Jets football blog

No collapse in 09 for Jets

There's a quiet, but distinct, movement taking place inside the Jets locker room at the moment, and it might be a catalyst that helps catapult them to the playoffs this year.

The leaders of this movement are the veterans, who were a part of the Jets’ unsightly collapse in the final month of the 2008 season when they sabotaged an 8-3 start by losing four of their last five games to end up missing the playoffs.

That empty feeling that came from being the talk of the NFL one moment and out of the playoffs the next is a sickening sensation Jets veterans vow they’ll never allow to engulf them again. Continue

Jets Defense to face ultimate challenge vs Saints

Sunday's matchup between the Jets and Saints is so delicious even the players and coaches involved are intrigued to see whether great defense will beat great offense.

The 3-0 Jets will take their physical, blitzing, smothering defense to New Orleans to face the 3-0 Saints and their explosive, multi-faceted offense that's ranked No. 1 in the NFL.

"That's going to be the buzz of the week. It's going to be an anticipated matchup that everyone wants to see -- Drew Brees against Rex Ryan. It should be exciting," right tackle Damien Woody said yesterday.

"People always want to see a good defense versus a great offense," linebacker Bart Scott said. "We'll see how it turns out. I mean, I'll be excited about it. We've got two undefeated teams. This is a great opportunity to see what kind of team the Jets are and to see if New Orleans is as billed. It'll be fun." Continue

Jets continue to impress, beat Titans 24-17

Letdown? What letdown? So much of the talk about the Jets during the week following their stirring win over the rival Patriots last Sunday was about whether they’d suffer a human-nature emotional letdown against the desperate 0-2 Titans this afternoon.

So much of the talk was about whether the Jets could sustain their intensity against a Titans team that would come into Giants Stadium virtually playing for its season.

So much for all that talk.

The Jets, smacking the Titans in the face with a couple of early uppercuts and then sustaining Tennessee’s best comeback shot, held on with a big-time second half and stormed to a startling 3-0 start with a 24-17 win. Continue

Ryan preaches no let down for Jets

Over the years, the motto Play like a Jet has meant plenty of things, and not all of them good.

At his first team meeting, coach Rex Ryan stood front and center and announced that Play like a Jet would signify the new culture.

Today against the 0-2 Titans, Play like a Jet means, more than anything, no letdown.

Here’s what Ryan would tell Jets fans worried about a letdown after that emotional triumph over the Patriots:

“It’s not gonna happen. If we lose a game, it’s not gonna be because we’re lettin’ down. It’s gonna be because they were a better team than us,” he said. “I don’t think that’s gonna happen. So, with me, there’s no such thing as a letdown. I mean, our guys are professionals . . . part of Playing like a Jet is you bring it every week and you’re consistent, and so that’s why I don’t see us having letdowns.” Continue

Sheppard and Strickland out vs Titans

The Jets' defense will face the Titans without CBs Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland. The two were ruled out Friday, not too long after Rex Ryan had said Sheppard's status might be a game-time decision. Sheppard (quadricep) and Strickland (ankle) did not practice all week long.

CB Dwight Lowery will start in place of Sheppard, and CB Drew Coleman will play in nickel packages.

"We'll be fine there," Ryan said. "We won't, obviously, have the depth that we normally have, but those guys can play. Like we say, we have no excuses regardless of who's up or who's down. This is a football team. Everybody goes through bumps and bruises."

The Jets brought in two CBs - ex-Jet Justin Miller and former Raven Corey Ivy - Friday for visits. Continue 

Sanchez has tendinitis in right knee

Mark Sanchez has a "little tendinitis" in his right knee, according to Rex Ryan. But Sanchez was added to the Jets' injury report Thursday because there's no such thing as a little injury to a quarterback. The Jets learned that the hard way with the Brett Favre fiasco.

Sanchez practiced fully, according to the team, and will start Sunday against the Titans. Nevertheless, in the wake of the heavy fines imposed by the NFL for failing to report Favre's arm injury last season, the Jets weren't about to omit Sanchez - especially after a reporter noticed him fussing over his knee during the portion of practice open to the media. Continue

Kerry Collins facing long day vs Jets

What does the Jets defense have in store for an encore this week?

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub was so rattled by the Jets’ swarming defense on opening day, it appeared he was seeing ghosts dressed in green chasing him.

Last Sunday, Tom Brady, the Patriots Hall of Fame-bound leader with three Super Bowl rings, was reduced to looking as ordinary as, well, Schaub is.

Up next is veteran quarterback Kerry Collins, when the 0-2 Titans come to Giants Stadium on Sunday.

When you consider how the Jets’ blitzing defense harassed Schaub and Brady, on the surface it would appear Collins will be a statue waiting to be cracked and crumbled. Continue

Jets playoffs by the numbers

The Jets have seen their playoff chances skyrocket from a preseason 11 percent to more than 60 percent because they have won two games in which they were underdogs, including Sunday over the Patriots.

According to AccuScore, the Patriots have suffered a drop to 57 percent with a loss to a division rival, poor play to start the season, and injuries on defense, all of which have hurt their projected winning percentage in future games.

AccuScore gives the Jets a 40 percent chance to win the AFC East, with the Patriots at 35.4 percent. Continue

Jets accused of tampering by 49ers

Rex Ryan said he didn't hear about the 49ers' tampering claim against the Jets until Sunday morning. Judging by his initial reaction, he was furious.

"I think it's ridiculous, personally," Ryan said on ESPN radio's "Mike and Mike" show. "I wish we were playing them."

Speaking to reporters later in the day, Ryan didn't back down, strongly denying allegations the Jets had tampered with unsigned rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree. The NFL, investigating the claim, will have the final say.

Obviously, the 49ers suspect foul play. They filed formal charges against the Jets, as first reported yesterday by the Daily News. The 49ers apparently believe the Jets contacted Crabtree or his agent to let them know they'd be interested in trading for him or willing to select him if he reenters the draft in 2010. Continue

D backs up talk, Jets win 16-9

The Jets backed up their big talk and finally beat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at home.

Mark Sanchez came out throwing in the second half after a quiet first two quarters and connected with Dustin Keller on a go-ahead touchdown as the Jets held on and beat Brady for the first time at a loud Meadowlands with a 16-9 victory Sunday.

Brady had a chance to tie it for the Patriots, getting the ball at the Patriots 10 with 1:48 left, but the Jets' defense stopped him as Dwight Lowery knocked away a pass to Joey Galloway on fourth down.

Brady was unable to engineer his 30th comeback victory as Sanchez took a knee twice to seal the first win for the Jets (2-0) over the Patriots (1-1) at home in nine games. Brady had beaten the Jets in 12 of the previous 14 games he had faced them overall. Continue