Is it Tebow Time for the Jets?

No Darrelle Revis.  No Santonio Holmes.  No Dustin Keller.  Mark Sanchez coming off one of the worst games of his career.  It all spelled disaster for the Jets Monday night.

Despite all the injuries, the Jets had the ball with a chance to win the game at the two minute warning.  That's until Mark Sanchez's pass to tight end Jeff Cumberland went off his hands and into the arms of Kareem Jackson.  The Jets lost Monday night to the undefeated Texans, 23-17.

While the fault does not go directly to Sanchez, it was another poor showing from Gang Green's quarterback.  Sanchez was 14 for 31 for 230 yards and two picks.  His QB rating was 10.0.  Has the 4th year quarterback reached the breaking point?

Sanchez heard boos from the fans at MetLife Stadium all night.  Jets fans seem ready to move on and put Tim Tebow behind center.  Every time Tebow came off the field and Sanchez came on, the boos emerged.  How long until Jets fans give up and start showing up?  While the attendance was announced at 79,088, there were nowhere near that many people there Monday night.  Selling tickets will be a hard thing for Woody Johnson's team to do for the remainder of the season...especially after Johnson publicly stated he would rather have Romney win the Presidency over the Jets winning games.

It has become a nightmare in Jets land.  Their owner is making comments that should not have been made.  GM Mike Tannenbaum did not do much this offseason to improve a team that missed out on the playoffs last season.  The quarterback that was given a $58 million extension this offseason has been abysmal since his impressive week one performance.  The injuries are clearly the major issue at hand, but Sanchez's play is not going to put people in the seats.  While it is only week six, and the Jets are just 2-3, it might be time for Tebow to take over.

It's Tebow time for the Jets.

Jets Escape Miami With Overtime Win

The Jets were given a gift Sunday afternoon by the Miami Dolphins.  Kicker Dan Carpenter missed his second field goal of the game in overtime giving the Jets yet another opportunity.  They would finally take advantage with 6:04 left in overtime as Nick Folk nailed a 33 yard field goal to propel the Jets to a 23-20 victory.

It was in no way pretty, but Mark Sanchez and company left Miami with their second win of the season.  While Sanchez ended up throwing for 306 yards and a touchdown, his overall numbers and a lot of his throws were ugly.  He was 21 for 45 with an interception and an awful quarterback rating of 32.4.  Sanchez had a lot of overthrown balls and a lot of open receivers he could not get it to.  The Jets' starter missed a wide open Chaz Schilens for a touchdown and a wide open Jeff Cumberland in the endzone.  Also, on a 1st and goal at the one, Sanchez and the Jets failed to get it in the endzone and were forced to go for a field goal.  Luckily, Santonio Holmes had a clutch performance catching 9 passes for 147 yards for Gang Green.

The Jets running game was ineffective with just 88 yards on 33 carries.  A major issue was the lack of use in the redzone of Tim Tebow.  The Jets brought in Tebow to score touchdowns for them in the redzone.  He had two carries all day.  One of those carries was a game changing fake punt where Tebow ran it for five yards on 4th and 3 to get the first down.  It was a perfect playcall and the Jets would get a field goal in the drive.

The other big offseason acquisition, LaRon Landry had a pivotal interception that he ran back 18 yards for a touchdown in the first minute of the second half.  It was a momentum changer and a spark the Jets needed after an abysmal first half of football.  The two newest Jets helped to lead them to ten points that would change the game entirely.  It was a game the Jets needed with the 49ers and Texans coming up next on the schedule.

While it was a big win to improve to 2-1, they suffered a huge loss with their star cornerback Darrelle Revis tearing his ACL.  Revis will be out for the remainder of the season leaving the Jets with a huge hole on defense.  Kyle Wilson will have some big shoes to fill at cornerback.  The Jets will be heavily relying on Wilson and Antonio Cromartie to have big time seasons if they want a chance at the playoffs.  Trying to replace the best cornerback in the league is impossible, but the team needs to come together and step it up on defense without the Pro Bowl defender.

The team will have to rally around each other and find a way to win without Revis.  They return home for three straight games starting with the 49ers Sunday, who are coming off a bad loss to the Vikings.  Gang Green's offense is going to have to see much better production from Sanchez and the running game if they want to win games.  They were given a gift wrapped victory by the Dolphins Sunday that good teams won't allow to happen.  The Jets will need to have some sort of pass rush and see the offense get the ball in the endzone if they want success down the road.  Tebow will be a big part of that happening.

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.  

Plax Leads Jets to Comeback Victory Over Chargers

One trip to the endzone would not be good enough for Plaxico Burress.

Two would not be sufficient either.

A third touchdown would have to do.  Jets wide receiver finally decided to have the breakout game fans would hope to see from him on Sunday.  Plax only had four receptions but three of them would be for touchdowns.  It was a spectacular performance by the first year Jet and former Giant.  The Jets would fight back from being down 21-10 at the half to defeating the first place Chargers 27-21.

The Jets were coming off a win against the worst team in football last week.  They needed a win against a very good Chargers team if they wanted any sort of momentum going into their bye week.  They started off a little shaky in the first half, but once again they turned on the jets (no pun intended) in the 2nd half.  Their defense played lights out only allowing 96 total rushing yards.  They forced two interceptions off of pro bowl quarterback Philip Rivers.  Rivers was 16 for 32 with 179 yards and two interceptions and one touchdown.  The Jets did not give up one point in the second half.  It was the best their defense has played in a while.  The turning point came when the Jets trailed 21-17 early in the fourth quarter and the Chargers were driving to the Jets 25 yard line.  Darrelle Revis would intercept Rivers and nearly do the same thing he did last week and run it for a touchdown.  This time he got to the opponent's 19 yard line and the Jets would get one of their three touchdowns to Plaxico Burress to take the lead and hold on for the win.

The Jets were led by their rushing attack.  Shonn Greene ran for 112 yards.  Sanchez ran for 25 yards.  Ladanian Tomlinson ran for 14 yards and Joe McKnight ran for 11 yards.  They had 162 yards combined on the ground.  Mark Sanchez was good enough to get the Jets offense by throwing for 173 yards and the three touchdown passes to Burress.

It was a masterful second half performance by the Jets and another comeback victory.  The Jets are now back over .500 at 4-3 and the Chargers fall to 4-2 with the loss.  The Jets will have a bye next week before they hit the road to face the Bills.  The Chargers return home to face the Chiefs next Monday night.

Jets Snap Losing Streak and Get Back to .500

The Jets were in dire need of a victory on Monday night facing the winless Dolphins.  It started off sloppy early in the game, but the Jets kicked it into gear after an abismal start to defeat the Dolphins 24-6 at Metlife Stadium.  The Jets moved to 3-3 with the win, including 3-0 at home and the Dolphins fell to 0-5 with the loss.

The Jets came out of the gate at home not as expected.  Their first four drives were all three and out.  They could not get one first down the first four drives.  They still held a 7-6 lead in the second quarter without having a first down thanks to a 100 yard interception return for a touchdown from cornerback Darelle Revis.  Many questioned whether it may have been a pass interference committed by Revis to get the pick, but nothing was called and Revis would weave his way through defenders to take it from one endzone to the other.

The Jets would finally get offensive yardage on their 5th drive as they drove down the field for a touchdown to take a 14-6 lead.  That would be the score at the half.  The Jets would get a field goal in the 3rd quarter to take a 17-6 lead going into the 4th.  The Dolphins offense was stagnant.  They could not get the ball down the field whatsoever in the second half.  The Jets defense dominated and Matt Moore proved why he is a backup quarterback in the NFL.  He struggled all night, especially in the second half.  The Jets would score early in the 4th quarter thanks to a 38 yard catch and run by Santonio Holmes with the help of a couple great blocks down the field.  The Jets had a 24-6 lead and would hold on by that score.

Mark Sanchez had an average game throwing 14 for 25 for 201 yards and one touchdown as well as a rushing touchdown.  Shonn Greene ran for 74 yards and the Jets finally got back on the winning side.  Meanwhile, nothing is going right for the Miami Dolphins.  They have struggled mightily all season.  Matt Moore, who was playing for the injured Chad Henne did not look sharp throwing 16 for 34 for 204 yards and an interception.  It seems as the Dolphins will be in the race for quarterback Andrew Luck this year as they are looking like they will have one of the top picks in the upcoming draft.

The key thing for the Jets is that they won the game.  This was a much needed win just to get them out of their funk.  Yes, they beat a team who has been awful and arguably the worst team in the league, but it was a win that could build them some confidence going into next week.  The Jets will face the surprising Chargers team at home hoping to get back over the .500 mark. The Dolphins face Tim Tebow and the Broncos in Miami.

Jets D Dominates in 32-3 Win Over Jags

They say defense wins championships. Well, that is how it is looking to be for the New York Jets. Their offense did not look too pretty against a Jacksonville team with a lot of bumps and bruises and a starting quarterback by the name of Luke McCown. The defense, on the other hand was absolutely dominant.  Even with the futile play by the offense, the Jets obliterated the Jaguars 32-3.

The release of quarterback David Gerrard may have the seats in Jacksonville as empty as they were in the fourth quarter at Metlife Stadium Sunday afternoon.  Rookie QB Blaine Gabbert got to see some playing time Sunday in the second half and may be seeing a lot more playing time coming up. Luke McCown had 1 of the worst games ever seen by a QB.  His QB rating, an astounding 1.8. Yes, you read that correctly. Was it the Jets defense or the poor play of McCown? Well, a good combination of both.

The Jets secondary was nearly unstoppable as they hope to be all season long retaining pro bowl cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis.  Both had spectacular seasons last year and both have looked good the first two weeks.

On the other hand, the Jets offense did not look like the fired up offense in the fourth quarter the week prior against the Cowboys. Coach Rex Ryan told the team in meetings the day prior that he would like to see the offense come out firing.  That, they did....for the first possession. They quickly scored a touchdown ending with a 17 yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes in the endzone.  After that, Sanchez struggled throwing two interceptions.  Luckily, the defense's dominant play had him very relaxed and not having too worry too much about carrying the team.  Cromartie and the rest of one of the top defenses last season took care of that.


One thing that I did notice and am starting to notice in Sanchez though is that he is starting to look very comfortable in the pocket.  He does not seem to be forcing as many throws and making too many mistakes like we have seen in the past.  The fourth year quarterback is starting to look more like a veteran out there.  He will try to take the Super Bowl hungry Jets to their first Super Bowl win since prior to when the first man walked on the moon.

The Jets are off to quite the start with two wins to start the season.  One coming in comeback fashion and the other in blowout fashion.  Gang Green will be tested these next couple of weeks as they play at Oakland, at Baltimore, and at New England.  Sanchez and the rest of the Jets are going to need to play a more complete game on both sides of the ball if they hope to keep their early successes going.