Jets Takeoff

Once again, as you would expect from the league’s No. 1 defense, this was a collective effort. That is why the nomination for game ball goes to the entire unit, and not one individual player.

The defense held the Bengals to 281 yards, 110 passing yards by Carson Palmer, recovered a fumble, and intercepted a pass, limiting Cincinnati to 14 points while spending 26:58 on the field.

Individually, there were some clutch playoff efforts. Bryan Thomas had seven tackles and a sack and Shaun Ellis had six tackles and one sack. The secondary, most notably Darrelle Revis, Lito Sheppard, and Jim Leonhard, were excellent in coverage and at the line of scrimmage.

By the way, how about those bogus calls on Revis?

When was the last time a kicker – a kicker! – received a game ball nomination?

Scott Norwood? And the Giants presented him with that game ball.

Kickers are generally only noticed when they screw up royally, like Norwood did in January of 1991 when he missed a field goal that gave the Super Bowl victory to Big Blue.

Or when you have the kind of game that Jets’ kicker Jay Feely had on Saturday in Cincinnati. Feely made one field goal, his only attempt of the game, and converted on three extra points, his only three attempts of the game. Nothing remarkable there.

But when punter Steve Weatherford left the field in the first quarter due to an irregular heartbeat, never to return, the punting chores landed on Feely. And that’s where he enters the game ball conversation. From his first punt on, Feely consistently pinned the Bengals deep in their own zone. He averaged just 28.1 yards on seven punts, but he was consistent on each one, and the Jets won in large part because of how good Feely was.

The “beat” goes on.

Day 2 of the great “Game Ball Debate” following the Jets’ playoff win at Cincinnati takes us to running back Shonn Greene.

The rookie out of Iowa has had some moments this year, none bigger than his stellar performance on Saturday. Greene ran for 135 yards on 21 carries and scored on a 39-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that tied the game at 7-7. From that point on, the Jets dominated the Bengals. And throughout the game, Greene carried the load out of the backfield for New York. His 21 carries were a career-high. 

Credit Dustin Keller with a key block on Greene’s touchdown run, but credit the rookie for a remarkable performance in his first playoff game.

We’ll start with the quarterback because for all the abuse he’s taken (from this space included), he certainly exceeded expectations Saturday. Credit Brian Schottenheimer and Rex Ryan for putting him in high-percentage situations, but credit Sanchez for having the ability and intelligence to get the job done.

Sanchez was 12-of-15 for 182 yards and one touchdown. I said going in that he would have to make some big plays. He did. Big passes to Dustin Keller, including a 45-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, were huge for New York, and again, Sanchez’s decision-making was impressive.

For a quarterback with so many questions, who still has so much to prove, Sanchez delivered in a big spot.

The Jets won a playoff game for the first time since 2006 thanks to their 10-point road win against the Bengals at a cold Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati late Saturday afternoon/early evening.

New York kicked off the 2010 NFL post-season shortly after 4:30, and when all was said and done, the rookie head coach, rookie quarterback, rookie running back, and the league’s No. 1 defense emerged victorious, advancing to the second round of the Big Dance next weekend.

To go along with the stellar play of Mark Sanchez (stellar because he made no mistakes and was very efficient passing the ball, 12-of-15 for 182 yards), Shonn Greene (135 rushing yards, one touchdown), a defense that shut down the Bengals for most of the game, and the rock-solid coaching of Rex Ryan/Brian Schottenheimer, there was Dustin Keller (three catches, 99 yards, one touchdown), and seven clutch punts from Jay Feely filling in for Steve Weatherford.

We’ll spend the entire week figuring out who to give the game ball to, but those are your candidates.

The Jets, and their fans, have been doing a lot of talking. While you would expect a team to be confident heading into the playoffs, the talk, especially from the head coach, has been a bit excessive. Fans have picked up on this, and that’s made for some interesting chatter the past week.

That being said, the Jets are in the playoffs. And really, that’s all that matters. Give Rex Ryan and the team credit. After starting 3-0, then losing six of seven, then losing to the Falcons in what was thought to be a must-win in the 14th game of the season, few thought the Jets would be here, the head coach included. But New York won it’s last two, with a whole lot of good fortune, and now we wake up on this January Saturday to playoff football in New York, and it doesn’t involve the Giants.

Today’s matchup is an intriguing one. Last week’s 37-0 win by the Jets was not a great indicator of how tough today’s game will be. Cincinnati rested a few starters on Sunday night, and even those who did play didn’t play with the sense of urgency that the Jets did. Today will be a different story.

Expect the Jets’ defense to play like the No. 1 defense in the league has played all year (a few late-game drives notwithstanding). That means New York will contain Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, and yes, Chad Ochocinco.

The big question is what will the Jets do offensively. At some point in this game, Mark Sanchez will have to make a big play. The Jets will rely on Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene, but Sanchez will be called upon to complete at least one big pass, probably late in this game. The Jets will win or lose based on that play, or plays.

Prediction: Bengals 16, Jets 13.

See, Rex, this is what happens when you continuously open your mouth.

What you said (and I paraphrase): Everyone counted us out.

What you meant to say: I was the first to count us out – three weeks ago after we lost to Atlanta.

What you said (and I paraphrase): We don’t get any respect.

What you meant to say: The Colts would have beaten us if they left their starters in the game. But wait, I practically begged Indy to rest Peyton Manning the week leading up to the game. Now I’m complaining that we don’t get any credit? The Bengals didn’t try last Sunday night, so let’s not go crazy over our 37-0 win, as impressive as it was. Now I’m complaining that we don’t get any credit?

Wow, the things you don’t hear the head coach say.

David Harris

From The Star Ledger’s Dave Hutchinson:

“Jets linebacker David Harris has a ‘‘mild’’ right ankle sprain and will play on Saturday against the Bengals in their wild-card rematch.”

Harris, one of the Jets’ best defensive players, was hurt in Sunday night’s win and sat out practice yesterday. For the season, Harris has a team-high 142 tackles, 5 1/2 sacks and one interception.

Forget about Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco, or Cedric Benson. If the Jets have any chance of beating the Bengals on Saturday, Harris must play. And he must be at full-strength. He’s that important.