I have to admit, I had a plan for this post a few days ago. It was going to be the reasons the Jets should bench Mark Sanchez right here and now. I was going to list the reasons (same mistakes over and over, the media is really going to be out for blood soon, the Jets veterans can't keep their poker faces much longer with each and every rookie mistake, etc.) and arrive at a somber conclusion.
But we're in a holiday season. Sports should not bring us down (too much.) There's always next week to tell the Jets how to run the franchise. For now, we will do a Sunday Smash, Thursday Edition. It's the ever-elusive Thursday Thrash. So without further ado, here is a mid-week picks section for today's Thanksgiving matchups. Just gobble, baby.
Cowboys (-13.5) over Raiders
Tony Romo and the whole Dallas offense has played like, well, turkeys. Oakland actually has pretty good numbers defending the pass. But if the Cowboys have shown us anything this year, it's to expect the unexpected. Marion Barber tears up Oakland early on, and Romo shreds them late to pull away.
Giants (-6.5) over Broncos
If you've fancied this blog during the season, you probably notice the trend that I always pick against the Broncos. Their week 1 win was an insane fluke, and I have unfairly held it against them to this day. It's not like I hate them. I don't. But ever since that crazy win...I've just continually expected a fall. The Giants, despite beating Atlanta, clearly haven't escaped their swoon either. Kyle Orton is back for the Broncos, but I see a combination of him having rust and trying to do too much, leading to turnovers. It will be a close one, but I can see the Giants getting in the endzone late. They will keep pace with Dallas in the division.
Upset Perfiction of Thanksgiving
Lions (+11) over Packers
It's right there in line with the other Thanksgiving traditions: Hope, against hope, that the Lions can somehow win their annual Thanksgiving game. I started following football cohesively in the late 1990's, so the Lions being awful is pretty much all I have known. This year is no different, as they are given eleven points. This is the team that scored 38 last week! Oh yeah, it was against Cleveland. But there's something really special going on here: Matthew Stafford hurt his shoulder in that game. That's right, big ol' Daunte Culpepper is in line to get the start for Detroit. There's something about Daunte Culpepper playing on a day that celebrates food that makes me feel wrong to pick against him. You can do it, Lions.
Now for the return of What About Conor Wednesday. What's it been, 2 months or so? Preposterous. Here's a quickie in honor of Turkey Day. In reverse order, Conor's top-5 Thanksgiving foods. To make thinks interesting, I have excluded turkey from consideration. It's a given...
5. Cranberry Sauce
Delicious, yes. But penalized a bit because it lacks ability to 'stand on its own.' More of a complimentary deliciousness.
4. Yams with Marshmallow
I used to think it was gross. Then I tried them, and I've never looked back.
3. Apple Cider
In a weird way, it's the most exclusive 'Thanksgiving food' that I know. How often does one have apple cider??
2. Stuffing
I still don't know what it's made of. But they are all scrumptious.
1. Mashed Potatoes
The classic. I never have a bite of turkey without some potatoes mixed in. Doesn't get any better.
Thanks for reading. Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday Mash- Week 11
After the picks section went 0-6 in week 10, the NFL's week 11 has now come and gone. And I have just one word...
WOOOOOO!
Well, kinda. 5-2 is woo-worthy, no? The Cowboys didn't even come close to their spread, so that was a bad one. But the Giants had a 6-1 record absolutely gift-wrapped for me. A full touchdown lead evaporated in the final seconds, and the overtime period guaranteed they wouldn't be able to cover. The Vikings (emphatically), Colts (barely) and Patriots (damn it) all covered as favorites while my two 'dogs (Browns and Bills) both covered despite losing. Actually, both lost in such heartbreaking fashion... I'm worried I put a hideous curse on them.
Let's take a look at the locals. It wasn't pretty, but the Giants were willing to take any kind of win they could get yesterday. Sure, they spit up every opportunity they had to bury Atlanta. Sure, Eli Manning's gaudy numbers are quite deceiving considering how uncomfortable he was all game. And sure, Falcons star running back Michael Turner was injured and Big Blue let the backup run somewhat-wild. But they got the win in the end. They kept pace with the Eagles and Cowboys, whose wins (Dallas particularly) were just as ugly as the Giants'. Though there's tons of work ahead, the Giants live to play another week.
While the Giants live to play, we now visit the tomb of the New York Jets' season. It was a somewhat up-and-down game, in the sense of how much the Pats would win by. It looked like they would win by 40, then about 25, then very briefly about 7, then the final score dictated a 17-point win. The fallen Sanchize (more on him later in the week) did his best to keep the game anti-close with another 5 turnovers in the game.
Games like this present some very interesting thoughts in a fan's head. Once the Patriots had the early interception returned for a touchdown, any Jets fan that's watched for the last month knew the game was absolutely, utterly over. It didn't matter how early it was. The game was over. It's a unique feeling. Normally, every time I watch a game, I focus on that game. You know, what they can do to win. But when you're sure that the game (and your playoff chances) are all up in smoke, here are some (factual) snippets of what ran through my brain...
But it wasn't meant to be. The New England offense moved consistently on the Jets via the short pass (another excellent job by Darelle Revis not letting Moss get any monster gains.) While the Pats offense clicked, Sanchez gave them everything they needed otherwise. At 4-6, at least the Jets can go about their business quietly (for a change) and perhaps play spoiler. Sanchez will take more lumps and hopefully learn from them. Though it's bitter after a 3-0 start, it's better than being a team completely in turmoil (St. Louis, Cleveland, etc.)
Here's the rest of the juicy stuff from week 11...
The Montauk BeverageWorks Delicious Performance of the Week:
Matthew Stafford, Lions. How ya doin, rookie? In yesterday's pick section, I felt I "had to pick" the Browns-Lions game. That was sarcasm for how ghastly the game was supposed to be. Both teams came into the game woeful. The result? Why the game of the week, of course! The Lions grasp the victory on an un-timed play at the end of the game. (The reason? Why an unnecessary pass interference on the last-second hail mary of course! You're the best, Cleveland.) But Stafford took advantage, throwing his FIFTH TOUCHDOWN OF THE DAY. (Has Sanchez thrown five in the last month??) Second place for this award went to the other quarterback in the Lions-Browns game! Brady Quinn threw for 304 yards and 4 touchdowns, which just missed Stafford's 422 and 5 scores. Yes, over 725 yards passing and nine touchdowns in the Stafford-Quinn shootout. And we're told that the NBA is where amazing happens...
WOOOOOO!
Well, kinda. 5-2 is woo-worthy, no? The Cowboys didn't even come close to their spread, so that was a bad one. But the Giants had a 6-1 record absolutely gift-wrapped for me. A full touchdown lead evaporated in the final seconds, and the overtime period guaranteed they wouldn't be able to cover. The Vikings (emphatically), Colts (barely) and Patriots (damn it) all covered as favorites while my two 'dogs (Browns and Bills) both covered despite losing. Actually, both lost in such heartbreaking fashion... I'm worried I put a hideous curse on them.
Let's take a look at the locals. It wasn't pretty, but the Giants were willing to take any kind of win they could get yesterday. Sure, they spit up every opportunity they had to bury Atlanta. Sure, Eli Manning's gaudy numbers are quite deceiving considering how uncomfortable he was all game. And sure, Falcons star running back Michael Turner was injured and Big Blue let the backup run somewhat-wild. But they got the win in the end. They kept pace with the Eagles and Cowboys, whose wins (Dallas particularly) were just as ugly as the Giants'. Though there's tons of work ahead, the Giants live to play another week.
While the Giants live to play, we now visit the tomb of the New York Jets' season. It was a somewhat up-and-down game, in the sense of how much the Pats would win by. It looked like they would win by 40, then about 25, then very briefly about 7, then the final score dictated a 17-point win. The fallen Sanchize (more on him later in the week) did his best to keep the game anti-close with another 5 turnovers in the game.
Games like this present some very interesting thoughts in a fan's head. Once the Patriots had the early interception returned for a touchdown, any Jets fan that's watched for the last month knew the game was absolutely, utterly over. It didn't matter how early it was. The game was over. It's a unique feeling. Normally, every time I watch a game, I focus on that game. You know, what they can do to win. But when you're sure that the game (and your playoff chances) are all up in smoke, here are some (factual) snippets of what ran through my brain...
- Hmmm, I wish I watched college football more often. Then I'd know what players are between 10th and 20th best and can be excited to picture them as a Jet next year.
- If the Jets, for absolutely no reason, named Kellen Clemens as a starting quarterback after week 3, what would their record be? 7-3? 8-2 perhaps?
- If I change over to Bride Wars on HBO, but it's 15 minutes after it began, will I still be able to get the central idea and themes of the movie?
But it wasn't meant to be. The New England offense moved consistently on the Jets via the short pass (another excellent job by Darelle Revis not letting Moss get any monster gains.) While the Pats offense clicked, Sanchez gave them everything they needed otherwise. At 4-6, at least the Jets can go about their business quietly (for a change) and perhaps play spoiler. Sanchez will take more lumps and hopefully learn from them. Though it's bitter after a 3-0 start, it's better than being a team completely in turmoil (St. Louis, Cleveland, etc.)
Here's the rest of the juicy stuff from week 11...
The Montauk BeverageWorks Delicious Performance of the Week:
Matthew Stafford, Lions. How ya doin, rookie? In yesterday's pick section, I felt I "had to pick" the Browns-Lions game. That was sarcasm for how ghastly the game was supposed to be. Both teams came into the game woeful. The result? Why the game of the week, of course! The Lions grasp the victory on an un-timed play at the end of the game. (The reason? Why an unnecessary pass interference on the last-second hail mary of course! You're the best, Cleveland.) But Stafford took advantage, throwing his FIFTH TOUCHDOWN OF THE DAY. (Has Sanchez thrown five in the last month??) Second place for this award went to the other quarterback in the Lions-Browns game! Brady Quinn threw for 304 yards and 4 touchdowns, which just missed Stafford's 422 and 5 scores. Yes, over 725 yards passing and nine touchdowns in the Stafford-Quinn shootout. And we're told that the NBA is where amazing happens...
- In Reilly Sports Blog fantasy team news, Tony Romo might have done just enough to win this week. Though it was disgusting (he should have torched Washington) he did throw a score in the end. Team Clean Sanchez (and the Cowboys) keep pace with the pack.
- I'm sorry it's taken so long to get to this...but how bout those upsets yesterday? The Raiders, already victors over the Eagles this year, stun the Bengals at the buzzer. Let the theories about Larry Johnson, locker room cancer, begin! In an even bigger shocker, the hapless Chiefs drop the hammer on the Steelers?? I know Cedric Benson and Troy Polamalu are out for Cinci and Pit, but those defeats are real shockers.
- The Chargers beat the living garbage out of Denver to take control of the division. Honestly...I wasn't the only one but...I told ya so.
- Terrell Owens went for 197 yards catching. Of course the Bills didn't win. It's a hate-hate relationship.
- It's becoming extremely clear that the Colts are not going for style points here. Who knew a 10-0 team could still be the cardiac kids? It's insane the Ravens are now just 5-5.
- The Saints are also perfect after blasting Tampa. Next Monday against the Patriots is going to be something.
- But this Monday night? Tennessee at Houston. The Texans are favored by 4. Steve Slaton is the man again at running back for Houston, and I gotta ride with my guy. Tennessee is dangerous, but the Texans find a way. Houston 24, Tennessee 16.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday Smash- Week 11
What a long week it was for the blog.
Rex Ryan crying, Mark Sanchez writing a post-game speech, Kerry Rhodes Tweet-campaigning for a Pro Bowl spot while being invisible all year. The Jets have done enough damage. The disastrous picks section last week was just the cherry on top.
I have taken plenty of showers this week, but I still can't shake off the stink of 0-6. I'm desperately trying to figure out what went wrong. Did I rush them? Did I overthink them? Did i type them out while walking under a ladder? I can't be certain (except about the last one.) But Sunday has finally arrived, and for week 11 I am 0-0. I got some fantastic news last night for my fantasy football league, as my top pick Steve Slaton--a player I deemed to be 4th best in the league--is finally off the Texans' bench! The tide has already begun to turn. I finally have hope. And hope is a good thing.
So let's ride this momentum train right into the picks section. And this baby's running express. Though the tragic events of week 10 can never be erased from our memories, I'm certain these week 11 picks will go a long way towards alleviating the pain. Just cover, baby.
The Locals
Giants (-7) over Falcons
Admittedly, this line was rather eye-popping when I first saw it. The Giants have been porous for several weeks now, but they have to feed off that huge boost they got last week during their bye. Atlanta has all kinds of problems, and tends to get really uncomfortable on the road.
Patriots (-11) over Jets
This game would be exponentially-more compelling if New York didn't wet the bed against the Jaguars last week. The Jets were talked about for all the wrong reasons this week, and the Pats still have smoke coming out of their ears from their Monday night debacle. I can see the Jets starting off inspired, maybe trailing by 3 or 4 at the half. After that? Oy.
Across the NFL
Cowboys (-11) over Redskins
That astronomical line is begging people to take the underdog 'Skins. Dallas was terrbible last week while Washington put the hammer on Denver. Both teams are due to return to their normal performances.
Vikings (-10.5) over Seahawks
Another meaty point spread. It was between this game or the Saints-Bucs game for which (10.5) spread I would pick. But Seattle won't know what to do against the Viking defense.
Browns (+3) over Lions
Gotta pick this one, right? For one game...just one game, the Brownswill find a way not to play so, well, brown. That's all I can say about that.
Colts (-1.5) over Ravens
I will not cast the first stone for picking Indy's first loss. It should have some on Monday. Though they are 9-0, their record should read 8.5-0.5 instead. But I'm not picking against Manning.
Upset Perfiction of the Week
Bills (+8.5) over Jaguars
This one just jumped out at me for reasons I'm not totally sure of. The Jaguars can probably run for 300+ yards on Buffalo, and maybe that will move the game along enough to keep it close. Yes, the same Bills team that kept last week's game close...until giving up 24 in the 4th. Times change.
Enjoy the games.
Rex Ryan crying, Mark Sanchez writing a post-game speech, Kerry Rhodes Tweet-campaigning for a Pro Bowl spot while being invisible all year. The Jets have done enough damage. The disastrous picks section last week was just the cherry on top.
I have taken plenty of showers this week, but I still can't shake off the stink of 0-6. I'm desperately trying to figure out what went wrong. Did I rush them? Did I overthink them? Did i type them out while walking under a ladder? I can't be certain (except about the last one.) But Sunday has finally arrived, and for week 11 I am 0-0. I got some fantastic news last night for my fantasy football league, as my top pick Steve Slaton--a player I deemed to be 4th best in the league--is finally off the Texans' bench! The tide has already begun to turn. I finally have hope. And hope is a good thing.
So let's ride this momentum train right into the picks section. And this baby's running express. Though the tragic events of week 10 can never be erased from our memories, I'm certain these week 11 picks will go a long way towards alleviating the pain. Just cover, baby.
The Locals
Giants (-7) over Falcons
Admittedly, this line was rather eye-popping when I first saw it. The Giants have been porous for several weeks now, but they have to feed off that huge boost they got last week during their bye. Atlanta has all kinds of problems, and tends to get really uncomfortable on the road.
Patriots (-11) over Jets
This game would be exponentially-more compelling if New York didn't wet the bed against the Jaguars last week. The Jets were talked about for all the wrong reasons this week, and the Pats still have smoke coming out of their ears from their Monday night debacle. I can see the Jets starting off inspired, maybe trailing by 3 or 4 at the half. After that? Oy.
Across the NFL
Cowboys (-11) over Redskins
That astronomical line is begging people to take the underdog 'Skins. Dallas was terrbible last week while Washington put the hammer on Denver. Both teams are due to return to their normal performances.
Vikings (-10.5) over Seahawks
Another meaty point spread. It was between this game or the Saints-Bucs game for which (10.5) spread I would pick. But Seattle won't know what to do against the Viking defense.
Browns (+3) over Lions
Gotta pick this one, right? For one game...just one game, the Brownswill find a way not to play so, well, brown. That's all I can say about that.
Colts (-1.5) over Ravens
I will not cast the first stone for picking Indy's first loss. It should have some on Monday. Though they are 9-0, their record should read 8.5-0.5 instead. But I'm not picking against Manning.
Upset Perfiction of the Week
Bills (+8.5) over Jaguars
This one just jumped out at me for reasons I'm not totally sure of. The Jaguars can probably run for 300+ yards on Buffalo, and maybe that will move the game along enough to keep it close. Yes, the same Bills team that kept last week's game close...until giving up 24 in the 4th. Times change.
Enjoy the games.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I Have...The Powa!
Well, it's mid-November 2009, and there's not much joy in Reilly Sports Blog-ville. The blog will have to drown its sadness in a whole bunch of turkey and apple cider come next week. After all, the Jets are not yet out of their swoon at 4-5, and find themselves as 11-point 'dog at New England this week. The Mets are trying to woo Roy Halladay out of Canada to save their seemingly-in-turmoil franchise. The Knicks are...well, moving on. I thought I'd be in my mid-50's before the Islanders could be the saving grace among my teams.
But look what we have here! Of course, nobody is aware, but these Isles aren't (that) bad! Sure they are in last place. But they're also just one point away from third place in an excellent division. We are more than a quarter of the way through the season and the New York Islanders would be a playoff team if the season ended today. Forward Kyle Okposo may be playing his way onto Team USA in the upcoming Olympics. With Okposo possibly playing for the Americans and defenseman Mark Streit leading the Swiss team, the Isles may even get some international buzz come February. For a team and fans that thought they'd be counting the days until the 2010 draft, things are looking pretty bright.
(I know, I know, the Lighthouse Project...throw the Isles fan a rare bone on this one.)
So we have a hodgepodge of NY sports stories to throw around. But we'll keep the focus on the NFL. No storyline hops out too much (Rex Ryan's tears, Jick Jauron's pink slip, Jerome Bettis laying the verbal smackdown on Bill Belichick are all mild headlines) so we will do something everyone can enjoy: NFL Power Rankings! It's a desperate move for a blog, maybe. But you have to do a couple of these once in a while, right? We'll do it from worst to first because it's more fun that way. We'll include the team's record, a little comment, and the Reilly Sports Blog's exclusive playoff odds. They are calculated using advanced mathematics combined with gut feeling. (Ok, there's no math involved ...try to enjoy them anyway.)
When Does the Offseason Start?
32. Cleveland Browns (1-8) Playoff Chance: 0%
The Browns have scored 78 points in 9 games this year. The Patriots have put up 59 in one game.
31. St. Louis Rams (1-8) Playoff Chance: 0%
The blog predicted a 1-15 record before the season. With one win already, the drama is building.
30. Oakland Raiders (2-7) Playoff Chance: 0%
Oakland's 2 wins only mean that they are heading for a deceivingly-low draft pick in April.
29. Detroit Lions (1-8) Playoff Chance: 0%
Thank goodness they finally got their victory, because they've had some tough luck with injuries.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (2-7) Playoff Chance: 0%
Getting rid of Larry Johnson is a good step. Their management will know what to do with high draft picks.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8) Playoff Chance: 0%
Josh Freeman is looking promising at quarterback. They shouldn't be underestimated, despite the record.
Going Through the (Losing) Motions
26. Buffalo Bills (3-6) Playoff Chance: 3%
Fired their offensive coordinator before the season, fired head coach mid-season. Guess you can't fire T.O.
25. Washington Redskins (3-6) Playoff Chance: 5%
If not for a win over Denver they may be 5 spots lower. The NFC East division will be merciless.
24. Seattle Seahawks (3-6) Playoff Chance: 18%
A weak division causes a bump in playoff chances. They are among the NFL's biggest disappointments
23. Chicago Bears (4-5) Playoff Chance: 10%
Speaking of disappointments...the Bears (especially Cutler/Forte) have let down across the board.
22. Tennessee Titans (3-6) Playoff Chance: 14%
One of the most dangerous teams moving forward. Chris Johnson will be a nightmare for all defenses.
Hanging By a Thread
21. San Francisco 49ers (4-5) Playoff Chance: 26%
Like Seattle, they're never dead in the NFC West. Tough schedule will likely doom them, though.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4) Playoff Chance: 26%
A win over the Jets kept them afloat, but 5-4 looks quite deceiving for them. Love Jones-Drew, though.
19. Houston Texans (5-4) Playoff Chance: 31%
They're better than a lot of teams that I rank higher, but the wild card is now their only option.
18. Carolina Panthers (4-5) Playoff Chance: 31%
Exact same situation as the Texans. They are the NFC's version.
17. New York Jets (4-5) Playoff Chance: 39%
If they win at new England this week, that percentage bumps up 10%. A loss, it goes down 39%.
16. Miami Dolphins (4-5) Playoff Chance: 39%
Same record and a better divisional record than the Jets. One more game against NE will decide their chances.
Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Stayin' Alive
15. Atlanta Falcons (5-4) Playoff Chance: 46%
Their talent cannot be denied. But Matt Ryan is hitting some bumps he hasn't faced as a pro yet.
14. Green Bay Packers (5-4) Playoff Chance: 44%
This team can beat anyone or lose to anyone. They're not catching Minnesota but the wild card is there.
13. Baltimore Ravens (5-4) Playoff Chance: 44%
They're in a cut-throat division, and they may have buried themselves too deep already.
12. New York Giants (5-4) Playoff Chance: 50%
They got some serious help during their bye, now they must take things into their own hands.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) Playoff Chance: 50%
They picked the wrong time for their mini-swoon, but they and the Giants are right there if Dallas trips.
Sitting Pretty
10. Denver Broncos (6-3) Playoff Chance: 51%
When will the bleeding stop? That win over San Diego earlier this year helps them tremendously.
9. Dallas Cowboys (6-3) Playoff Chance: 60%
They had a real chance to pull away last week. After a brutal loss to GB, they're barely hanging on.
8. Arizona Cardinals (6-3) Playoff Chance: 70%
The division is their's if they want it. As you can see, I believe there is a 70% chance that they do.
7. San Diego Chargers (6-3) Playoff Chance: 60%
The blog's projected AFC Champs! That win over the Eagles was a big boost. They'll pass Denver.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) Playoff Chance: 65%
They are solid everywhere, but another Polamalu injury is a killer. Cincinnati swept them.
Get Out of Their Way
5. New England Patriots (6-3) Playoff Chance: 75%
There's only so many games they can win in spite of you, Bill Belichick. Jeez.
4. Cincinnati Bengals (7-2) Playoff Chance: 75%
Every casual football fan is hoping that Cedric Benson's injury doesn't derail this magic carpet.
3. Minnesota Vikings (8-1) Playoff Chance: 90%
Brett Favre has only three interceptions. The Jets might truly be cursed.
2. New Orleans Saints (9-0) Playoff Chance: 100%
Close call against the Rams was oogly, but the other 8 games were convincing.
1. Indianapolis Colts (9-0) Playoff Chance: 100%
If they could win that game Sunday night, you tell me what game they can't win.
Hope you enjoyed that. That was too long to provide a WAC Wednesday. Look for that next week. See you this weekend for the games.
But look what we have here! Of course, nobody is aware, but these Isles aren't (that) bad! Sure they are in last place. But they're also just one point away from third place in an excellent division. We are more than a quarter of the way through the season and the New York Islanders would be a playoff team if the season ended today. Forward Kyle Okposo may be playing his way onto Team USA in the upcoming Olympics. With Okposo possibly playing for the Americans and defenseman Mark Streit leading the Swiss team, the Isles may even get some international buzz come February. For a team and fans that thought they'd be counting the days until the 2010 draft, things are looking pretty bright.
(I know, I know, the Lighthouse Project...throw the Isles fan a rare bone on this one.)
So we have a hodgepodge of NY sports stories to throw around. But we'll keep the focus on the NFL. No storyline hops out too much (Rex Ryan's tears, Jick Jauron's pink slip, Jerome Bettis laying the verbal smackdown on Bill Belichick are all mild headlines) so we will do something everyone can enjoy: NFL Power Rankings! It's a desperate move for a blog, maybe. But you have to do a couple of these once in a while, right? We'll do it from worst to first because it's more fun that way. We'll include the team's record, a little comment, and the Reilly Sports Blog's exclusive playoff odds. They are calculated using advanced mathematics combined with gut feeling. (Ok, there's no math involved ...try to enjoy them anyway.)
When Does the Offseason Start?
32. Cleveland Browns (1-8) Playoff Chance: 0%
The Browns have scored 78 points in 9 games this year. The Patriots have put up 59 in one game.
31. St. Louis Rams (1-8) Playoff Chance: 0%
The blog predicted a 1-15 record before the season. With one win already, the drama is building.
30. Oakland Raiders (2-7) Playoff Chance: 0%
Oakland's 2 wins only mean that they are heading for a deceivingly-low draft pick in April.
29. Detroit Lions (1-8) Playoff Chance: 0%
Thank goodness they finally got their victory, because they've had some tough luck with injuries.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (2-7) Playoff Chance: 0%
Getting rid of Larry Johnson is a good step. Their management will know what to do with high draft picks.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8) Playoff Chance: 0%
Josh Freeman is looking promising at quarterback. They shouldn't be underestimated, despite the record.
Going Through the (Losing) Motions
26. Buffalo Bills (3-6) Playoff Chance: 3%
Fired their offensive coordinator before the season, fired head coach mid-season. Guess you can't fire T.O.
25. Washington Redskins (3-6) Playoff Chance: 5%
If not for a win over Denver they may be 5 spots lower. The NFC East division will be merciless.
24. Seattle Seahawks (3-6) Playoff Chance: 18%
A weak division causes a bump in playoff chances. They are among the NFL's biggest disappointments
23. Chicago Bears (4-5) Playoff Chance: 10%
Speaking of disappointments...the Bears (especially Cutler/Forte) have let down across the board.
22. Tennessee Titans (3-6) Playoff Chance: 14%
One of the most dangerous teams moving forward. Chris Johnson will be a nightmare for all defenses.
Hanging By a Thread
21. San Francisco 49ers (4-5) Playoff Chance: 26%
Like Seattle, they're never dead in the NFC West. Tough schedule will likely doom them, though.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4) Playoff Chance: 26%
A win over the Jets kept them afloat, but 5-4 looks quite deceiving for them. Love Jones-Drew, though.
19. Houston Texans (5-4) Playoff Chance: 31%
They're better than a lot of teams that I rank higher, but the wild card is now their only option.
18. Carolina Panthers (4-5) Playoff Chance: 31%
Exact same situation as the Texans. They are the NFC's version.
17. New York Jets (4-5) Playoff Chance: 39%
If they win at new England this week, that percentage bumps up 10%. A loss, it goes down 39%.
16. Miami Dolphins (4-5) Playoff Chance: 39%
Same record and a better divisional record than the Jets. One more game against NE will decide their chances.
Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Stayin' Alive
15. Atlanta Falcons (5-4) Playoff Chance: 46%
Their talent cannot be denied. But Matt Ryan is hitting some bumps he hasn't faced as a pro yet.
14. Green Bay Packers (5-4) Playoff Chance: 44%
This team can beat anyone or lose to anyone. They're not catching Minnesota but the wild card is there.
13. Baltimore Ravens (5-4) Playoff Chance: 44%
They're in a cut-throat division, and they may have buried themselves too deep already.
12. New York Giants (5-4) Playoff Chance: 50%
They got some serious help during their bye, now they must take things into their own hands.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) Playoff Chance: 50%
They picked the wrong time for their mini-swoon, but they and the Giants are right there if Dallas trips.
Sitting Pretty
10. Denver Broncos (6-3) Playoff Chance: 51%
When will the bleeding stop? That win over San Diego earlier this year helps them tremendously.
9. Dallas Cowboys (6-3) Playoff Chance: 60%
They had a real chance to pull away last week. After a brutal loss to GB, they're barely hanging on.
8. Arizona Cardinals (6-3) Playoff Chance: 70%
The division is their's if they want it. As you can see, I believe there is a 70% chance that they do.
7. San Diego Chargers (6-3) Playoff Chance: 60%
The blog's projected AFC Champs! That win over the Eagles was a big boost. They'll pass Denver.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) Playoff Chance: 65%
They are solid everywhere, but another Polamalu injury is a killer. Cincinnati swept them.
Get Out of Their Way
5. New England Patriots (6-3) Playoff Chance: 75%
There's only so many games they can win in spite of you, Bill Belichick. Jeez.
4. Cincinnati Bengals (7-2) Playoff Chance: 75%
Every casual football fan is hoping that Cedric Benson's injury doesn't derail this magic carpet.
3. Minnesota Vikings (8-1) Playoff Chance: 90%
Brett Favre has only three interceptions. The Jets might truly be cursed.
2. New Orleans Saints (9-0) Playoff Chance: 100%
Close call against the Rams was oogly, but the other 8 games were convincing.
1. Indianapolis Colts (9-0) Playoff Chance: 100%
If they could win that game Sunday night, you tell me what game they can't win.
Hope you enjoyed that. That was too long to provide a WAC Wednesday. Look for that next week. See you this weekend for the games.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Monday Mash- Week 10
Thanks for coming on back to the show. Pop quiz question for week 10:
Q: Who had the most productive week 10 in the National Football League
(A.) The New York Jets, 7-point favorites playing at home against Jacksonville.
(B.) The Reilly Sports Blog pick section, coming off a scintillating 5-1 mark in Week 9.
(C.) The New York Giants, bye week.
The overwhelming, uproarious correct answer--your New York football Giants! You get a week off, then sit back and watch Philly and Dallas spit up their divisional lead! Big Blue was left for dead after losing four straight games, but now find themselves in somewhat of a driver's seat when it comes to the playoffs. Sure, they must improve their play drastically, but this was the easiest way to make up ground in football history.
As for the other two options on the pop quiz....whoa boy. Ohhhh doggy. It was a bad omen when the first play of the Jet game was Mark Sanchez interception. It was a worse omen when Maurice Jones-Drew didn't seem to have a run under 6 yards the entire game. It was the worst omen when Jones-Drew, with the Jets hoping and begging him to score a touchdown, went down at the goal line to prevent the Jets from getting the ball back. A field goal as time expired and boom, 24-22 Jags win. Jets fall to 4-5. From 3-0 to 4-5. That's a spicy meatball.
And the Reilly Sports Blog pick section? Well, an even spicier meatball. Something like this comes to mind. The first goose egg in blog history...0-6. I picked 4 favorites and only one of them (Indy) won the freakin' game! (We'll get to that phenomenal game in a moment.) The upset perfiction was the only one I came close on, as the Seahawks were given 9 points but lost by 11. Bummer. To be fair, I picked the Bills (+8) and they were actually looking pretty good...until the 4th quarter, when they realized they were the Bills and gave up 24 unanswered to close the game. Add in the Cowboys and Broncos both wetting the bed and, boom 0-6. So in conclusion, the emphatic answer to the pop quiz was the Giants. If someone told me the answer 36 hours ago, vomit would rain from above. Viva Los Jets. Viva El Reilly Sports Blog.
Here's the rest from week 10...
The Montauk BeverageWorks Delicious Performance of the Week:
Bill Belichick, Patriots. And viva Bill Belichick! I was going to throw a curveball for this award and give it to defensive player Charles Woodson. He played tremendous against the Cowboys, forcing many a turnover. Woodson had it locked up until oh, about 11:00pm. He came so close. But then Bill Belichick changed it all. Every fan that saw their team lose in week 10...every fan that's had a losing season and looks for the rare moments this season that give them joy...VINDICATION! The Patriots went down to their bitter rival in a historical fashion. I'm assuming every blog reader is well aware of Belichick's immortal decision, so I'll save the blog space. But in the end, he defied the football karma. The script was written for Peyton Manning to have the ball deep in his own territory, and see if he could drive one more time on the Pats. Belichick made a decision that defied the script. There's no way the football gods would let the Pats two measly yards and let the game end anticlimactically. Not gonna happen. Not even for his highness. Thus ends the longest Delicious Performace summary in history. In case you couldn't tell, it made me a bit giddy.
Q: Who had the most productive week 10 in the National Football League
(A.) The New York Jets, 7-point favorites playing at home against Jacksonville.
(B.) The Reilly Sports Blog pick section, coming off a scintillating 5-1 mark in Week 9.
(C.) The New York Giants, bye week.
The overwhelming, uproarious correct answer--your New York football Giants! You get a week off, then sit back and watch Philly and Dallas spit up their divisional lead! Big Blue was left for dead after losing four straight games, but now find themselves in somewhat of a driver's seat when it comes to the playoffs. Sure, they must improve their play drastically, but this was the easiest way to make up ground in football history.
As for the other two options on the pop quiz....whoa boy. Ohhhh doggy. It was a bad omen when the first play of the Jet game was Mark Sanchez interception. It was a worse omen when Maurice Jones-Drew didn't seem to have a run under 6 yards the entire game. It was the worst omen when Jones-Drew, with the Jets hoping and begging him to score a touchdown, went down at the goal line to prevent the Jets from getting the ball back. A field goal as time expired and boom, 24-22 Jags win. Jets fall to 4-5. From 3-0 to 4-5. That's a spicy meatball.
And the Reilly Sports Blog pick section? Well, an even spicier meatball. Something like this comes to mind. The first goose egg in blog history...0-6. I picked 4 favorites and only one of them (Indy) won the freakin' game! (We'll get to that phenomenal game in a moment.) The upset perfiction was the only one I came close on, as the Seahawks were given 9 points but lost by 11. Bummer. To be fair, I picked the Bills (+8) and they were actually looking pretty good...until the 4th quarter, when they realized they were the Bills and gave up 24 unanswered to close the game. Add in the Cowboys and Broncos both wetting the bed and, boom 0-6. So in conclusion, the emphatic answer to the pop quiz was the Giants. If someone told me the answer 36 hours ago, vomit would rain from above. Viva Los Jets. Viva El Reilly Sports Blog.
Here's the rest from week 10...
The Montauk BeverageWorks Delicious Performance of the Week:
Bill Belichick, Patriots. And viva Bill Belichick! I was going to throw a curveball for this award and give it to defensive player Charles Woodson. He played tremendous against the Cowboys, forcing many a turnover. Woodson had it locked up until oh, about 11:00pm. He came so close. But then Bill Belichick changed it all. Every fan that saw their team lose in week 10...every fan that's had a losing season and looks for the rare moments this season that give them joy...VINDICATION! The Patriots went down to their bitter rival in a historical fashion. I'm assuming every blog reader is well aware of Belichick's immortal decision, so I'll save the blog space. But in the end, he defied the football karma. The script was written for Peyton Manning to have the ball deep in his own territory, and see if he could drive one more time on the Pats. Belichick made a decision that defied the script. There's no way the football gods would let the Pats two measly yards and let the game end anticlimactically. Not gonna happen. Not even for his highness. Thus ends the longest Delicious Performace summary in history. In case you couldn't tell, it made me a bit giddy.
- Though Belichick's blunder stole the show, the game was a real treat last night. Randy Moss and Reggie Wayne proved their both downright un-coverable when they want to be. Literally, the quarterbacks were equal, down to the final minute. Yesterday, Peyton Manning won the war. But those that tuned in to watch the entire game are hoping for another one come playoff time.
- The best team so far in the NFC (New Orleans) almost gave it up to the Rams. I almost wonder which team the NFL was rooting for. They want to see the Saints go as far as they can undefeated, but an upset like that makes every game viable for the rest of the season.
- In the battle of legs, team Hard Knocks took down the defending-champion Steelers for the second time this season. Once the Jets are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, there's no doubt which team the Blog will endorse come playoff time. Unless Larry Johnson comes in and acts like Angelina Jolie-Ohno.
- The Eagles/Chargers game was pretty darn entertaining, with Brian Westbrook's concussion being a backbreaker for Philly. As entertaining as San Diego's win was in a positive way, the Chiefs beating the Raiders was entertaining in a somewhat gross way.
- The Jets were 8-3 when Brett Favre began his swoon last year. The Vikings are now 8-1, praying there will be no swoon to speak of. Them and the Saints are really starting to break away from everyone else in the conference.
- Definitive team on the way down: Denver. Definitive team that's hot and doesn't want you to know it: Carolina! Look out for Jake the Snake.
- Not the best matchup on Monday night. The Ravens take on the Browns on Cleveland's dawg pound. The line is Baltimore by 12. I want to say that the Browns will cover. But hey, I have a mindset this week that got me to 0-6. Say I'm laying the points. Baltimore 31, Cleveland 10
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sunday Smash- Week 10
Welcome back to the show. The transition is now complete from baseball to football (along with hockey and basketball.) Boy, has this NFL season flown by, as here we are in week 10 already. Now's the time fans (and probably players) start taking a peak at remaining schedules to gauge their postseason chances. Teams that flew out of the gate (Denver, NY Giants) start coming back to earth, while the early disappointments (Carolina, Tennessee) may be doing some serious spoiling for the contenders.
Yes, the playoff push has begun. The Jets, realistically, have only a faint chance of sniffing the playoffs. A win against Jacksonville today would allow them to stay the course. A loss, though, and they will simply be grouped along with those 'playing spoiler' for the rest of the season. The Giants are on a bye, and have a week where they must examine every aspect of their team to figure out what on earth happened to them. Along with trying to fix themselves, they will have their pom poms out, cheering on the Chargers to beat the Eagles and the Packers to beat the Cowboys.
There's a brief outlook for the New York teams. Let's get to the picks, which are absolutely sizzling after going 5-1 last week. The pressure is building and the bar is being raised. the blog is ready to live up. Just cover, baby.
The Locals
Jets (-7) over Jaguars
The Jets can still barely sniff that division title. It's just a little whiff, and it's a little stinky, but they can sniff it. A win today and a New England loss to Indy makes that smell a lot more pungent. They can't let this one get away.
Bye week for the Giants.
Across the NFL
Cowboys (-3) over Packers
The Cowboys are going to frosty Green Bay to play an extremely desperate team. The Packers are playing for a lot more than Dallas (coach's job, quarterback's mental health, etc.) But Tony Romo and the fellas are on a roll. Until someone stops it, the blog's gotta roll with it.
Broncos (-4) over Redskins
Denver has played rather poorly the last two weeks. Washington has played rather poorly since the Clinton administration.
Bills (+8) over Titans
I'm not thrilled with this one, but 8 points just seems too high. The Titans can't cover anyone, so maybe this is Terrell Owens' one "stand" for the year, where everyone wonders for a couple of minutes if he can still be a top player. He can't. But Owens along with Lee Evans may keep this one within a touchdown.
Colts (-3) over Patriots
I had to take a home team somewhere, right? People are salivating about getting the Patriots and points. And the Indy secondary is pretty beat up. If the game is played in New England, the Pat's would probably be laying three. That's how even it is. But the Colts have not lost and have Peyton Manning, who's making room on the mantle for another MVP award.
Upset Perfiction of the Week
Seahawks (+9) over Cardinals
Arizona will either win this game by more than 14 points, or they will lose. Welcome to your 2009 Cardinals! Kurt Warner regresses a bit from his ridiculous performance last week, and Seattle makes the divisional race interesting.
Enjoy the games!
Yes, the playoff push has begun. The Jets, realistically, have only a faint chance of sniffing the playoffs. A win against Jacksonville today would allow them to stay the course. A loss, though, and they will simply be grouped along with those 'playing spoiler' for the rest of the season. The Giants are on a bye, and have a week where they must examine every aspect of their team to figure out what on earth happened to them. Along with trying to fix themselves, they will have their pom poms out, cheering on the Chargers to beat the Eagles and the Packers to beat the Cowboys.
There's a brief outlook for the New York teams. Let's get to the picks, which are absolutely sizzling after going 5-1 last week. The pressure is building and the bar is being raised. the blog is ready to live up. Just cover, baby.
The Locals
Jets (-7) over Jaguars
The Jets can still barely sniff that division title. It's just a little whiff, and it's a little stinky, but they can sniff it. A win today and a New England loss to Indy makes that smell a lot more pungent. They can't let this one get away.
Bye week for the Giants.
Across the NFL
Cowboys (-3) over Packers
The Cowboys are going to frosty Green Bay to play an extremely desperate team. The Packers are playing for a lot more than Dallas (coach's job, quarterback's mental health, etc.) But Tony Romo and the fellas are on a roll. Until someone stops it, the blog's gotta roll with it.
Broncos (-4) over Redskins
Denver has played rather poorly the last two weeks. Washington has played rather poorly since the Clinton administration.
Bills (+8) over Titans
I'm not thrilled with this one, but 8 points just seems too high. The Titans can't cover anyone, so maybe this is Terrell Owens' one "stand" for the year, where everyone wonders for a couple of minutes if he can still be a top player. He can't. But Owens along with Lee Evans may keep this one within a touchdown.
Colts (-3) over Patriots
I had to take a home team somewhere, right? People are salivating about getting the Patriots and points. And the Indy secondary is pretty beat up. If the game is played in New England, the Pat's would probably be laying three. That's how even it is. But the Colts have not lost and have Peyton Manning, who's making room on the mantle for another MVP award.
Upset Perfiction of the Week
Seahawks (+9) over Cardinals
Arizona will either win this game by more than 14 points, or they will lose. Welcome to your 2009 Cardinals! Kurt Warner regresses a bit from his ridiculous performance last week, and Seattle makes the divisional race interesting.
Enjoy the games!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
State of the Jets- Midseason Report
Well, we are pretty much at the midway point of the NFL season. The Jets have a convenient bye week...right smack in the middle. We will take a look at the Giants next week during their week off. But this week its all about Gang Green and their season thus far. First, a pure recap of what we've seen to this point:
Wins:
Week 1 @ Houston
Week 2 vs. New England
Week 3 vs. Tennessee
Week 7 @ Oakland
Losses:
Week 4 @ New Orleans
Week 5 @ Miami
Week 6 vs. Buffalo
Week 8 vs. Miami
There it is. 4-4, middle of the road. The wins (Oakland aside) are impressive, but the losses overshadow them greatly. The team that beat New England should never lose to the Bills or both Dolphins games. One perhaps to Miami, but not both. So at first glance, fans would love to see that record at 6-2 instead of 4-4.
But you are what your record says you are. And here's how they stacked up through eight games.
Offense
All the talk going into the season was about quarterback Mark Sanchez. Could he be the next Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco and actually make the playoffs? Or would he go down the road most rookie QB's take--struggle at first and learn the ropes. After looking like option #1 the first three weeks, he has fallen back to earth very, very quickly. Two losses are squarely on his right shoulder (Saints, Bills.) That means he's on pace to lose 4 games on his own which, actually, sounds about right for a rookie. Sanchez may have taken a step back from his first few weeks, but there are not very many people saying the Jets made a mistake in the draft.
At running back, the season took a drastic, gloomy turn when Leon Washington broke his leg. With him gone for the year, rookie Shonn Greene has been thrust into a meaningful role quicker than anyone thought. He has looked promising thusfar. But the team's offensive MVP so far has been Thomas Jones. Everyone predicted a big drop from last year's numbers, but Jones is in the NFL's top 10 for rushing yards and top 5 for rushing touchdowns. Fullback Tony Richardson has been invaluable is the blocking scheme. And with the offensive line is picking it up after a slow start, and the running attack looks to be in a great spot going forward.
In the receiver spot, Jerricho Cotchery looked phenomenal early in the season, trying to dismiss the rumors the Jets needed a true #1 wideout. He then got banged up and, well, the Jets acquired who they hope to be their true #1 receiver. Braylon Edwards came over from Cleveland and has looked sharp thusfar. Jets fans hope that once Cotchery is 100% healthy, Sanchez will have two quality recieivers on the outside, along with tight end Dustin Keller down the middle. Keller has done well when Sanchez finds him open, but most fans agree that he hasn't been found nearly enough. Other pass catchers Brad Smith and David Clowney have been used very sparingly.
Defense
It seems like there are hundreds of different ways to evaluate a team's defense. For what it's worth, the Jets have the second best D in terms of yards against, giving up 1 more yard per game than the first-ranked Giants. Keep in mind, however, that the Jets and Giants combined have just a 9-8 record. So we must take defensive yardage statistics with a grain of salt.
The 'points against' stats are far more fascinating. The Jets are 4th in the NFL with a tremendous 16.8 points against per game. Every other team in the top 7 of this category (Colts, Pats, Broncos, Bengals, Steelers, Cowboys) have a record of 6-2 or better. Except for the 4-4 Jets. The reasons? The kid quarterback and a game lost solely due to the special teams unit we will discuss soon.
All things considered, the defense has more than held up their end of the bargain. The one road contest against Miami is the only game in which they played 'poorly.' Against Buffalo they weren't great, but were good enough. Besides that, Rex Ryan has installed a unit that keeps the Jets in every game they play. You can't ask for much more than that from a defense. But a huge drawback hit the unit when Kris Jenkins tore his knee up. He's the real engine of the defense and to call him irreplaceable is an understatement. The stars of the unit (Revis, Rhodes, Harris, Scott) have to pick up their play even more to try to contain this devastating loss.
Special Teams
Certainly an unheralded aspect of football, but the Jets got a bigtime eye-opener of how important it is. Miami's Ted Ginn brought back 2 kick returns against the Jets that were the difference in the game. It's an absolute nightmare to lose a game with special teams being a primary reason. If the Jets had beaten the Dolphins at home, they would be right in the thick of the playoff race. Instead, they are a middle of the road team that is ensured a bad divisional record. Special teams coach Mike Westhoff is too good to have this unit lose another game on its own, but sometimes just one game can be the difference between the playoffs and the golf course.
Leon Washington's injury hurts special teams along with the offense. Neon Leon has made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner, and his presence will be missed. Hoping to capture some magic of the past, Gang Green brought back Justin Miller to return kicks. Though it was a short-lived era, Miller's knack for a big return did wonders for the Jets back in the day. They hope he can find it again.
As far as the legs, Jay Feely has missed a couple of field goals lately, but he can be trusted. He's in the NFL's top 10 in both kicks made and kick percentage. The Jets knew they wouldn't have a good punter this season, and Steve Weatherford really hasn't boomed too many memorable ones. He's kept things entertaining with some successful fakes, though.
So there's a brief look at how the Jets have gotten to where they are. Here's what they face the rest of the way:
Vs. Jacksonville (4-4)
@ New England (6-2)
Vs. Carolina (3-5)
@ Buffalo (3-5)
@ Tampa Bay (1-7)
Vs. Atlanta (5-3)
@ Indianapolis (8-0)
Vs. Cincinnati (6-2)
Overall, it's proabably not the scariest remaining schedule in the NFL. But boy is it loaded near the end. Simply put, the matchups against Jacksonville, Carolina, Buffalo, and Tampa Bay are games the Jets MUST HAVE. It's a roll of the dice in the other four games, including the Jets probably being significant underdogs against the Colts and Patriots. But if they take care of business against the weaker teams, it gives them sole leeway against the big boys.
Let's look specifically at the very-near future. The Jets tail New England by 2 games in the division. But the Patriots play the undefeated Colts this Sunday. If the Jets can beat the Jaguars and the Colts defeat the Pats, the lead shrinks to one game. Wouldn't you know it, the Patriots host Gang Green the very next week. So if things bounce the right way, the Jets have with a chance to come out of New England tied for first place. After the sometimes-glorious, sometimes-miserable 4-4 start, you couldn't ask for much more.
Wins:
Week 1 @ Houston
Week 2 vs. New England
Week 3 vs. Tennessee
Week 7 @ Oakland
Losses:
Week 4 @ New Orleans
Week 5 @ Miami
Week 6 vs. Buffalo
Week 8 vs. Miami
There it is. 4-4, middle of the road. The wins (Oakland aside) are impressive, but the losses overshadow them greatly. The team that beat New England should never lose to the Bills or both Dolphins games. One perhaps to Miami, but not both. So at first glance, fans would love to see that record at 6-2 instead of 4-4.
But you are what your record says you are. And here's how they stacked up through eight games.
Offense
All the talk going into the season was about quarterback Mark Sanchez. Could he be the next Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco and actually make the playoffs? Or would he go down the road most rookie QB's take--struggle at first and learn the ropes. After looking like option #1 the first three weeks, he has fallen back to earth very, very quickly. Two losses are squarely on his right shoulder (Saints, Bills.) That means he's on pace to lose 4 games on his own which, actually, sounds about right for a rookie. Sanchez may have taken a step back from his first few weeks, but there are not very many people saying the Jets made a mistake in the draft.
At running back, the season took a drastic, gloomy turn when Leon Washington broke his leg. With him gone for the year, rookie Shonn Greene has been thrust into a meaningful role quicker than anyone thought. He has looked promising thusfar. But the team's offensive MVP so far has been Thomas Jones. Everyone predicted a big drop from last year's numbers, but Jones is in the NFL's top 10 for rushing yards and top 5 for rushing touchdowns. Fullback Tony Richardson has been invaluable is the blocking scheme. And with the offensive line is picking it up after a slow start, and the running attack looks to be in a great spot going forward.
In the receiver spot, Jerricho Cotchery looked phenomenal early in the season, trying to dismiss the rumors the Jets needed a true #1 wideout. He then got banged up and, well, the Jets acquired who they hope to be their true #1 receiver. Braylon Edwards came over from Cleveland and has looked sharp thusfar. Jets fans hope that once Cotchery is 100% healthy, Sanchez will have two quality recieivers on the outside, along with tight end Dustin Keller down the middle. Keller has done well when Sanchez finds him open, but most fans agree that he hasn't been found nearly enough. Other pass catchers Brad Smith and David Clowney have been used very sparingly.
Defense
It seems like there are hundreds of different ways to evaluate a team's defense. For what it's worth, the Jets have the second best D in terms of yards against, giving up 1 more yard per game than the first-ranked Giants. Keep in mind, however, that the Jets and Giants combined have just a 9-8 record. So we must take defensive yardage statistics with a grain of salt.
The 'points against' stats are far more fascinating. The Jets are 4th in the NFL with a tremendous 16.8 points against per game. Every other team in the top 7 of this category (Colts, Pats, Broncos, Bengals, Steelers, Cowboys) have a record of 6-2 or better. Except for the 4-4 Jets. The reasons? The kid quarterback and a game lost solely due to the special teams unit we will discuss soon.
All things considered, the defense has more than held up their end of the bargain. The one road contest against Miami is the only game in which they played 'poorly.' Against Buffalo they weren't great, but were good enough. Besides that, Rex Ryan has installed a unit that keeps the Jets in every game they play. You can't ask for much more than that from a defense. But a huge drawback hit the unit when Kris Jenkins tore his knee up. He's the real engine of the defense and to call him irreplaceable is an understatement. The stars of the unit (Revis, Rhodes, Harris, Scott) have to pick up their play even more to try to contain this devastating loss.
Special Teams
Certainly an unheralded aspect of football, but the Jets got a bigtime eye-opener of how important it is. Miami's Ted Ginn brought back 2 kick returns against the Jets that were the difference in the game. It's an absolute nightmare to lose a game with special teams being a primary reason. If the Jets had beaten the Dolphins at home, they would be right in the thick of the playoff race. Instead, they are a middle of the road team that is ensured a bad divisional record. Special teams coach Mike Westhoff is too good to have this unit lose another game on its own, but sometimes just one game can be the difference between the playoffs and the golf course.
Leon Washington's injury hurts special teams along with the offense. Neon Leon has made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner, and his presence will be missed. Hoping to capture some magic of the past, Gang Green brought back Justin Miller to return kicks. Though it was a short-lived era, Miller's knack for a big return did wonders for the Jets back in the day. They hope he can find it again.
As far as the legs, Jay Feely has missed a couple of field goals lately, but he can be trusted. He's in the NFL's top 10 in both kicks made and kick percentage. The Jets knew they wouldn't have a good punter this season, and Steve Weatherford really hasn't boomed too many memorable ones. He's kept things entertaining with some successful fakes, though.
So there's a brief look at how the Jets have gotten to where they are. Here's what they face the rest of the way:
Vs. Jacksonville (4-4)
@ New England (6-2)
Vs. Carolina (3-5)
@ Buffalo (3-5)
@ Tampa Bay (1-7)
Vs. Atlanta (5-3)
@ Indianapolis (8-0)
Vs. Cincinnati (6-2)
Overall, it's proabably not the scariest remaining schedule in the NFL. But boy is it loaded near the end. Simply put, the matchups against Jacksonville, Carolina, Buffalo, and Tampa Bay are games the Jets MUST HAVE. It's a roll of the dice in the other four games, including the Jets probably being significant underdogs against the Colts and Patriots. But if they take care of business against the weaker teams, it gives them sole leeway against the big boys.
Let's look specifically at the very-near future. The Jets tail New England by 2 games in the division. But the Patriots play the undefeated Colts this Sunday. If the Jets can beat the Jaguars and the Colts defeat the Pats, the lead shrinks to one game. Wouldn't you know it, the Patriots host Gang Green the very next week. So if things bounce the right way, the Jets have with a chance to come out of New England tied for first place. After the sometimes-glorious, sometimes-miserable 4-4 start, you couldn't ask for much more.
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