As any Jets fan can attest, this was a tense/exhilarating Christmas day. I confess I was looking at the clock all day and figuring out how much time was left until kickoff as the day progressed.Â
Being burned in the past told you not to get your hopes up, and that the electric socks you received today might have been the best present, but you have to admit that this game was better than that crap the Wise Men brought baby Jesus. Screw frankincense, gold or myrrh, give me a win in Miami!!Â
- Taylor made a statement play early on D’Brick in their first matchup, and today it was D’Brick’s turn. On an early pass play he pancaked Jason Taylor. All in all, Brick was beat a few times, but I’ll let that slide when we are talking about Jason Taylor.
- Clearly the offense struggled to get anything going early. The rain made the passing game tough, but Pennington had at least a handful of terrible throws that could have been picked off throughout the game. That Pennington was sacked only one time was very impressive.
- While announcing his fellow defensemen, Vilma called Kerry Rhodes “Hollywood.”
- The defense brought some good pressure early in the game, Ellis helped to create the split sack for Eric Barton and Rashad Washington. All told, the Jets had three sacks, all by backers or secondary players.
- Â Graham’s botched hold was frightening, I was glad that it didn’t come back to bite them.
- The Dolphins had 7 penalties for 78 yards while the Jets just got nabbed for the one holding penalty on a return.
- I almost choked on my soda when Suzy Kolber asked the Williams sisters (my paraphrase) “what’s it like to have 10 guys pounding you?”
- It feels good to have gone up against two of the best run defenses in the past two weeks and still won.
- When Cleo Lemon came out after the half to run the offense I said “THANK YOU SANTA!!”
- While lined up for the long pass to McCareins, you could tell by the TV shot they used (over the line’s shoulders and out to McCareins)Â that the play was a pass and that McCareins was the primary, he just had that “it’s on” look in his eyes.
- The teamwork to down the ball on the one was AWESOME.  Brad Smith kept the ball out of the endzone, Kassell downed it, and Wallace Wright kept Kassell’s body out of the endzone.Â
- The pass that Miller defensed was awesome, to watch Eric Smith come crashing in to apply the hit was fantastic. Miller also had another good stop on Hagans, though it was for a first down. Physically the kid is a menace, I still think he can develop for the Jets. I haven’t lost hope for him.
- The Brad Kassell punt-bounce play was the play that had me almost in cardiac arrest. At best, I was hoping for a field goal, but I had to go to the “this is what it’s like to be a Jets fan” card.
- COULDABEEN Plays of the Game: Zach Thomas shoestring tackle on Cotch (he covered Cotch well much of the game), fumbled hold by Graham, Kassell’s punt bump.
- Not sure what Saban was doing going with Lemon and not running Brown more, he was the best thing they had.
- Looks like Coles will be alright, he’ll probably need some stiches though on his chin.
- I wanted to beat Kornheiser to a pulp as he talked about Chad. WE GET IT, HE DOESN’T HAVE A STRONG ARM. Then to come back and praise him after that pissed me off.
- Can anyone explain using the timeout on Mare while he lined up to tie the game? It seemed a little Herm-esque, anyone know if that was Westhoff’s call since he knows Mare pretty well?
- LEON FREAKING WASHINGTON!!! What an amazing play to all but win the game on the short shovel pass that he took for 64 yards.
- Thank you Leon, thank you Chad, thank you Eric, thank you Santa!!
Yes, I said everything positive I had to say in the last thread about Manginius, Chad, Leon, et al, but it’s worth saying this:
J-E-T-S
JETS!
JETS!
JETS!
It wasn’t our best game, but the guys hung in there and truly willed themselves to this victory.
Please, please, PLEASE beat Oakland and prove to me that these aren’t the Same Old Jets!
On the FG timeout, I think they may have been nervous about a fake? If so, it was probably worth wasting the timeout to be sure. They had plenty of time.
All in all, a great night!
loved the end game strategy…take it down to :14 for a FG – thank you Saban for 1) wasting time out on challenge 2) kicking FG with 2:15 left on 4th andn 18 inches 3) having a predictable over-aggressive D that allowed Leon to go for 64
2 more wins and I will be @ divisional game in San Diego – 17 mile drive to stadium
Crowd cheering when Coles was down brought back memories of 1982 regualr season 20-19 loss when Todd was down writhing in pain & crowd cheered. 0-0 score at half brought back memories of….I will not even go there
Aside from Rhodes letting McMichael escape, tackling was solid – Vilma and Dyson both had open field tackles in 1st half on 3rd downs – a function of guys being in right palce, then making play. Play of game might have been Thomas’ sack on game tying drive – great balance to jump & then come down in position to still wrap-up
Love that holding penalty we got on punt return at end of 1st half – glad ESPN deciced to show Theiamann talk about daunte instead of showing replay
Merry Christmas everyone
Bent,
I thought originally that they were calling the TO to prepare for a fake. However, it looked like when they got to the sideline Vilma was counting the guys on the field. So, maybe they thought they had too many guys on the field?? That would be pretty inexcusable since Miami had just called a TO, so they had time to set it up.
Regardless, I agree w/ you that using that TO wasn’t a big deal if you want to be sure that you don’t screw everything up on that play.
Ronnie Brown was tearing us up…he had like 15 carries for 97 yards and then they stopped giving him the ball…that was very strange….but you wont hear me complain
Espn missed a couple of plays tonight because they were showing replays..that annoys me when they come back to the game and the ball carrier is being tackled…..maybe ESPN isnt ready for Monday Night.
anyone else notice the ESPN announcers were killing Pennington all night about his arm?? then he threw that touchdown and they shut up
Kornheiser and Theismann are both total jokes. I’ve always thought Theismann was a total jerk, truly a bottom-of-the-barrel announcer. That Kornheiser can make Theismann look good is astounding.
1) If the William’s sisters had any sense of humor, one of them definately should have turned to Suzy and said “I want to kiss you.”
2) Watching the rain-soaked Miami cheerleaders wasn’t as much fun as I thought it would be.
3) I’ve grown so tired of defending Chad’s arm. He is a well above-average QB. This season’s success is as much due to Chad as it is to Mangini.
4) Does anyone know how/when they determine which game on Sunday gets moved to 8:30? I can’t imagine that any of the 8-7 AFC teams make sense because if the Jets win at 1 they’re all eliminated. I’m hoping we’re exempt because we played Monday. Lord knows I can’t take open champagne, Jets/Oakland with the playoffs on the line, and the other expectations of NYE simulataneously.
Never mind. GB/MINN is the flex game. Jets are still at 1.
I love when Simms does the Jet games. He knows football and he knows the team – and he seems to have a soft spot for Mangini and our beloved Jetsies.
Theisman and Kornheiser have terrible chemistry together. Kornheiser asks dumb questions and Theisman has no choice but to respectfully answer them: “will chad’s lack of arm strength hurt the Jets;? is it important that Chad is a smart QB?” Its important to raise the issue but a smart commentator will explain how Chad and the Jets make up for his lack of arm strength by accentuating his attributes – the motion, the quick hitters, the audibles, etc.
Rhodes missed the tackle on McMichael at the goal line and he missed another one on Morris that led to a key first down. He is our defensive MVP but this was not his best effort.
I dont see what Barlow brings to the team. He seems indecisive at the line of scrimmage; he doesnt break tackles and he doesnt break away when he gets into the secondary. The loss of Houston was big and was hardly mentioned by ESPN. I cant believe I am writing this, but his return is important for next week and critical if the Jets will have a decent chance of winning a playoff game [though I have to acknowledge that Mangini gives the team a chance in any event and under virtually any circumstances :)].
Next week will be a riot – I’m so happy its not a nite game.
Great, gritty, ugly win!! Two things:
First, I hate all announcers, I couldn’t agree more that Chad’s arm is weak, however he is smart and he is accurate. He has proven time and time again that you don’t need a 60 yard bomb to win a game. A short dink and dunk game, where you rack up first downs, can be a lot more frustrating for the D, and it keeps them out on the field much longer (and our D off the field).
Second, did anyone think about the fact that if the Jets made that first field goal Miami probably would have gone for it on 4 and 1, and then who know what would have happened, perhaps and touch and perhaps run the clock way down.
That’s all i got, it was a great Christmas indeed. Now let’s take care of business at home and then we can really say this isn’t the “same old Jets”. This is a season where i can go out in my Jets hat, hold my head high, and be proud!!
What a great game — damn nearly killed me, despite my premonition they were going to win. (Of course, I also “saw” Miller running one back for a TD, so what does my sixth sense know?)
I thought what Kornheisere and Theismann did to Chad all game was absolute bunk (to put it PG) — it was like they were trying to p#ss all over his amazing Comeback-Player-of-the-Year worthy season because they couldn’t be bothered to actually watch the game or comment on what was happening on the field. I turned it down because I can only punch so many pillows before I’m sitting alone angry in a room full of swirling feathers! I wanted to throttle when Korny was going on about how no one outside of NY can name more than three Jets, yet all he did was blather on about Chad. It was like they had the pre-game notes from Week 1 about his arm rather than the tapes from the entire year where he has thrown for 3,000 yards.
But again — great game. Hey Bent, I guess that Raider game will matter after all!
In perhaps the only good moment by the broadcast team, Suzi chipped in from the sidelines that there was “confusion by the Jets” on the field goal attempt and the coaching staff was not happy. Was not an ice attempt. Hermesque, yes, but thankfully rare this year.
radio team said there was a clip and a personal foul, two penalties, neither of which were holding not that the announcers cared about accuracy, which is why they lost so much yardage.
ESPN broadcast is pure torture every week, even worse when your team is playing. Could they have just one more all time dolphin on the screen?
Did anyone see Namath, read he was there but nowhere to be found on the TV?
The irony to be ripping Chads arm strentgh with Steve Young in the booth!
Could they perhaps mention that Chad is the second most accurate passer in NFL history, that perhaps that has something to do with his success? Or that he is a terrific leader? Or how difficult it is to call this offense? Or how tough he was coming back injured for the playoffs drive a few years back, further injuring his arm? Just a smidgeon of balance would have been nice.
My final point for now, THANK YOU NICK SABAN!
His team is eliminated and has nothing to lose, he is on his way out the door, Brown is slicing through the Jets disappointing run defense like they are butter, and he kicks a game tying field goal instead of going for it on fourth and one.
That was our Christmas gift right there.
A few random hits:
- I’m not going to be too tough on Rhodes for the McMichael TD. Randy just made a superhuman effort to get to the end zone, and he has more than a few pounds on Kerry. Besides, Rhodes hung on for about 3 seconds, and I was more frustrated that no other Jet entered the fray in time to stop McMike, esp in a short-field situation.
- Nugent is kicking better and better on FG’s as the season goes on. Could be a big asset for us if we get to the [unmentionable p-word].
- Agreed on J Miller – two great open-field tackles, though one was after the first-down marker. I hope they keep him in nickel/dime packages next year and see if he can develop confidence in his cover skills. He’s already a fierce hitter and with better recognition could become an excellent CB. (Not that I’m sure you can suddenly develop those instincts, but I’d like Mangini to give him another year.)
- Great job by the downfield blockers on Leon’s run!
- As if I didn’t hate the TV announcers enough already, the final straw was that after back-stabbing Chad throughout the game, once NY pulls out the win, they chime in about how Chad brings intangibles to the field, does nothing but win, etc. Whatever happens during the course of the game, they have some generalized, trite explanantion for it, and it’s almost always wrong. A ferret could provide more insight. Next time I’m listening to the Spanish announcers on SAP.
I see your point, but in all fairness, it was really on Tony K. that was constantly pointing out Chad’s arm strength issues.
What a tremendous win! This Jets team reminds of Pete Carrill’s Princeton Tigers teams or Herb Brooks’ “Miracle on Ice” ’80 Olympic hockey team. Discipline, intelligence and execution can overcome talent deficiencies in team sports. Here’s my 5 favorite moments from last night that just show what this team is all about. No. 5-Chad looked like he told Nugent and the official that Nugent could use his own ball for the winning FG try…if that’s true, then it’s just another reason why Kornheiser and Theisman just don’t get Chad–he’s as smart a player as I’ve ever seen. No. 4-Wallace Wright tackling Chatham so the ball is downed at the 1-yard line. What a great head’s up play. No. 3-Cothchery on the TD drive covering up a back pass that was a live ball…without that, the Jets lose. No. 2-Leon chip blocked the blitzing LB on his 64-yard screen play, without that block, Chad doesn’t get the pass off. No. 1-McCareins’ breaking up a sure INT two plays before Chad passes to Cotchery for the TD. Also, kudos to Mangini and Co. for the challenge on the Cotchery TD and not taking a stab at the endzone, to let the clock run down, on the winning FG. Herm would’ve attempted a pass and stopped the clock. A win over the Raiders and who knows what happens in the playoffs. Do you believe in miracles?
I hear Namath isn’t allowed within 300 yards of Suzi Kolber…just enough to prevent him from giving her a kiss.
- The thing I’m loving about Nugent is that his kicks are always splitting the uprights right down the middle. It’s like he’s stabbing the spectres of our past right in the heart with each “no doubt about it” FG.
- Sign I want to see at next Jets home Monday Night game: “Coles: A tough MF on MNF”
- Agree on Rhodes’ failed takedown of McMichael. McMichael has what, 50 pounds on him? Also, Rhodes isn’t Ronnie Lott, but I don’t recall Lott making ninja-strikes at the QBs weak side like Rhodes has all year (and almost again this game late in Q4)
- I didn’t see this article mentioned here, which explains why Vilma doesn’t have as many tackles (his job is now to protect the weak side), and why Rhodes has been so good at being where the ball is (he’s been studying extra film with Vilma, who does it every year).
- C’mon Jets! Let’s do this!
Great points SD. A few negatives for balance; 1. Thought officials missed Wrights foot stepping on goal line. 2. On first drive of the game, Jets should have challenged a very favorable mark on Fins third down conversion. It was early, but was essentially a turnover situation. 3. Schott was too stubborn with the short pass game plan. It was obviously not working during the rain storm, should have adjusted. Luckily no on gotted killed, but Coles and Leon took unecessary big hits. This is a top pass D, whey are they trying to attack in the air during nasty weather? Run the ball. 4. Dearth has to get his act togethar, know the snap to Graham was catchable but it was a bad snap nonetheless. This is all Dearth does, he has been very erratic the last few weeks. 5. Run D, with a green QB in the game, was very WEAK, knew they were running and still could not stop Brown. Only one that stopped him all day was Saban. I thought they had improved but this was not a good sign.
The timeout on the field goal was called by Jonathan Vilma. During interview on espn radio post game he expalined that he saw some personel on the field for the dolphins that didn’t belong so he called the timeout after sniffing out the fake. Afterwards, Saban can be seen saying, “now we cant fake it”. Go Vilma baby, always contributing.
Wayne, I thought the replays showed that Wright was real close to the end line, but did not touch it. There was plenty of time on change of possession to see and Saban did not challenge. Dearth’s snap was spot on, just went right through Ben’s hands…maybe a little vegemite on his hands next time? As for the Jets’ running game, I agree, but Barlow couldn’t get it done. He was a little slow to the holes that were closed quickly. Also, the Fins put a lot of guys in the box to stop the run. Chad seemed to be affected by the rain and the short passing game wasn’t working early, but I think that Schott uses the short passes to set up the long ones. Chad was bumped on the pass to McCareins that was interefered with. If he had followed through, he would’ve hit that and he did hit the other long pass to McCareins and the one to Cotchery, which was beautiful. I can’t figure out the run D. It was equal times terrible and great. There were lots of big stops, but there was no denying that Brown had some big runs, especially on cutbacks and hesitations, where he got outside, which should never happen in a 3-4. But, the Jets’ run D was much better in the 2nd half and Brown only hurt them on the TD drive. Otherwise, he was contained. And, the Jets played very well against Sammy Morris, 6 carries for 14 yards. Despite two 100 yard+ games from Brown, the Jets swept the Dolphins. Go figure?
Wayne – I am glad someone mentioned Miami’s 1st 3rd down of game. Horrible spot and no measurement?
Hey, this is great! Even for a gloomy gus like me. Can’t make too many generalizations based upon a game played in these conditions. But:
1. Chad seems to have a few good throws in him each game–it’s a risky way to do business, but we got away with it more times than not this season.
2. Good pass protection by the O line.
3. Repeat the mantra after me: Pass to get ahead, run to stay ahead. Passing generates points, running generates time off the clock to protect the lead. Brown averaged six yards per carry, had a huge game for Miami–but the team scored 10 points!!!! That’s what happens when you depend upon running to score. They couldn’t consistently move the ball passing, so they couldn’t score. The Jets did marginally better moving the ball passing–three big “throws”, one of which was Washington’s run after catch–and they won–but they only scored 13 points, too.
4. Great play by Miller, noted by Bassett above–as they said in the Wizard of Oz, if he only had a brain….
5. Bottom line–can’t tell much about defense, because it beat two mediocre qb’s and conditions were horrible. Offense did just enough in same terrible conditions….But, barring total collapse:
WE”RE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS!
And, if its Denver, they’re not that good–all the mile high will be a problem.
No Hermesque would be to take the penalty instead of taking the timeout, since its your last one–after wasting your first two by this point because you have trouble reading the play clock in the 3rd quarter.
Listen to the radio broadcasts instead of ESPN. If you can get the CBS Westwood One radio broadcast of MNF, you will get Marv Albert and Boomer Esiason and they call the came very well together. They’d make a great TV booth team, although Albert is great for radio too. He describes the play, which you need in radio. I wound up listening to the WABC radio broadcast since I live in New England and have no cable stations. Wasn’t bad, but wasn’t great either.
We’re not going to play Denver, they’ll be the other WC if they win. If we win (I don’t want to be too overconfident), we’ll probably get the 6th seed and probably play Indy. If we get the 5th seed, we’ll probably play NE.
Love reading all of these comments. It makes Christmas even merrier. I totally agree with everyone about all the sportscasters’ remarks about Chad, his arm strength and lack thereof. We know that and we also know his strengths. And as far as the “no one knows any of these Jets players” garbage, I’m sick of the disrespect the Jets get. I’m out in the middle of Illinois and have had a few people give our boys the respect that is due. My kindergarten class gets to hear about the Jets all season. (and at least appear interested.) Merry Christmas to all. And I’m looking forward to the Jets/Jets’ fans/jets blog in ’07.
No! Only a moron doesn’t go for it on 4th and 1 with his team out of the playoffs. I am greatful that with RB averaging 5 ypc Saban pulled a Martyball Hermball and saved our asses.
This was the biggest play of the game.
harlan