Food for thought: Jets 31, Bills 27
It’s been a while, but with my hectic schedule finally quieted, I’m back in business. Sorry for the delay folks, but I’m here to stay, you can be sure.
With that out of the way, a thought occurred to me as I was watching replays and reading recaps of the Jets narrow victory over the Buffalo Bills.
A little background first… I traveled to San Francisco last week and began reading Gerald Eskenanzi’s Gang Green (a definite recommendation for any long-time Jets fan out there) on the flight out to the coast. The book covers, rather well might I add, the dysfunction, curses and overall incompetence that has ruled Jets history. That my reading of it bookended one of the more depressing Jets losses makes it all the more approriate.
So it is with the this in mind that I entered Sunday convinced that this season was just another ‘Typical Jets letdown,’ as many of you likely did, as well.
But think about this: If it were any other team, would prognosticators be claiming this win over the Bills a ‘gut check game’ in which said team didn’t deserve to win but found a way to make the big play? But because it’s the Jets, with the bad history intact, it seems it is automatically a ‘Typical Jets letdown.’
Just saying. Food for thought.
25 Responses to Food for thought: Jets 31, Bills 27
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Robert Mueller says:
It is escaping by the seat of your pants to avoid a disastrous and demoralizing third loss in a row. Yet it is a sweet win because it keeps the Jets’ hopes alive. Many teams overcome their history, and that, to some extent, is what the Jets are trying to do, for the fans anyway. It looks like Week 17 is shaping up to be the real crunching test, a great game in the making. And then you will be able to say, “Finally.”
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GreenDuck says:
great win although our D sucked most of the game + some bizzare moves by Favre/Marti
Bottom line our D is’nt good enough for the playoffs and it ain’t getting any better
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david i says:
Corey:
Since you are reading the book, tell everyone why the nickname exists. I believe it well defines in the book. When your nicknamed after necrosis or an illness is not a good think. Every fan, even the team ownership propogates the poisonous mindset that has personified the Jets for years. This is why everyone has to stop calling them gang green. For crying out loud we might as well be cheering for a team with a nickname like cancer or epilepsy.
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Matt C. says:
Corey:
Great call on “Gang Green”. It is a must read for any true Jets fan.
Regradless of whether or not we make the playoffs, the Jets were furher exposed yesterday. We got lucky with Jauron’s play call on 2nd and 5.
That was simply the Bills answer to the Heidi game.
They had the game won and gave it away with 3 turnovers within 2 minutes.
The Jets were again outplayed and outcoached until the final 1:54.
I doubt we would be that lucky again come January. -
TruJetFan says:
How is it possible that this horribly inconsistent team is 9-5? How is it possible that we are 4-1 in this division?
My feeling is that somehow we can win these games we need to. Somehow, our losses are in games that matter less. Maybe, just maybe we are going to win the next two because we haven’t lost a must win yet. Is it possible that Bret Favre wins when he has to?
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JustAGreenGuy says:
4 -1 in the divisions is a sweet stat. Yet if we go 4-2 we may need a new coach and QB. This year might sting for a while.
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Jonathan says:
That is indeed an entertaining read.
Just think about how much worse we should be feeling right now had we lost and found ourselves on the outside looking in.
When others have snatched games from us at the last minute, those were wins they happily took and ones we wished we had, so accept the result as the W we needed so badly.
Driving back to D.C. last night, I kept reminding myself how much worse the drive could’ve been. -
KevT says:
A win is a win. We’ve won games playing well and playing poorly. We’ve lost a lot of games playing well too…
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Canadian Bacon says:
At some point someone needs to explain what the hell is going on with our D. We got ran over and if not for a completely stupid 2nd and 5 call by the bills the Jets would be golfing in Jan for sure. Mangini needs to take the play calling away from Sutton, period. It makes me sick to watch all these talented defensive players get there asses handed to them.
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Worried says:
I think everyone is being mindful of the potential harm it will be if we make the playoffs, like everyone else venting, I would rather be good and convincing then mediocre and lucky- Steelers, Dallas, Giants, Panthers etc. are good teams and we could only speculate what our record would be if we had a schedule like any of those teams, it certainly would not be 9-5, more like 3-7, our D may lack depth, however our scheme make us look like we have a porous Dline, a horrible set of CB’s that look lost and our LB’s look mediocre, well I will say this talent or execution is not the sole issue, it is our devotion of playing the 3-4 scheme. Our Offensive talent is better, but we don’t now how to use it- if we had an offence of coordinator that would build a playbook around talent instead of trying to build talent around a playbook we would be overwhelming our opposition, its a shame to say it but, if we make it deep in the playoffs we are going to get embarrassed and more importantly we are going to suffer next year with the same coordinators. I like Tangini, they are good at scouting talent, but they lack at choosing coordinators.
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Ducky says:
No matter what happens this year, Sutton must go.
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jas says:
And Shootty!!!! Ducky
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OOPS-Shotty!!!!!!!!!
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ramble914 says:
The second interception wasn’t Favres fault either, he was hit before he could complete his follow through and the ball came up short. A defensive linemans arm came crashing down on his head as he was throwing.
There’s a fine line between winning and losing in the NFL. You have to bring your “A” game every week. That being said, I think Mangini should turn the Offensive play calling over to Callahan, and he himself (Mangini) should take over the Defensive play calling. Schottenheimer and Sutton SUCK!
How Leon doesn’t get 8-10 touches a game is baffling to me.
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I want to see Favre’s Passer rating on balls that travel over 40 yards in the air. He would be -50 I bet. I can’t think of one he’s completed to a Jet. He’s probably got 4 picks on those bombs. He can’t air it out anylonger it’s killing us
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Joe B. says:
Cotchery against Miami, Keller against the Rams, Cotchery against New England..
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Joe B, I think only Cothery against Miami actually traveled over 40 yards in the air. I guess the NE ball did as well but that was a terribly thrown ball
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SufferaJet says:
Good assessment. This last win left a bad taste in my mouth, but then I have to remember that many teams win ugly. Your point was spot on: Do we ever hear that the Colts or Pats were ‘lucky’ to win a game, or rather the old cliche ‘good teams find ways to win.’
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Ben says:
Guys, lets face it: jets are a good team being brought down by their coaches, espaecially sutton. Why arent jet fans screa,ming for cowher!!!!! or even Shottenheimer (the dad)!!!1
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Alan says:
Not to mitigate all of the legit criticism of the team and coaches, but to amplify Corey’s point – I can only imagine if the Giants had won in this fashion. All we’d be hearing about is that Big Blue D and how they showed their class and made the big play when the chips were down!
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Alan,
The differnece is big blue COULDNT win in this fashion because this fashion doesnt win in the playoffs. We ahve great players but were missing that edge….which cowher would give us -
ja says:
if the jets make the playoffs do the coaches still stay?
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JA,
Unfortanutley i think yes. Thats why, although iy would be heart breaking, in the long run it would be better if we didnt make the playoffs, get rid of coachingstaff, and bring in Cowher, Marty Shottenheimer, or Rex Ryan -
Max says:
Yesterday’s game was a gift from the Bills. I don’t even think the Lions would have tried that play.
The Jets win against NE then they take the unbeaten Titans and they win convincingly away from home in probably their best game. The SI power ranking goes to 3! Jet fans are giddy and start taking about going to the SB. If you are a true “experienced” Jets fan you knew deep in your heart that the somehow, someway the wheels were going to come off. So, the next week predictably they crash and burn against Denver at home and then at San Fran. What is this type of Jekyll and Hyde football team?
The bottom line: It’s all about planning and motivation by the coaching staff. Mangini is not a motivational coach. He is more of a manager/accountant/clerk. He plays the old “not to lose” game rather than we are going to kick their ass and win. His staff and his play calling reflects that mentality.
As far as this year, well, folks this is all she rode. The Jets will not win in Seattle ( and if by some miracle – like this past Sunday, they do), they will lose at home against the Dolphins. This is not that I am not an optimist but rather a realist. My prediction: Dolphins win the division and the Ravens and Colts will be the wild card winners.
Given that the Jets will not make the playoff the Mangini era will come to an end since they need to fill that new stadium. Let the chants for Bill Cowher commence!
You know, it is a cliche but; the good teams win the close games. Sometimes you just need a win, and you go in not knowing how to get it. This, obviously, was the biggest win of the season. Yeah we’re 0-3 on the West Coast but everyone knows that all balogna anyways. I fully expect us to dominate Seattle and get back to our 5-game-winstreak-form. Lets go Jets.