Weekly Jets Blog Week 5

The tendency of a sports fan, especially a football fan, is to try to only look at the positives after a loss. This has been an extremely common tendency for Jets fans. The way Rex Ryan and Gang Green started out, Jets fans thought those days might become a rare showing. Nevertheless, following a tough, turnover-filled loss to New Orleans, the Jets lost 31-27 to the Dolphins on a Ronnie Brown TD with 6 seconds left. Of course Jets fans like me will try to point out the positives.
The normally dominant Jets defense was a group of sitting ducks against Miami’s wildcat offense, allowing 10 points in the 1st quarter and 21 in the 4th. Miami QB Chad Henne, who filled in for former Jet Chad Pennington, completed 20 of 26 passes for 241 yards and 2 TDs in his 2nd career start after a successful college career at Michigan. His night was highlighted by a 53-yard TD pass to Ted Ginn Jr., who went to Ohio State, who is Michigan’s biggest rival. The main key for the Dolphins success was Ronnie Brown, who had 74 yards rushing, 14 yards receiving, and 21 yards passing as well as 2 TDs, thanks to the wildcat offense. Another key contributor was Ricky Williams, who had 68 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards.
But now to the positives for the Jets. Newly acquired Braylon Edwards, another Michigan grad, had a good debut with Gang Green, recording 64 receiving yards with a tough TD catch. He also helped set up the Jets’ other 2 TDs. Jets fans will try to forget his key dropped pass in the 4th quarter. The special teams had an amazing night. I know that looking to special teams for positives seems pathetic, but in this case it’s where the Jets did the best. The Jets succeeded on two fake punts against Miami, something that can be conceived as very lucky for the Jets. Mark Sanchez wasn’t as impressive as Henne, but he did throw for a TD and didn’t have a turnover a week after having four turnovers.
The 4th quarter was a shootout with a horrible display of defense. There were 5 go-ahead TDs in the 4th. Even though Browns’ game-winner was obviously the most important, Jets fans can proudly look at Thomas Jones’ 2 TDs after he struggled the first 3 quarters. The Jets couldn’t take advantage of losses by the Patriots and Bills, and therefore remain tied with the Patriots atop the AFC East.
The Jets will have to get serious and win these types of games if they want any chance at the playoffs. After facing putrid Buffalo and Oakland, the Jets get a chance to get revenge on Miami at home, where Gang Green is 2-0 so far this season. The Jets have to take advantage of games against division rivals like New England, Buffalo, and Miami, as well as easier games like ones against Oakland, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and Carolina. They might need 8 or 9 wins after Week 14 because their final 3 games are against Atlanta (3-1), Indianapolis (5-0), and Cincinnati (4-1), matchups that are extremely challenging and will test the Jets well. The Jets should win 2 out of 3 of those last 3 games, and they need to in order to prove that they are a legitimate contender in the AFC.