Weekly Jets Blog: Week 3

Another week, another clutch performance by the best defense in the NFL. Rex Ryan’s hard-hitting D bailed the Jets out of a rain-soaked battle with the Tennessee Titans. But the Titans still won. The New York Titans that is. The teams honored the 50th anniversary of the AFL by wearing throwback jerseys from the early 60s, the Jets wearing the old Titans mustard yellow and blue, and the Titans donning the old Houston Oilers jerseys. The “light” rain was obviously a factor as there were 6 turnovers in the game, 4 going in the Jets’ favor. Mark Sanchez didn’t really respond that well to the weather, having two fumbles, one of which was a turnover, along with a few balls that just slipped out of his hands. His counterpart Kerry Collins, a member of the newer Titans, had his moments, but his receivers dropped a lot of catchable balls, and he was also picked off twice. This victory puts the Jets at 3-0, which no one thought would happen, and put the Titans from Tennessee at 0-3, which is shocking seeing that they started last season 10-0 and finished 13-3. Interestingly enough, the Jets were the team to hand Tennessee their first loss last year.
The Titans couldn’t return the favor to the still unbeaten Jets, who have 3 impressive wins over quality offenses. Behind star cornerback Darrelle Revis, Gang Green has shut down 2 of the best wide receivers in the game in Andre Johnson and Randy Moss, one of the best quarterbacks in Tom Brady, and a great running back in Steve Slaton. This week, they couldn’t really handle Chris Johnson, as he ran for 97 yards. But the more discouraging thing was the fact that the Jets’ defense gave up their first TD of the season, and ended up giving up 17 to Tennessee by the end. The Jets dominated the first quarter, scoring on their first drive of the game. Sanchez drove down the field decisively and efficiently, finishing off the drive with a risking 14-yard TD run. The Jets got the ball right back when Ryan Mouton fumbled during the kickoff return. The Jets marched down and took a 14-0 on a great fake to Jones which left Ben Hartsock wide open in the end zone for the TD pass. The Titans proceeded to control the rest of the half and the beginning of the 3rd quarter. Tennessee scored 17 consecutive points as the Jets offense couldn’t get any sort of run game going and couldn’t get any first downs.
The defense was revamped after losing its lead and the crowd became a huge factor for the Jets at home behind Fireman Ed’s chant of “J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets.” David Harris was the star defensively with 5 tackles, a sack, and an interception, and Kris Jenkins stuffed the quick Johnson on a number of occasions. Bart Scott had 9 tackles to led Gang Green. The Jets offense finally got on the ball after another Mouton fumble on special teams. Sanchez found Jerricho Cotchery in the end zone to give the Jets the lead after starting the drive at the Titan 23-yard line. Cotchery finished the game with 8 catches for 108 yards, and was the only receiver in the game with more than 60 yards receiving. Sanchez finished with 171 yards, 2 TDs, and one interception, but more importantly became the first rookie QB to lead his team to a 3-0 start in NFL history.
With a 21-17 lead, the Jets D continued to dominate, sending the potent Titans offense off the field after going 3-and-out several times. After a 46-yard completion to Cotchery, Jay Feely hit a 30-yard field goal to give the Jets a 24-17 lead with 11:36 left in the game. Being a Jets fan for years, you expect the worst, and realize that the Titans are more than capable of driving down and tying the score. Not on this day. Gang Green’s defense held firm and shut down the modern-day Titans. When it appeared as if the Titans had a good drive going after two 11-yard runs, David Harris picked off Collins at the 29-yard line with 4:22 to go. But the Jets offense couldn’t deliver again, going 3-and-out once more. The Titans had another chance, but Harris came up huge again with a sack of Collins just before the 2-minute warning. Collins would proceed to throw 2 incomplete passes and the Jets took a few knees to kill the clock and finish off the heart-stopper.
The heart of the struggles of the Jets offense was the running game. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington were largely ineffective. Rookie Shonn Greene, who won the Doak Walker Award for being the nation’s top running back as a senior at Iowa last season, has been hurt often and hasn’t played a down yet in the season. Rex Ryan may have to incorporate him in later in the season if Jones and Washington continue to struggle.
That superb and clutch Jets’ defense will have yet another huge challenge when they go up against the NFL’s top QB in Drew Brees and the Saints next week. Hopefully Sanchez and the offense can give the defense a little more breathing room as the Jets have to prepare for another formidable foe. There doesn’t seem to be too many free-bees on the Jets’ schedule, but hey, to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets!!!