... you throw the ball to this guy (please see above photo).
Two weeks in a row the Jets pull off an exciting overtime win, on the road, thanks to a clutch play from Sanchez and Holmes. No team in the history of the league has ever won back to back road overtime games. Another exciting note from this game was the solid play of our offense. The running game looked solid, Mark had 299 yards and 2 TD's and we ran 97 offensive plays (WOW!).
I will not waste anytime addressing our HORRIBLE field goal kicker because I have been clear week after week that he is definitely our achilles heel. I am sure he will cost us games... I just hope it's not in the playoffs. He simply can't take the pressure on the NFL. But, I digress.
We have looked out of sync since the game in Denver. We were sloppy in 2 road games and also in the debacle against the Packers in our house where we were shut out. Luckily we went 3-1 over that stretch, and have the best record in the NFL... including 5-0 on the road and 3-0 in our division. This is the formula for how you assure your team a spot in the playoffs.
If the post season were to start today the Jets would be the top seed in the AFC because we own the tie breaker with the Pats. This week we played well... and if playing perfect in the regular season was the true formula for winning it all Tom Brady wouldn't still be having nightmares containing the numbers "eighteen" and "one". The 2010 NY Jets don't quit, and our upcoming opponents are taking note... trust me.
Our running game is ranked 3rd overall averaging over 150 yards per game and the one two punch of Tomlinson and Greene is finally starting to click. Mark has 2,000 yards with 12 TD's and 6 INTs. The defense has been a bit inconsistent, but the loss of Jenkins and Revis for the first half of the season has had a lot to do with that. Now that Revis and Pace are back to 100% I think all of the pieces will fall into place as we head into December. Some fans are disappointed with the sloppy play and penalties from the first 9 games, but I see it from a different perspective. If we were able to go 7-2 with out some key players and playing sub-par football, we have a real chance of making a Superbowl run if we play up to our potential.
Rex and Schotty have also been under some fire because of questionable coaching calls. I believe that our OC has been a bit too aggressive with the passing game, but if Mark should finish with 3,500+ yards and 20 TD's with only 10 INTs in his second year... that would be pretty amazing. I think Schotty is trying to make a name for himself by calling fancy personnel packages and passing too much. This doesn't serve the teams or Marks best interests.
But, on his resume he helped to develop Brees in San Diego, coached Pennington to the CBPOY award with the Jets, worked with Favre for an entire season, and has now developed Sanchez into a functional NFL QB. If we win the big game this year Schotty will be pursued by a lot of teams as a QB guru. I have no problem with him leaving and Calahan taking over as OC. He and Rex will ground and pound Greene to the rushing title in 2011.
Rex has made some in game decisions that can be looked at as ill-advised. He got blamed for the fake punt against the Packers (which he had nothing to do with) and he also came under fire this past week in Cleveland. With 35 seconds on the clock and 2 timeouts he decided to let the clock run out and go to overtime. We had good field position and if we would have lost that game this call would have been a bigger story... a huge one actually.
This is a winning business and we have the best record in football. Rex is more than an entertainer in press conferences and a motivator in the locker room. He is also one of the top 3 defensive minds in the NFL. Anyone that understands defense that well also has offensive expertise by default. I don't know if any team has better combo of motivator and strategist as head coach. He needs to work on some of his in game calls, but he is also only a season and a half into his head coaching career... as is our QB. I think they are both doing pretty damn well if you grade their performance by wins and losses.
Santonio Homes and Jericho Cotchery are players who have proven over the years that they have a competitive fire that only increases when the game is on the line. #89's 1st down catch in overtime is one I will never forget as a jets fan. On 3rd down Cotchery lined up in the slot and ran a route that was cut short because he injured his groin muscle half way through the play. He was in major pain and stated hoping on one foot.
Meanwhile our QB was scrambling trying to avoid the Browns pass rush. Mark could see that J-co was hobbled but he was also the only viable target. He pointed to him and then delivered an off target laser. Most receivers with two healthy legs wouldn't have been able to stretch their bodies out and grab the ball in mid air while falling to the ground. And, I can't think of any other that would have even attempted it moments after suffering an injury.... especially one that painful. Cotchery caught that ball because thats the way he is wired. he cares about his team and winning as much as he does about his own well being.
Holmes comes up big in big moments just like Cotchery, but with different motivation. Holmes believes he is the best player on the field at any given time. He expects the ball to be in his hands when the game is on the line and doesn't even consider anything but making the play. The final drive of Superbowl XLIII will be remembered for all time. Holmes simply plays on another level in those situations.
He is not a top 10 receiver in this league, but with the game on the line he may be #1. The way he out-willed the Detroit defenders two weeks ago setting up a chip shot game winning field goal was one of the best plays of the season... until it was completely eclipsed by his heroics in Cleveland one week later. He snatched the ball out of the air and split 3 defenders effortlessly on his way to the endzone. It was a sight to see.
Next week we will get a very clear look at where our defense is. Are they a championship defense, or just a bunch of big talkers. The Texans have struggled this season when it comes to winning. They have been the exact opposite of the Jets... losing games in the final seconds instead of pulling them out. However, they have not struggled moving the ball. They have an excellent passing game and a solid running game.
I don't think we can outscore them in a shoot out, and frankly our team is not designed that way. We shouldn't have to play their game. We should simply pound the rock and eat up the clock. We will need a few sacks and at least one turnover to insure a W this week. It's time for #24 to start to earn his big pay raise he cried about all summer. Shutting down Johnson is no small task, but if he is the best CB in the league I would like to see him register his first INT of the season... in week 11.
Another interesting story line will revolve around Brad Smith. He is a good special teams player and is lethal in the Wildcat. But, with Cotchery out for a couple of weeks Smith will now step into the slot receiver spot. Actually I would expect to see him and Edwards out wide and Holmes in the slot in 3 WR sets, but the question is can he make an impact? There is some simple math to consider for the NY Jets in 2011.
They will have some big salaries already on the books... guys like Revis, Sanchez, Pace, Mangold and Ferguson soak up a lot of dollars. We will also be trying to resign Harris, and LT will probably also hang around one more year. We will simply not be able to afford Edwards, Cotchery and Holmes together. Cotchery is already a substantial cap hit, and Holmes won't sign a hometown discount. Even Edwards is going to need to be paid based on his performance so far this season. He has been explosive on the field and is catching everything thrown his way.
Everyone is assuming that Edwards and or Holmes will be gone in 2011. But, I am 100% sure Mr. T and our coaches will be paying close attention to the way our offense looks and operates with #17, #10 and #16 on the field together. I love #89, and he may be my favorite current Jet, but he may also be the odd man out next year.. as crazy as that may sound right now.
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