Highlights: Rams 23, Jets 20

Pre WK 1 Can’t-Miss Play: Clowney TD

Pre WK 1: Mark Sanchez highlights

Warren Moon Breaking down Sanchez

Brian Custer: Who is more responsible for the Jets collapse last season: Brett Favre or Eric Mangini?

Kerry Rhodes: (laughing) Eric Mangini

Sounds like he’s restraining himself when it comes to Cutler, but I won’t hold that against him. The speculation is over and the Jets don’t play the Bears this season, so it’s really all a moot point right now. Thankfully he chose not to elaborate on the details. It simply doesn’t matter anymore.

Hearing Rhodes talk about Revis made me even happier that fans aren’t General Managers. I love all of my fellow Jets’ fans, but the idea of packaging the best corner in the NFL for the second best QB in his (weak) conference really cut me deep.

Let’s start off with some things we would like to see.

1. NO PATRIOTS: No Jet fan on earth wants Belichick to make the playoffs.  If you just became a Jets’ fan, here’s why. Because a) his team knows the Jets really well and always plays it tough, b) his team has a lot of veterans who expect to win and who have playoff experience, c) he is a humorless jerk, d) he cheats, e) we’d all just love to see New England fans crushed and changing the channel when Sportscenter is on starting in early January for fear they might hear how good the Jets are.

2. NO COLTS: No Jet fan wants the Colts to make the playoffs because of Manning and because they play the no-huddle, which might offset our size matchup with their offensive line.

3. A BYE, PLEASE: We’d love the bye.  Few coaches take better advantage of time off than Mangini and it would be nice to have an extra week for the older players (one in particular) to rest and heal.  I’ll take the Jets over anyone given two weeks to prepare.

So how do we get the outcome we want considering the teams in a position to make the playoffs?  First, let’s consider the division winners.

In the AFC East, let’s assume the Jets win out.  While they might get picked off, particularly by a division opponent, Mangini’s teams, judging by 2006, do not slip once they start believing in themselves.  In 2006, they were 5-5 with a far weaker team in week eleven and went 5-1 thereafter only losing to the Bills.  This year’s Bills are not improving and they have nowhere’s near the confidence that the 2006 team had.  I don’t believe in the Dolphins and the two west coast games don’t scare me much.  So, if the Jets win out or even lose one of the next five, they win the division on record or tiebreakers.

Denver is liable to win the West.  They now have a two game lead and San Diego can still blow games in a variety of ways.  Whoever wins is probably first week fodder anyhow but one of them makes the playoffs even if they have a losing record.  Tennessee, with an easy schedule, probably can not be caught by Indianapolis.  They are almost guaranteed to win 13 by week 16 and, even if they lose their last two to Pittsburgh and Indy, they would still finish ahead of Indy by a game at 13-3, even if Indy wins out.  This leaves the North, which will be very competitive since both Pittsburgh and Baltimore have tough remaining schedules.

So how do we get what we want?

The four division leaders make the playoffs.  That’s likely to be the Jets, Steelers, Titans and Broncos, although the Ravens could make it interesting.  That leaves two slots for wildcards.  Who are they going to be?

Jets’ fans have to allow that Indy will probably make the playoffs.  They are 7-4 with games against Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit and Jacksonville coming up before the matchup in week seventeen against the Titans.  Let’s assume they’re 11-4 going into the last week.  Who do we want to win the finale?  Simple answer: Indy.  We want this on the theory that we’d rather face the Colts than the Patriots.  The Pats, after next weeks’ tough game against Pittsburgh, have Seattle, Oakland, Arizona and Buffalo.  The Cardinals might give them some trouble.  I would imagine they have one more loss in them by the final week.  Win out or one loss, we still can expect them to finish with roughly the same record as the Colts.  Since the Colts would win the tiebreaker, we would want them to be edged out on head-to-head.

So, if we want to keep the Pats out of the playoffs, we have to root for Indy and the AFC North teams.  Go Pittsburgh.  Go Ravens.  The Ravens have the tiebreaker over the Pats with only three conference losses and two easily winnable conference games (against JAX and Cincinnati) other than the head-to-head game with Pittsburgh.  The Pats already have four conference losses thanks to the Jets.

So we want the Steelers to win next week and we want the Ravens to win out.  For the bye, we’d still like to see the Steelers lose to a non-conference opponent (in case they finish with the same record as the Patriots) to knock them down to an inferior record than the Jets since they have the tiebreaker over us with only one conference loss.

So root for Indy and the Ravens and let’s hope the Steelers and the Cardinals can beat up the Patriots.  Either way, there are a number of scenarios where the Pats can win out and still miss the playoffs.  Meanwhile, if we take care of business, we’ve got a chance to get what we want.  That would be nice, for a change.

It’s one thing to understand these things on paper.  It’s another thing to actually understand them in your gut.  The New York Jets played one of those gut-check, statement games tonight, and they won it 34-31 in an overtime thriller in Foxboro.  In so doing, coordinators, players and coaches, learned the things that only a game like this can teach: how to win.

Naturally, it wasn’t going to be easy.  This was a division game between two bitter, divisional rivals.  Both teams wanted the game badly, not just because the winner would inherit undisputed control of first place (and the number two spot in the playoff hunt), but because these players had a history and these coaches, once close friends, had become ferocious antagonists.  There was the Mangini departure, the refused handshake, the defeat in Foxboro in 2006, Spygate.  There was enough drama for a few seasons of a tele-novella with a dozen episodes of CSI:Miami left over.

A reasonable person would have guessed that it wasn’t going to be pretty, and they would be right.  In the end, it was too painful to be pretty.  There were enough mistakes and heartaches to fill all the cardiac units in all the hospitals in New England.

The game could not have started off better for Jets fans.  The Jets took the opening kick and produced a superb drive, taking it right down the field with a nice mixture of pass and run capped by a one yard pass to Mister Everything, Leon Washington, who niftily eluded a half dozen tacklers and punched it in to make the score 7-0.  After a New England drive that stalled resulting in a 42 yard field goal, Jets’ fans were feeling pretty good.  Even more so when they took the next possession 10 plays and scored a field goal extending the lead to 10-3.  But, the Patriots drove it right down the field again making it 10-6 and Jets’ fans began to feel the old, familiar agita.

When Leon Washington took the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown and a 17-6 lead, every Jet fan in America became a believer in magical thinking.  Oh, please, can the game be over now?  But, there was more nachas, as my grandmother used to say.

On the next possession, Jerricho Cotchery decided to give his impression of Superman.  It worked.  He caught an 18 yarder on first down.  After a four yard run, Favre went for it all on the next play.  He threw it up for grabs 55 yards in the air to Cotchery, who was well-covered, but caught it anyway behind his back, falling over.  It was a Jets version of the Catch-in-the-Hat from the Super Bowl.  But, JCo wasn’t done yet.  Not satisfied with merely doing everything on the series but cook dinner, he stretched out like Elastic Lad on the next play and scored, despite being tackled on the four yard line.  It was 24-6 and we couldn’t lose, could we?

Then the game took a dour turn.  The Patriots, suddenly had a clue how to handle the Jets on both sides of the ball.  After a promising Patriots’ turnover, on downs, forced by a CJ Mosely sack, the Pats went to a no huddle and drove efficiently down the field scoring a touchdown just before the half.  Jets’ fans were forced to look away.

By the start of the second half, you would have thought that the Jets were trailing by two scores instead of leading.  Jets’ fans were apprehensive.  Was it all going to slip away?  Even though the game wallowed for the rest of the quarter because of ugly mistakes on both sides, it didn’t feel right.  Finally, the Patriots were able to score another touchdown as the quarter expired.  A two point conversion made it a mere field goal advantage for the Jets.

The Jets found their offense again at the start of the fourth quarter but JCo, uncharacteristically fumbled and, although the defense stiffened, it could not prevent a game tying field goal.  That beautiful 24-6 lead was all gone.  The Patriots knew how to win.

Then, a 39 year old, grizzled veteran who has incurred the unremitting wrath of many writers on this blog, vindicated his owner, his coach and his general manager and forced many correspondents to commit Sepuku.  Favre took the ball and drove it expertly down the field making throw after throw and, yes, managing the game, using up all but three minutes on the clock.  Aided by two holding calls on the Pats at the goal line, the Jets went up by a touchdown.  All we had to do was hold and Kris Jenkins decided to single-handedly make that happen.

But, even after being forced to punt, the Pats wouldn’t die.  They stopped the clock and held the Jets on third and two and got the ball back.  Once, again, they proved they knew how to win driving the length of the field making a fourth and one with eight seconds to go on a perfect pass by the oft-maligned Matt Cassell, who only threw for 400 yards tonight (and ran for 62 more).  Tied, ugh!  Overtime, ugh!

That’s when that 39 year old, who many on this blog have pilloried, did it again.  The drive, the only one in overtime, started off badly for the Jets with a sack and then an incomplete pass.  Favre, facing third and fifteen, glanced into the Patriots sideline and saw Bill Belichick signaling his players to play deep.  There was no deception or disguise.  The Jets were sending four receivers straight out on go routes.  The Pats were in a deep zone.  Favre knew what the coverage was.  The Pats knew what the pattern was.  Favre decided to run around and hope someone got free.  Then he spotted Dustin Keller (who had dropped a touchdown pass in the first quarter).  Keller was all alone at the marker.  Favre sent a bb his way and the Jets had new life.  Once again, he hit pass after pass, expertly, perfectly and smartly, driving his team into field goal range.   Then it was Jay Feely’s turn.  He blithely trotted on the field and calmly hit the game winner.  Sweet!

The Jets still have work to do.  They gave up 511 yards, 400 in the air to a guy who couldn’t throw long.  Still, they won the game.  In so doing, they may have learned how to win.

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Jason K. who was the YouTube videographer of Favre’s practice lap, sent in some more videos.   The one above is one of Favre getting one-hand intercepted by Rhodes … which E-Bola tells us more about here on his blog.

So the interception came about like this: Favre took the snap at about his 40, pumped and fired deep down the left sideline for David Clowney, who had separation. But Rhodes rotated over, cupped his right hand and made the one-handed pick. Rhodes told me after practice Favre sought him out to get the lowdown on exactly what Rhodes saw on the play.

Here’s some more vids from Jason.

• Brett Ratliff completes a pass.
• Favre completes a short pass to Brad Smith.
• Favre throws an intermediate pass to Laveranues Coles.
• Kellen Clemens had to run a lap.
• Favre warming up.

Well, almost — it’s the Jets and even though it’s an exhibition (which is about as exciting as the Browns logo), it’s still football. And as such, it’s still close enough to put the Thursday Top 10 out to pasture (big cheer from the crowd) and dust off TJB Scout for a new season.

Like the Jets, we’ll be getting back in shape for the regular season, trying out some new things over the next few weeks. Luckily, I won’t be competing for a roster spot (I think), so if there are some errors or missteps here, I won’t find myself on the blogger waiver wire tomorrow . . . hopefully.

So the Jets square off against the Brownies of Cleveland. Last December, the Browns beat the Jets 24-18 in a game that featured four Mike Nugent field goals and a late ugly, game-ending rushing TD by Jamal Lewis. I don’t expect to be much more exciting than that, but I can dream.

But hey, it is the Jets back in the saddle, playing against another team. Yippie ki yo ki yay!

Read on, mother–

Cheerleader check: Well, no nubile young ladies, but they do have this guy leading the Dawg Pound. I guess he’s cuddly. To someone. Somewhere. In Ohio.

Record: 10-6 last season, a nice mark but the Browns missed out on the playoffs thanks to the Colts laying down like namby pamby lambs the last week of the regular season for the Titans.

Barometer: Of course, it being a preseason game, the barometric pressure is zero. If the game counted, I’d say that coming off a solid season it’d be rising, as many think that the Romeo Crennel’s young charges have improved their weakest spot last year — the defense — and coupled with a high-powered offense, will be a playoff contender.

Old Friends: Crennel (“RAC” to his buds) was defensive line coach for the Jets from 1997-1999, and is still one of Eric Mangini’s best friends — don’t be surprised if they knock back a couple of beers and bowl a few games as they chat about old times. Okay, the beer and bowling might be out, but these guys do genuinely like each other. Expect a good, clean, vanilla preseason game.

Questions: Is Derek Anderson a one-season wonder? Will the Browns be better on defense? Can they be worse? Does Joe Thomas still fish with his dad? Can Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards both stay healthy and on the field for another whole season? Will Joshua Cribbs be flashing his Pro Bowl decoder ring at Leon Washington?

Key injuries: As it is preseason, anybody with so much as a hangnail will be kept off the field at Browns Stadium.

Five things to know about the Browns offense:

1. They like to move it, move it — 10th in rushing, 12 in passing and ranking 8th overall in total yardage and points scored last season.
2. After dedicating himself in the off-season (which didn’t include prison this year), Jamal Lewis is in the best shape of his pro career, weighing in at an dangerous 237.
3. No swinging gates here — with additions of left tackle Thomas and guard Eric Steinbach last season, the Browns have one of the best lines in the NFL, allowing only 19 sacks last season.
4. Wideout Donte Stallworth is now opposite Edwards, and should be on the field more than Joe Jurevicious. As such, it should help Edwards find more one-on-one coverage.
5. The much-ballyhooed Brady Quinn has struggled this preseason, and at the moment, is not a threat to unseat Anderson.

Jersey watch (offense): The #17 of Edwards and the #80 of Winslow are still Cleveland’s biggest weapons.

Five things to know about the Browns defense:

1. No pressure? The Browns only recorded 28 sacks last year as a team.
2. Very much like the Jets, the Browns have struggled adapting to a 3-4 defense. Also like the Jets, they Browns think they have found their answer at nose tackle, acquiring the very large Shaun Rogers from the Lions.
3. Do the shuffle! Gone are Leigh Bodden, Orpheus Roye, Renaldo Colclough and Simon Fraser (among others) and in are Brandon Johnson, Corey Williams and rookie Beau Bell.
4. With Kamerion Wimbley, Andra Davis and Willie McGinest, the Browns have a very solid linebacker corps.
5. Young turks, run free tonight! The two starting corners, Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald, are very good up-and-coming players.

Jersey watch (defense): #55 McGinest has announced his retirement — after one more season of kicking butt.

Three things about the Browns special teams:

1. Joshua Cribbs.
2. Joshua Cribbs
3. Joshua Cribbs.

What to expect from the broadcast booth: Lots of names you’ve never heard of as both teams will be concentrating on who will be among the first training camp cuts.

Spotlight matchup: The excellent Browns offensive line versus the new pass rushers of the Jets.

The pressure is on: Every player who is on the bubble and fighting for a roster spot.

What could go wrong? The Browns run it up and run on the Jets first-string defense, dealing a psychological blow to a unit that should be improved.

What could go right? The Jets are able to disrupt the Browns offense.

Bottom line: It’s preseason, so scoring (or giving up scores) will be more important than the actual scoreboard score.

Favre has made his decision (maybe? he’s worse than a politician) and that decision doesn’t involve the Jets:

Brett Favre has decided he doesn’t want to play for the New York Jets and is seriously considering accepting the Green Bay Packers’ offer of about $20 million over 10 years to remain retired because he doesn’t think he’ll get his wish to play in the NFC North Division, according to a report on ESPN.com Thursday night.

…

“There isn’t a perfect solution to this, but Mark Murphy is at least trying,” Favre told ESPN’s Ed Werder via text message on Thursday night. “We know what they want and where I stand. His solution, although awkward and unsettling for most, may be the best in the end.”

Somewhere Chris Mortensen is crying for not being the recipient of this text message.

I know half are sad and half are cheering, but I hope this resolves the infatuation with Brett Favre for Jets fans.  Hypothetically, even if Favre does wind up playing for the Jets do you really want him now?  Is this decision final?

It’s hard to say, because nothing ever seems final with Brett, but it sounds like it’s over for the Jets, at the very least.  I was nervous at the beginning of this process, and I have to say that I think although Favre is a great Quarterback, it’s best that the Jets won’t get him.  It does concern me that Tannenbaum thought this move was necessary … but that’s a topic for another post …

Now that this is done, here’s who looks bad from my perspective:

1) Brett Favre — Everyone says he’s an indecisive person when it comes to awkward situations like this, and there’s no proof otherwise.  He might be one of the NFL’s greatest Quarterbacks, but the past few years with his flirtation with retirement, then his insistence to return to the league have been comical.  For all the gushing people do about his love of the game, he looks like a fool now because he wanted to play, but only for a certain division, which since the Packers are smart, aren’t going to let him play in over their dead body.

2) The Green Bay Packers — Basically, even though they wanted to move on from Brett, the airing of the laundry of forcing Favre out of the league, and then not helping him play elsewhere (even though he’s an idiot and only wanted to play in the NFC North) makes them look like an organization who would enjoy crushing a child’s dying wish.

3) The New York Jets — The Jets must have come to terms with Ted Thompson.  But now, despite doing that, they look like the nerd who asks the head cheerleader to prom in front of everyone and gets shot down.  You can’t blame the nerd for asking her out, but at the same time, some things are better left alone.  Now Tannenbaum is going to have half a riotous fanbase who is pissed he couldn’t get the deal done, no matter how hard he tried.  I respect that Tannenabum got a deal in place, but it  really doesn’t matter because Brett has chosen that he doesn’t want to play outside the NFC North and that’s that.  What’s worse, he has to have lost the trust of his Quarterbacks.  How do you look Chad Pennington straight in the eye after this debacle?

Thank you to everyone who voted for TJB’s second annual Jetsies Awards, where you get to choose your favorites from the previous season. Over the course of the next week, we will be revealing to you who won what.

Francis Bacon once said that “by far the best proof is experience.”

We’re not sure what that means, but we do know that the best proof must belong to Rich Cimini, the Jets beatwriter for the Daily News for the Jets. Rich has been on the Jets beat since 1996 for “New York City’s Hometown Newspaper” and who wrote for Newsday on the Jets beat before that. With that in mind, it’s hardly surprising that Rich won the Jetsys for having the Best Beatwriters Blog, The Jets Stream, and for Best Beatwriter.

As great as Rich is, we’re concerned he might ask for another cash prize like last year at Day One of Training Camp. Anyone got some small bills I can borrow?

Word on the street is that Dustin Keller is reported to have signed with the team, no details are yet known about the deal.  At this rate, the team should be able to focus on Gholston leading up to Thursday, so here’s to hoping the deal gets done before then.

I think Keller has the potential to be a special player and open up this offense, eventually becoming the #2 target on this team.  All the same, give him time, it’s not all going to click in year one.

Hope he got a good signing bonus, that Land Rover of his doesn’t run on that hippie biofuel!

Update: Boland has this on his blog too.

Update 2: DB Jonathan Zenon has been released as well.