After
this Sunday's debacle, as tempted as I am to write a short piece and
then just say “that's my story and I'm sticking to it”, I will fulfill
my responsibility and report fully on the weekend's game. Suffice to
say, this was not a lot of fun. Here are my thoughts:

• Having said I am going to report fully on the game, I can't
  comment on the first half of the first quarter, because the Colts game
  went into OT, so in the UK we had to watch that. I think I would prefer
  for the Jets to play the Colts, to be honest.
• As coverage
  begins, the Jets are in full-blown “Hackett-mode” and the defense is in
  “bend but not break mode”. It looks like we are “playing to [remain
  competitive in] the game”.
• At this point, my mate's dog, who
  was peacefully sleeping off his Christmas dinner, farts loudly, waking
  himself up and startling himself. He spends the next 30 seconds chasing
  his arse around the room. This doesn't have much to do with the game,
  but is undoubtedly the highlight of the first half.
• Ironically,
  having just said that my last comment has little to do with the game,
  the Jets offense seems to resemble exactly what I have just seen. They
  chase their arse all over the field for the whole first half and make
  about as much progress as my mate's dog.
• Defensively, the Jets
  don't look as strong as in previous weeks. Daniel Graham catches a TD
  pass to give the Pats a 10-0 lead. Funny how tight ends seem to do so
  well against the Jets defense…Becht and Baker never seem to have much
  success in practice. Yes, that's not because of the defense, it's
  because they suck. “It's over”, I tell my mate “we won't score 10
  playing like this.”
• Just like the Patriots and Steelers game,
  we are getting no luck. Every fumble bounces away - D-Rob in particular
  boots a “little roller” Kaz Matsui style straight back to the Patsies.
  I start to wonder if any of the Jets could make a recovery from a
  headache.
• How on earth is Chad supposed to get into any kind of
  rhythm when he only gets to pass on obvious passing downs? Dropping
  back ten yards and dumping to a back right in front of you might
  doesn't count because he needs to throw downfield to get into any kind
  of rhythm. In the first half, the Jets get down to the Pats' 40 a few
  times but then go even further into their shell than before.
• Lose
  the shades, Hackett, you look stupid. The only excuse for a pair like
  that is if you're blind (although based on the first half
  play-calling…)
• Chad gave all his team-mates suits for
  Christmas? Unfortunately, Anthony Becht gave everyone a set of his
  hands. Moss, Sowell and Chebet are all guilty in the first half.
• Vinatieri
  puts New England up 13-0 with his second field goal. It's starting to
  get on my nerves how long it takes him to kick off. The ball falls
  over. He talks to the official. The ball falls over again. His
  team-mate holds the ball. I think the Superbowl kick-off routine was
  quicker than this…including the pre-game show. Anyway, this kickoff
  leads to a classic “Keystone Jets” moment where several players manage
  to fumble the ball back to the Patriots, but fortunately Vinatieri
  misses a last second chance for 16-0. Half time 13-0 Patriots and not a
  whole lot of fun so far.
• At half time, Herm Edwards says we
  need to run more. Great. On our first play of the second half, it's a
  run up the middle. No gain. I guess that would have been the last thing
  they were expecting?
• Early in the second half, Vinatieri gets another chance at 16-0 and makes it.
• Soon
  the lead swells to 23-0 and suddenly the Jets go into no-huddle.
  Presumably, Hackett (now sans shades) is no longer calling the plays.
  It shows. The Jets show a tantalising glimpse of what they are capable
  of. Pennington goes 7-9 with great passes to Moss, McCareins and
  Chrebet and eventually Moss makes a leaping catch and bulls his way in
  to at least get New York on the scoreboard. A great (albeit
  meaningless) drive.
• Two scores down, the Jets have a couple
  more chances at getting within 8, but they punt on 4th and 2 at the
  Patriots 35 (???), Penny throws another pick, Moss has another key drop
  leading to a fourth down failure and finally Pennington fumbles the
  ball away.
• All-in-all, a pretty frustrating day. I'm sure Penny
  will get a lot of heat from the media, but my main gripe with the game
  was how Paul Hackett called it. Too predictable, too conservative, too
  frustrating to watch. Hopefully, Jordan, Moss, et al will speak out
  again this week and we'll come back out of our shell for the Rams game.
  I think we'll need to win it to make the playoffs too (and the Rams
  also need it) because I don't think the Big-Ben-less Steelers will beat
  the Bills and I'm not overly confident that the Colts will beat Denver
  either. Sunday should be tense!

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