Jets On The Mark in Rout of Bills

Sunday at the Meadowlands was proof that the preseason just does not matter.

The Jets' offense exploded for four touchdowns in the season opener this afternoon against the Bills.  Gang Green crushed Buffalo, 48-28 in a wild game at MetLife Stadium.  Mark Sanchez had a sparkling debut throwing for 266 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Rookie Stephen Hill caught 5 passes for 89 yards to go with 2 touchdowns.  Jeremy Kerley had a breakout performance with a 12 yard touchdown catch and a 68 yard punt return for a touchdown.  Tim Tebow came in for the wildcat and carried the ball 5 times for 11 yards.

The Jets' offense was in cruise control and their defense was absolutely dominant for the first 40 minutes of the game.  After Sanchez made a poor throw that was intercepted on the Jets' opening drive, it seemed like the "Te-Bow" chants were on the way.  That would be the only mistake Sanchez would make all day.  Darrelle Revis would intercept Ryan Fitzpatrick and it was all Jets from there.  

Sanchez was spot-on with his passes all afternoon.  It was something that Jets fans hope to get used to.  Hill, Kerley, and Santonio Holmes were his main targets on the day catching a combined 13 passes for 202 yards.  Tight end Dustin Keller was not very effective, but is expected to have a major role in the offense this season.

The ground and pound was successful as Shonn Greene carried the ball 27 times for 94 yards and a touchdown.  Tebow came in as a tight end on the first offensive play of the game.  He carried the ball for 11 yards.  The run game complemented the pass game very well Sunday afternoon.  Tebow should see more carries and more options in the wildcat as the season goes on.

Most importantly, the Jets' secondary was very impressive for the most part.  They started to fall apart in the fourth quarter, but for the most part they held Fitzpatrick in check.  They forced him into three interceptions with one of them turning into a pick six from Antonio Cromartie.  Revis left the game with an injury, but will be fine to play Sunday.

It was an electric atmosphere at the Meadowlands Sunday.  The crowd was ready for a fresh start.  The beginning of the season always brings new hope.  Not one person out of the 79,088 people expected a 48-point performance from the Jets, which happens to be the most in franchise history in the season opener.  It was a good showing in a season where the Jets are looking to redeem themselves and get back to the playoffs.

It was definitely a good performance by the offense, defense, and special teams, but there are definitely a lot of things the Jets need to work on.  Their defense had trouble stopping C.J. Spiller and the running game allowing him to run for 169 yards and a touchdown.  Also, the pass rush was awful for Gang Green.  Fitzpatrick had all day to throw allowing him to get some of those late touchdowns.  Pass rushing was the Jets' weakness last season and could be this year.  Look for Rex Ryan's team to put some more pressure on the quarterback throughout the season if they want to be successful.

The Jets head to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers Sunday.  Ben Roethlisberger should play, unless the birth of his child ends up happening that day.  While the Jets still have a lot to work on, their performance against Buffalo was a good sign.  The offense can put up points and move the ball.  The defense can force turnovers with their impressive secondary.  Let's see if Sanchez can go on the road to Pittsburgh and have a repeat performance of his brilliance in the 2012 season opener.  

Jets' O Will Flow

After the third straight preseason game without the offense scoring a touchdown, Jets fans are ready to pull their hair out.  It's about time everyone calms down and understands the situation.

Here's 5 reasons why there is no need for concern:

1) It's preseason.  These games are completely irrelevant.  The results do not count.  How many points this team scores in preseason will have absolutely zero effect on the season.

2) Santonio Holmes just played his first game on Sunday.  The offense has been playing with some injuries at receiver so far in preseason.  Holmes has not played as well as Jeremy Kerley.  Those are the Jets top two wide receivers.  Sunday was their first chance to get out there and get acclimated to the offense in an actual game scenario.

3) Tim Tebow is playing a role in preseason that is nowhere near what he will be actually doing in the regular season.  Tebow is not on the Jets to throw 10+ passes every game.  He is here to come in for the wildcat and help out on special teams as well.  What we have seen in preseason will not be seen come September 9th when the Jets kick off the season at MetLife Stadium against the Bills.  Mark Sanchez will be the guy under center throwing the ball.

4) Sunday was their first game without Wayne Hunter at starting right tackle.  Hunter was a big reason for the Jets struggles in the prior two games.  Austin Howard saw his first action with the starters Sunday and did quite well.  The guy was just inserted as a starter.  Howard will fill in very nicely to a Jets offensive line that will be extremely important to the Jets offensive success in 2012.

5) This team is adjusting to a new playbook.  Brian Schottenheimer and his conservative offensive playbook is no longer in town.  Tony Sparano has brought in a completely different playbook that the players are still learning.  It is "training" camp for a reason.  The team is still training to get ready for the season, which is still 13 days away for Gang Green.  These last two weeks leading to the season are vital for Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow to get some repetition in.

So until the buzzer sounds on September 9th following the Jets-Bills matchup at the Meadowlands, let the regular season play do the talking.  Not training camp.  Not the preseason.