By Bob Bonett
Home. For an 0-5 team. Damn right the Jets should have won this past Sunday.
Don’t overlook the importance of Gang Green scoring the victory over the woeful Bengals this past weekend, though. As a matter of fact, it was arguably the biggest win for the team of the season.
The peripherals of the 26-14 not-so-drubbing? Okay, not great. New York did not look like the best team in the AFC East, the offense was pretty anemic, Brett Favre was the gunslinging Favre of two years ago rather than “Super Favre Version 2007,” Damien Woody and the line were mistake-prone and the secondary, against Harvard – yes, THE Crimson – graduate Ryan Fitzpatrick appeared to be sub-standard.
Forget the negatives, though. And even the positives – like Kris Jenkins taking on three Bengals offensive line for half the game, or Calvin Pace having his second consecutive impact week, or Leon Washington and Thomas Jones starting to look like the rushing attack that other New York team sports.
What it boils down to is that New York avoided being trapped in the first of three games that will be very easy to look past before the showdown against the Bills in the first week of November. If a team wants to be a contender, they have got to be able to beat teams that they should beat. No upset losses – sorry about the low blow, Giants – can be afforded in the Jets’ division. That means against the Bungles, next week against the Raiders, and in two weeks against Herm and Co.
Just as important as the win, though, is to now forget about it and focus on Al Davis’ bunch. Granted, when it comes down to it, the Raiders look to undoubtedly be the worst team in the NFL. JaMarcus Russell is not an NFL-ready quarterback, and may take quite a while to develop into one, considering all of the turmoil and chaos surrounding him.
New York will be on the road, though. Going East Coast to West Coast always seems to serve as a recipe for disaster. And again, if the team does slip up, it will cost more than loss No. 3 on the year – it may very well, just six games into the year, serve as the end of playoff hopes for New York.
Okay, so the first nine games of their schedule aren’t too bad. Aside from games against supposed “contenders” – which I’m still not buying into, by the way – San Diego and New England, the Jets don’t play a top tier team – unless, of course, you want to consider Buffalo one, which I’m sure Arizona would beg to differ.
As easy as games one through nine are, though, is essentially how trying the final seven games will be. Road games against New England and undefeated Tennessee, and home games against Denver – led by the very underrated Jay Cutler – Buffalo and shockingly impressive Miami. Five games that are anything but cakewalks.
That is how important the 7-2 start is. If New York falters and falls to Oakland or Kansas City, and should lose to Buffalo, Eric Mangini and company are looking a 5-4 start right in the eye, with three or four games remaining on the schedule that New York would serve as the underdog for. Nine wins? Not going to get you into the playoffs in the AFC. Ten wins probably wouldn’t do it either. The Jets needed an 11- or 12-win output to ensure they are playing into 2009, and that starts with the 7-2 start.
For this week? Okay, it sounds hypocritical, but I have to say I’m not worried. After getting absolutely grilled by the New York media this past week, and seeing the G-Men lose to a team struggling just about as much as Oakland out of the gates in Cleveland, you can be sure Mangini and the coaching staff have gathered up plenty of bulletin board material to rev the Jets up. Expect New York to come out roaring, and bounce back from the ugly loss last week with a thrashing of Oakland.
Remember, though. How the team wins will not matter. All that counts for New York is getting the ‘W,’ and continuing the trek toward a 7-2 start that would set up Gang Green for a playoff berth.
Anyway, here’s what needs to be seen from the Jets for the next month to secure a 7-2 start:
Showcase Leon
By now, in case you can’t tell, Leon Washington is truly the best playmaker on New York. Sure, Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles have been the most consistent threats on offense, but the player that invokes the most fear in the opposition whenever he touches the ball is Leon. If offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer can get Washington a healthy dosage of touches, either rushing or receiving, and Leon can continue his return game expertise, New York will officially have their first game-changing player since the Curtis Martin Era.
Favre Plays Smart
I know Brett Favre was The Man in Green Bay. Moreover, I know he came to New York to be The Man. However, he has to play smart, as he did during the regular season in 2007. No, I’m not talking about giving up on the deep ball, or throwing into double coverage. I’m talking about throwing across the body and across the field. Favre has to be able to take a sack once in a while. Granted, losing seven yards isn’t great. It’s a lot better than a Pick-Six though.
A Healthy Jenkins
Wow. What a beast Jenkins is. People forgot when he was brought to New York that the Ruthian nose tackle was a former Pro Bowler. Jenkins is aging, though, and has battled nagging injuries the entire season. Yes, David Harris, Calvin Pace and David Bowens look great at linebacker. It starts with Jenkins neutralizing two, even three blockers each play, though. And if Jenkins misses time, you can count on these less-than-50-yard performances from the opposition the past two weeks ceasing pretty quick.
TJ Stays Quiet
Three touchdowns must have felt good for Mr. Jones. Everybody knows that the No. 1 runner on the Jets’ depth chart is griping behind closed doors, though. Teammates are hinting at it, and considering Jones’ intonation whenever he speaks with the New York media, it is clear that he wants the ball more. Problem is, TJ is not a 20- or 25-carry a game back, as badly as he wants to be. He is a 15-20 rush guy who will put up four yards per carry and be a force on first and second down. If Jones can accept this, the offense can run much more fluently.