Football Jets

The 2011 New York Jets season is finally here. After the lockout and the crazy free agency period the games are on and the NFL is ready to entertain us every week for months. The Jets are living the high profile life right now. People everywhere are talking about them, of course that is almost automatic when you have Rex Ryan as head coach, but still people everywhere are putting the Jets in the conversation as possible champions.

And why wouldn’t they? The Jets have won 4 playoff road games the past two seasons, they have competitive AFC Championship games, they boast one of the leagues best defenses and they of course have a throng of high profile players.

One of those high profile names was the free agent acquisition of Plaxico Burress. Here is where I throw out the lame joke, “I hope the Jets didn’t shoot themselves in the foot” with this signing. Opinions vary widely on what will be Plaxico’s production during the 2011 Jets season but he did make a high-light reel catch during the pre-season but he is 3 years removed from making his last touchdown catch, albeit it was a Superbowl winning touchdown catch.

Most of the other big names are back again with LT, Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes powering the offense and Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Bart Scott locking down what could possibly be the NFL’s best defense. The defense finished ranked third in the league last year which followed the number one ranking during Rex Ryan’s rookie year as head coach. The offense can at times look great, and at times look very pedestrian. This has been the case with the offense throughout the preseason and pretty much throughout the Mark Sanchez era. Sanchez is young though, most third year quarterbacks are just getting their first opportunity to start in year three, Mark Sanchez has already tied the NFL record for most playoff victories by a quarterback.

So the 2011 New York Jets season will be exciting. The New England Patriots are going to be very good again, the Buffalo Bills should be vastly improved, and the Miami Dolphins… well let’s just say Tony Sparano has done a magnificent job keeping the Dolphins mediocre – which has been an absolute delight to see for New York Jets fans.

As for my 2011 New York Jets season prediction I am going to concur with Head Coach Rex Ryan and say that the Jets are going to the Superbowl.

The New York Jets had an epic victory at the expense of their most hated rivals, the New England Patriots. Rex Ryan made it personal between him and Bill Belichick and on this day he out coached him by a wide margin. The Jets defense dominated this game and Mark Sanchez had a magical performance throwing three touchdowns.

28-21. A score for the ages, in what is according to Rex Ryan the second biggest game in franchise history. The fact is, this next game against the Steelers will push this win to third, because the game against the Steelers is for the right to go to the Superbowl in Dallas.

Talking smack is cool now! With this being a copycat league, won’t the Rex Ryan and New York Jets players smack talk become the ‘in’ thing to do in the NFL?

Pretty boy Tom Brady is starting to lose his charm after two years straight of being knocked out of the playoffs in their first game, both at home. But tonight, new stars of the AFC shown brightly.

LT played another heck of a game,  scoring his third touchdowns in the playoffs.

Shonn Greene had a heck of a game, running for the score that broke open the game late.

Santonio Holmes made a historic, epic reception in the corner of the endzone, then got his two feet in bounds a split second before landing out of bounds. Holmes once before made an immaculate catch, a pass from Big Ben while playing for Pittsburgh in the Superbowl. That day he won the game for them, and tonight his incredibly difficult touchdown catch adds to his legacy of making the biggest plays at the biggest moments.

Jets Defense played so well, frustrating Brady,  sacking him several times, forcing fumbles, producing some hard hits time and again, and catching a game changing interception early on.  Smith, Scott, Ellis, Revis and Cromartie amongst others had amazing performances. This was a total team effort, and truly the Jets defense stepped up.

Jerricho  Cotchery had a huge catch and run that was so timely.

Braylon Edwards had a huge catch that got Sanchez in a groove.

Mark Sanchez again played great. 4 playoff wins in his first 2 seasons. This kid played at an ultra high level. The offensive line protected him well and gave him time to make some fantastic decisions and throws.

The Offensive Line played strong, allowing the Jets running backs the opportunity to gain yards repeatedly by running the football.

The coaches coached great. From exceptional special teams, to the variety of offensive play calls, to the perfect mixture of defensive blitzes and strong pass coverage choices the New York Jets coaching staff did a fantastic job.

The list of great performances today goes on and on. This was a total team effort.

The AFC Championship Game against Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh for the right to go to the Superbowl in Dallas.

The Jets are producing one of their best seasons in history and their victory Sunday against the upstart Cleveland Browns has made the cliche “Good teams find a way to win” the Jets new motto. Luck, fortune and a rabbit’s foot were all on the side of the Jets as they pulled off another improbable win in overtime. The New York Jets are now are with New England as the National Football Leagues only teams with 7-2 records, making both of them the best teams in the NFL.

Did I mention the Jets beat the Patriots already this season, so that would make the Jets the current BEST TEAM in the NFL.

The Cleveland Browns two weeks ago went into the Superdome in New Orleans and embarrassed the defending NFL Superbowl champions. Last week, the same Cleveland Browns team hosted the New England Patriots and embarrassed Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. So this Browns team, which no one expected to be very good, had seemingly come on as of late. The Jets moved the ball up and down the field all day against them and the Jets defense got some timely stops, especially in overtime. The Browns had 3 overtime possessions, including their first one in which the Browns fumbled in field goal range. That was just one of the luckier moments for the Jets.

The Jets kicking which during the first half of the season was looking good, has all of a sudden became a serious problem. Nick Folk missed three field goals including one in overtime and a chip shot late in regulation. Expect the Jets to see which free agent kickers have been home practicing and Rex Ryan just might have a new kicker before next week.

In the end, the wide receiver who seems to be saving his best stuff for clutch, overtime moments broke free of a tackle and split a couple would-be-tacklers en route to the game ending touchdown with just seconds left in overtime. If Santonio Holmes does not score there, the Jets would likely have ended up tying the Browns and nobody likes a tie.

The Jets are lucky, but good teams put themselves in positions to be lucky or make their own luck or whatever other ‘luck’ based cliche you want to throw out there.

LaDainian Tomlinson was a big offseason addition to the New York Jets, and that is an understatement. Most of the pundits said he was washed up, couldn’t run with power or cut with precision, lacked speed, lost a step, was no longer an effective out of the backfield receiver and was a menace in the locker room.

Like is often the case, the talking heads do not know anything. They hear something said by one talking head and they just repeat it and repeat it. The Jets front office and Coach Rex Ryan knew they were getting not only one of the all-time great running backs, but LaDainian Tomlinson was surely not washed up, had something to prove, could still run over people while making ankle breaking cuts, still had breakaway speed, could catch even the errant Mark Sanchez pass out of the backfield and would be a leader in the locker room.

On Sunday, as LaDainian Tomlinson has done all season long, he showed the Denver Broncos all of the good as he helped the New York Jets beat the Denver Broncos and their smug young coach Josh McDaniels 24-20 in Denver. I’ll give Josh McDaniels this, I loved his celebration last year when the Broncos beat the Patriots which really pissed off Coach Bill Belichick

The game was not the Jets best, with Mark Sanchez throwing a couple interceptions and many other passes that should have been intercepted. The defense and Darrelle Revis were not at their best allowing the Broncos league worst running game to finally appear, but the defense did hold Kyle Orton to under 300 yards something most teams this season have not been able to do. But in the end, the Jets made just enough plays to edge the Broncos and got some help from the officials.

The field judge Gary Cavaletto called a desperation throw by Mark Sanchez on 4th and 6 as pass interference on Renaldo Hill, who lost track of the ball as it sailed in the air and while off balance his fingers hit the face mask of Santonio Holmes, who himself was off balance and falling to the ground. With a second life, and just a couple minutes left in the game, the Jets offense took the controversial penalty which gave them first and goal at the two yard line and cashed in. LaDainian Tomlinson took it in untouched, as the Broncos seemingly let him score, and the defense had a chance to stop the Broncos for the win. The suspense finally ended, as the defense recovered a Kyle Orton fumble on a terrible hike by his center as the Broncos were driving on their last possession.

The Dolphins and Patriots both won in close games against good competition, so it still appears the AFC East is going to be a tough battle right to the end of the season. The Jets have a bye week coming up, which should help rest some of the nagging injuries. But for now, the Jets at 5-1 are off to a great start considering their schedule has been awfully tough so far.

The 2010 New York Jets team is a blend of talent and intrigue you would only dare ensemble if you were directing the next Hollywood blockbuster.

1. A star who once shined so bright on the biggest stage, known for one of the greatest catches in Superbowl history, Santonio Holmes. Holmes won’t make his appearance during the opening credits, he has a 4 game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
2. 2009′s most fast rising star, Darrelle Revis is holding out for more money despite a $120 million offer.
3. One of the greatest stars of all time, LT is trying to rediscover his former glory.
4. Another fresh face and troubled star, Antonio Cromartie has tabloid written all over him as he arrives in NY. The drama begins when you have seven kids in five states, and child-support issues.
5. The trash talking funny man Rex Ryan whose quotes are so entertaining.
6. Charismatic young quarterback Mark Sanchez who has a bit of Brett Favre recklessness to his game.
7. Over-paid and under-performing first round draft pick Vernon Gholston who doubtfully will ever live up to his hype for even one play.
8. Braylon Edwards who evidently has seriously more memorable dropped passes than passes he has caught
9. There is also some real TV talent in Jason Taylor, his moves on “Dancing With the Stars” should help land him a starring role in this show.
10. The fans who love them.