Jets Takeoff

As pointed out in today’s Connecticut Post, the Jets are still alive in the playoff picture. With four games remaining, the situation is complicated, but here we go:

The Jets essentially put themselves here with two devastating losses (Buffalo and Jacksonville) at home. New York should be 8-4 right now and we’d be having a much different discussion.

New England, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and San Diego are going to win their divisions so they’re all in. That leaves two spots for the taking.

The Jets (6-6) join Miami (6-6), Jacksonville (7-5), Baltimore (6-6), Pittsburgh (6-6), and Denver (8-4) as the teams vying for those final two spots.

The Jets loss to the Jaguars and two losses to the Dolphins certainly hurt their chances. But the Steelers are in trouble, the Ravens lost last night, and would you be surprised if Miami and Jacksonville lose a couple games down the stretch?

The problem for the Jets, as well, is that they play at Tampa Bay (win), Atlanta (toss-up), Indianapolis (loss), and Cincinnati (toss-up). There’s no way they’re beating the Colts, unless Indy uses Week 16 to rest its starters. The games against the Falcons and Bengals could go either way, though the Jets should have no problem with the 1-11 Bucs this weekend.

Essentially, the Jets need to win their last four games. That makes those losses to Buffalo and Jacksonville hurt even more.

Here’s what you need to know:

The Jets won on the road when they needed the game badly. That’s a good sign. Playing in Toronto on a short week against a team that embarrassed them at home earlier this season, the Jets deserve credit for this win. And it keeps their playoff hopes alive.

Mark Sanchez still needs to learn how to slide. He hurt his right knee in this one and left the game early. Fortunately for the rookie, it sounds like he’ll be back.

Sanchez’s go-ahead touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards right before halftime gave the Jets a 16-10 lead. With Kellen Clemens in for Sanchez, the defense took over the rest of the way.

Darrelle Revis, the best cornerback in the NFL, held Terrell Owens to to three catches for 31 yards.

Thomas Jones carried the ball 23 times for 109 yards.

Big night for the Jets as they take on the Bills north of the border. A Jets’ win puts them at 6-6 and in position for a playoff run. A loss means the end of any playoff talk. New York is a better team than Buffalo, but they lost to the Bills earlier this season at the Meadowlands. Tonight in Toronto will be a different story. Jets 19, Bills 16.

Writing in yesterday’s Connecticut Post, AP scribe Dennis Waszak Jr. had an article on Darrelle Revis. Though three months late (I’ve been reporting this all season), Waszak is right: Revis is the best cornerback in football. It’s not even a question at this point.

Revis has 53 tackles, 21 passes defensed,and a team-leading four interceptions. He’s shut down Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Marques Colston, Steve Smith, and Terrell Owens. He’ll have another shot at Owens tonight. My money is on Revis.

David Harris

Let’s face it. This was a big win for the Jets. I’ve been saying for a while now that they’re not going to make the playoffs, and I still don’t think they will, but in the NFL anything can happen, and that’s why Sunday’s win over the Panthers at least keeps the Jets alive. Hey, with the Giants struggling at 6-5, the Jets are still a story in New York.

The key play in Sunday’s game was Darrelle Revis’ 67-yard interception return for a touchdown as Carolina was driving in the first quarter. Because of Revis’ heroics (he added another interception later on), New York never trailed. Kerry Rhodes, demoted to nickel and dime situations, also had two interceptions.

And then there’s the rookie quarterback. Mark Sanchez was 13-of-17 for 154 yards in his first game since Rex Ryan took a more active role in the offense, and in Sanchez. Nothing spectacular, but better decision making, only one interception, and no fumbles.

At 5-6, the Jets are one game behind Jacksonville and Pittsburgh for the final playoff spot in the AFC. In the NFL, anything is possible.

Kerry Rhodes

Storylines Heading into Sunday’s Game Against the Carolina Panthers (1:00 p.m., Giants Stadium)

Demotion of Kerry Rhodes: In the middle of a five year, 33 million dollar contract, the Jets’ safety hasn’t been the same since he signed that extension following the 2007 season. This year, Rhodes has zero interceptions, zero sacks, zero forced fumbles, and zero fumble recoveries. Now, he’ll only play in nickel and dime packages. Eric Smith will replace him.

How Will Mark Sanchez Respond: Sanchez threw four interceptions and fumbled once in last week’s loss at New England. This week, Rex Ryan announced that he’ll take a more active role in coaching Sanchez. Though results, if any, aren’t going to be seen right away, word out of Jets’ camp is that Sanchez had a good week of practice and his coaches seem optimistic that the rookie play better this week.

The Carolina Panthers: Let’s be honest and say it: At 4-6, the Panthers aren’t that good. Carolina was thought to be a playoff team coming into the season, but that was nearly three months ago. They still have Jake Delhomme, DeAngelo Williams, and Steve Smith on offense, but the offense has not shown the same explosiveness it did in years past. Carolina ranks 23rd in the NFL in points (19.3 pg), though with 159.1 rushing yards per game, you could see Williams and Jonathan Stewart giving the Jets trouble. Defensively, they allow an average of 130.7 rushing yards per game, so Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene could have big games for New York.

Prediction: Despite their struggles, the Jets still rank second in the league in rushing yards (163.5 pg). Expect a big day from Jones, and assuming Sanchez doesn’t throw this one away, the Jets will win for the first time in a month. Jets 26, Panthers 22

It’s hard to criticize the decision announced by Rex Ryan this week that he would become more involved with Mark Sanchez, his rookie quarterback. The only question Jets’ fans and the organization should ask is why didn’t this happen from Day One?

As for Sanchez, he has a lot to prove. It’s time to examine the strikes against No. 6:

1) Posing for GQ Magazine. Big mistake. “Mr. Southern Cal” should have been smarter. Before he ever took a snap, he told the NFL that he considered himself to be a superstar.

2) Eating a hot dog on the sideline during the fourth quarter of the Jets’ win at Oakland. Mark made himself look like a hot dog.  And not an intelligent one.

3) Delivering a prepared statement following the Jets’ loss to Jacksonville. Again, would Eli Manning ever do that?

4) His play on the field. And this is his fourth strike? Enough said.

Anyway, go get ‘em Rex. It’s about time.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Following Sunday’s 31-14 loss at New England, Rex Ryan had some interesting things to say to the media during his press conference on Monday. Among the highlights: He’ll spend more time with Mark Sanchez and be more involved with the offense. And he wasn’t happy with Bill Belichick’s decision to throw the ball with 30 seconds left in the game and the Patriots ahead by 17 points. From Randy Lange’s write-up on newyorkjets.com:

On Ryan’s involvement with Sanchez, the head coach said this:

“I’m going to be there. If that’s all I bring to him is how to protect the football and making sure he understands the situation in a game, then that’s what I’m going to make sure I do.

“We’ve got to look at that critically and find if there’s something we can do. I’m going to take that responsibility on my shoulders and we’ll see how it goes and how it plays out from here.”

“I’m going to be standing shoulder to shoulder with Brian (Schottenheimer, his offensive coordinator). Brian’s got to run the offense, that’s not going to change. We’ve got great coaches. But if there’s something I can do, what is it? I’m here to help this football team. To me it’s giving Mark the understanding of the game: ‘Hey, right now, this is an opportunity where we can take chances’ or ‘We can’t take chances here. If you can make this completion, make it. If not, get rid of it or run with it.’

“I’m here to support Brian, Mark, everybody else. But I have to be demanding of that because right now that’s not getting done to my satisfaction or this football team’s satisfaction.”

“I’m making sure everybody understands it’s a supportive thing, that this is by no means a slap in somebody’s face. I’m here to support what’s already being done. Brian and [special teams coordinator] Mike Westhoff are clearly a hell of a lot more experienced in their fields than I would be. We don’t want me calling plays. But if I can support Mike or Brian, then that’s what I need to do. My stance needs to be more of a game manager, a team manager. I thought I was doing that but maybe I need to spend a little more time in those regards.”

As for Brady’s attempted pass to Moss in the game’s final minute, Ryan offered this:

“I looked at that as an opportunity for us. Throw it deep, our guy’s going to come down with it more than your guy.”

Was the call disrespectful?

“Yes. That’s why I called the timeout at the end of the game [there were five seconds left], to give our team another chance.

“Things happen. [Bill] Belichick, I don’t even know how much he had to do with it. It could’ve been more something that Brady or Moss wanted to do. … No biggie, but I was surprised by it and I did feel a little disrespected.”

Click here for Lange’s full report.