Game Thread: Raiders at Jets 12/31/07
Win and you are in. Can you believe it? So flabbergasted that you can’t remember how the team got to this point? Rich Cimini can help.
The Jets haven’t looked past this opponent, although there are scenarios to get into the playoffs with a loss, the easiest way to do it is with a win. The Jets have faced some tough adversity this season and muscled through, but there have been some games that have left us scratching our heads like the Browns and the latest Bills game.Â
The team needs to be ready for anything today, but my hope is that they can put some points up on Oakland early and take their will to win out of the rest of the game.Â
Today the Jets face their old foe the Oakland Raiders, who have had a rough year. Lamont Jordan, Jerry Porter and Randy Moss won’t be playing, and rumor is that Robert Gallery allowed a sack against the kid above. The Oakland defense has played well, but they struggle against the pass some.Â
- The Jets are going to have a hard time running the ball again, so same old same old from Pennington, who will get his first 16 start season with today’s.
- From a quick check it seems to me that the OAK defense is stout at the line and in the secondary. Attacking the linebackers with shallow routes, and RB dumpoff passes might work well for the Jets.
- The Jets’ corners have to convince me today — on some backup recievers — that they can got it alone without Andre Dyson basically for the rest of the season. If the Jets win, this is their tuneup game for whatever comes next, and it won’t be Aaron Brooks and some backup WRs next week if they win.
- The Raiders have apparently let up 70 sacks on the season, that’s and average of 4.6 a game. I hope the Jets still use some ‘dogs’ or ‘blitzes’ even though they won’t need it to get to the QB.
- Find Bent, and show him how Americans tailgate, and don’t (normally) kill ‘supporters’ of other teams!
16 Responses to Game Thread: Raiders at Jets 12/31/07
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will says:
If the Jets get on top early then it should go well. If the Jets contain the run they will be able to ‘pin their ears back’ and attack the QB, which will lead to turnovers, mistakes and long third down situations.
This is a game that should separate Mangini from those that preceded him in NY/NJ. On the other hand, the last time I felt this good going into a game was the Buffalo fiasco.
I say NYJ 24 OAK 9.
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Andrew The Great says:
i still cant believe it!! in august the media left the Jets for dead, and now we sit here with a “win and your in” situation..the Jets should play with some fire today…
some injruy reports:
for the Raiders:
1)Jerry Porter and Lamont Jordan are “out” and Randy Moss is listed as “doubtful” -
Drack —
I am with you on this one 100% . . . I keep picturing the headlines tomorrow “Jets Drop Ball on Post Season,” “Choking in the New Year,” “A Green Hangover” and the worst, “Same Auld Jets” if they lose, and then spending the next long nine months reading countless stories about how this team is still among the dregs of the league, they’ll never be successful, they’re the ‘same old Jets.’ I guess our conditioning runs deep . . . I would almost feel better if they were playing the Bills or Dolphins this week — teams that are not great, but hardly a gimme, either, so if they lose, I’d have a legitimate excuse to comfort myself with.
That all being said, I look for two things:
1. A “bounce back” game from Chad — due to the conditions and the opponent, Chad was closer to “Bad Chad” than “Good Chad” vs. the Dolphins. He threw a few passes that should’ve been picked and struggled in the rain — the TD pass to Cotchery came when the rain let up. If Chad holds true to form, then he’s due to have a good game this week, especially in what should be favorable weather conditions for him.
2. If the Jets get an early lead (even if it’s a field goal), then I look to the energy from the crowd to carry them along. I’m a little worried that between the grueling game on Monday, the short week and the “inferior” opponent, that the team may come a bit flat–but if the place is electric (and I sure hope that it is), that will hopefully lift the team to victory.
I hope it’s not a struggle, but if being a Jets fan for over 30 years teaches me anything, it’s that at about 3:45 I’ll have that familiar gnawing in my stomach as the game comes down to its conclusion.
Hopefully, it’ll be different with Mangini at the helm. Like Fox Mulder, I want to believe . . .
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RK says:
There needs to be a culture change among the fans as well in order for things to completely turn in NY.
I guess we’re all waiting for the day when the Jets put together a dominant team that crushes their opponents weekly but since that is not the case at least be positive. I expect the players visualize themselves being successful and making plays so maybe it’s time the Jets’ fans start to do the same.
Each week I think there will be a great play by Coles or Cotch, Washington or Miller, or Brad Smith finally heaving a deep pass for a TD. Also I think back to the Baker TD that was ruled out of bounds and think that we should already be in the playoffs without needing this game.
If there is an ember of hope stoke it.
I don’t see the same old Jets but the fans are same old fans.
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Dennis says:
I am nervous as well. I think RK had summed it up nicely – I don’t think it’s SOJ anymore, but the feeling it still there until we win. A win today will go a long way to help all of us get over it.
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Tim says:
So, Chad’s arm strength doesn’t matter hah? Feel comfortable that the Jets will win this game, but that last pass with Coles wide open was an easy six points. You can’t defend Chad against that one.
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That run after the pitch was great! Man is LW fun to watch…
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IMHO, the most fun and exciting Jets season since 1998. Great job by the coaching staff and players all around this year. Bring on the “P” word!!!!
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Woooooo!!!!! And they made it look easy for a change!
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No doubt! It was nice to see such a solid effort in what used to be a typical letdown type game. Mangini and Co. have done a lot to eradicate the “same old Jets”! Woooo!
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fafa says:
YES!!!!!! J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS! Saw a sign in the crowd today- “Finally proud to be a Jets fan”. That says it all!!!!!
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See, just like I said . .. nothing to worry about! hah!
Okay, I can breathe now. … what a great day — I assume Bent got his $$’s worth. Obviously, he’s a good luck charm and needs to stay in the States until next week’s game!
What a great way to end the regular season! Where’s Bob Jensen to come rain on our parade now?!
Enjoy the victory and the holiday everybody!!!
J-E-T-S, JETS! JETS! JETS!
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I saw the same sign and I definitely agree. It feels like a new era has arrived for the Jets. What a season! I have no illusions of actually winning next week regardless of who we play (although nothing would be sweeter than beating the Pats). But given the expectations we had coming in to the season, this has been incredible. Most (if not all) of us were a bit skeptical of hiring Mangini over more established coaches, and I think we’re all believers now.
And best of all, I got my money’s worth from my Sunday Ticket subscription, unlike last year.
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And the Broncos lose! Bring on the Pats! How sweet would it be if we actually beat them.
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Allen says:
Just got back from the game, and what a game it was. The atmosphere was truly electric, from start to finish. Helluva game played by our boys. Bring on Brady and BB!
Am I the only one out there scared $#@!less about this game?
It seems that everyone, from TV commentators to beat writers to radio hosts and blog commenters have hung a “W†in the Jets win column already. Buttle and Lucas were even talking favored playoff opponents on SNY.
Are you all nuts?! Did you all forget for which team we root? Maybe my rosy outlook gland is calloused from dashed dreams of seasons past, but this game is no lock.
Here is what kept me up last night:
Team history – Say all you want about a culture change out at Hofstra; I’ve heard it all before with previous regimes. There were culture changes with Edwards, Parcells, Coslet, etc. I need to see it to believe it.
Injuries – Dyson is out…Rhodes is hobbling…Houston is questionable…Coles, our moneyman, has scrambled eggs for brains courtesy of Zach Thomas. The Jets are in worse shape injury-wise now than they have been all season.
Raiders Pass Defense – This is my biggest concern as the Jets have struggled this season against strong pass defenses. Chicago and Jacksonville shut out the Jets. Miami gave them fits last week. Buffalo focused on stopping the pass after the Jets got down a few weeks ago and the Bills neutralized Pennington. The Jets passing performance is the key to the game.
Any Given Sunday – Remember back to 2004, when the Jets lost to St. Louis in the final game of the season and still got into the playoffs? The Jets backed in because Buffalo choked, at home no less, to a JV team fielded by the Steelers. I know, the Raiders are a different team in a different position than the 2004 Steelers, but even a blind squirrel can find a nut sometimes.
In my heart of hearts (Mangini term) I believe the Jets will win, but it will be a struggle. A 10-3 or 13-7 game. Establish the run and stay away from early turnovers.