fact of his great defensive play calls of blitzing almost every down, and his athletic athletes in the secondary to make plays at any given moment.
The Jets should be very confident, in which this year the Jets were 4-2 in either games played down south or in a dome, and averaging 30 points a game. The Jets are also confident in their young rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. Returning back to California since playing at Oakland and beating them earlier in the season 37-0, Mark Sanchez should have no problem playing this week. This will be a homecoming for Mark, and should have no excuses of the weather and the conditions. If he protects the ball as in he did last week against the Bengals you should look for a big game by him and the others.
If the Jets were to win this game and pull off a major upset it would be one of the best wins in franchise history. And if the Baltimore Ravens were to beat the Indianapolis Colts the game next weekend for the AFC Championship would be at the New York Jets, at Giants Stadium. That would recently be the last game at Giants Stadium after 60 years hosting the Jets. It would be a remarkable finish to a great season if the Jets were to win and move on into the Super Bowl on February 7th in Miami.
The Jets finished the season with a 9-7 record and came in second in their division and first in the wild card. They were the number 1 defense in the league allowing only 14.8 points a game, in a league with the best passing quarterbacks, as in Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and shutting them down and having a 2-2 record against them. Their defense was led by their stud pro bowl corner back Darrel Revis, who is in some eyes the best corner in the league right now. Holding top wide receivers in check, as in Randy Moss, Chad Ochocinco, Reggie Wayne, and Andre Johnson. The Jets also led the NFL in rushing yards, averaging 172.2 yards per game. Thomas Jones was a big factor with that accomplishment. For the 5th straight year Thomas Jones rushed for over 1,000 yards, and being recognized in the league as a top runner. He did not just do it alone, with the help of Leon Washington and Shonn Greene, a rookie from the University of Iowa, who took the role of Leon Washington after his season ending leg injury. Shonn Greene was a major factor at the end of the year for the Jets. He also took the load off Thomas Jones and ran just as well, rushing for 135 yards on 21attempts and scoring 1 touchdown against the Bengals in his first playoff game and the first round of the playoffs to secure a 24 to 14 win.
The Jets are now moving on to face the hot San Diego Chargers, who have a won 11 straight games and winners of their division with a 13-3 record. Philip Rivers was a huge role for the Chargers' winning streak, throwing for over 4,000 yards with 28 touchdowns and only throwing 9 interceptions. He also had a quarterback rating of 104.4, which was top 5 in the NFL, earning a ticket to the pro bowl for the second straight year. Philip Rivers also earned his team the 4th ranked offense in the league, averaging 28.4 points a game. Philip Rivers also finished top 5 in passing yards a game with 271.1 yards a game. But the Jets just can't focus on Rivers, the Chargers also have explosive runners as in LT and Darren Sproiles, who can change a game in one play.
The Jets will have a hard time stopping this explosive offense but coach Rex Ryan seems very confident in his team. His defensive secondary was the best in the league allowing only 8 touchdown passes all year outside the red zone. This was due to the fact of his great defensive play calls of blitzing almost every down, and his athletic athletes in the secondary to make plays at any given moment.
The Jets should be very confident, in which this year the Jets were 4-2 in either games played down south or in a dome, and averaging 30 points a game. The Jets are also confident in their young rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. Returning back to California since playing at Oakland and beating them earlier in the season 37-0, Mark Sanchez should have no problem playing this week. This will be a homecoming for Mark, and should have no excuses of the weather and the conditions. If he protects the ball as in he did last week against the Bengals you should look for a big game by him and the others.
If the Jets were to win this game and pull off a major upset it would be one of the best wins in franchise history. And if the Baltimore Ravens were to beat the Indianapolis Colts the game next weekend for the AFC Championship would be at the New York Jets, at Giants Stadium. That would recently be the last game at Giants Stadium after 60 years hosting the Jets. It would be a remarkable finish to a great season if the Jets were to win and move on into the Super Bowl on February 7th in Miami.
They pulled off the upset and, not to brag, I called it. They say defense wins championships and, while that may no longer be completely true, it will win games against one-dimensional teams such ad the Chargers.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to watch the Indy game, both teams are polar opposites and I could see it going right down to the wire.
How about Shonn Green? The man is dynamite, I was really hoping my 49ers would draft him last year. If Leon Washington becomes a unrestricted free agent do you think the Jets will really try to push to resign him or stay content with Green and Jones?
ReplyDeleteI think the Jets will get rid of Leon Washington, because of Shonn Green's great success this year. And if they don't they will just loose a lot of money because they already have 2 dynamic power runners as in Green and Jones. But if they do keep him it will be very interesting what his role will be in the future with the Jets and very interesting to see if he can stay happy as well.
ReplyDeleteCowboys seem to handle a three headed rushing attack well, but Washington definitely doesn't seem to want a role like Tasard Choice.
ReplyDelete