NFL: Week 5 Review - New York Jets
The New York Jets currently rank fourth in the NFL standings with four wins in five regular season games. They are beginning to look like real playoff contenders this year. The Jets have their weaknesses and their strengths but
so far their strengths have been able to carry them forward. They have won all but one of their regular season games. The only one they lost was their opening game against the Baltimore Ravens, who currently are leading the NFL.
After the first defeat the Jets have not been denied victory. In their second game of the season the New England Patriots were their opponents. The Patriots are one of the NFL’s elite but against the Jets they seemed nothing like
the Patriots we know. Jets quarterback Sanchez threw his career high 3 touchdowns in the game with his 220 yards passing without an interception or a fumble. It was practically a flawless offensive game with a defence to match. “We couldn't do anything in
the second half,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. “We had a hard time gaining yards. We didn't do anything on third down, we couldn't gain anything on first or second down. We couldn't run it. We couldn't throw it.”
The New York defence had done its job and held the Patriots down to just 14 points against 28 of their own. The Jets are the strongest offensive side in the league when it comes to rushing. In addition to Sanchez’s 220 yards, LaDainian
Tomlinson and Shonn Greene rushed a combined 128 yards. Compared to the Patriots’ 52 total yards rushing, that proved to be a major advantage for the Jets.
The Patriots were simply out played. Randy Moss, who now is a wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings, admitted as much. “The Jets handled adversity the right way and we handled it the wrong way.” The Jets would continue to do
so as the season moved along and in their next game against the Miami Dolphins.
Sanchez would equal his career best of three touchdowns for the second consecutive time against Miami. Sanchez was not intercepted in this game either while throwing 256 yards. Tomlinson and Greene were back with their contribution
along with Brad Smith who contributed 41 yards rushing in 3 plays. New York’s 146 yards rushing dwarfed Miami’s 86. Though overall the Dolphins covered more yards, their dependency on the passing game turned out to be their undoing. Miami conceded just two
touchdowns in their first two games but ended up giving 3 away to the Jets in their third game. New York won the game 31 to 23.
Following a win over Buffalo, the Jets went head-to-head against the Minnesota Vikings in their fifth regular season game and came out on top again. Brett Favre started the game slow but by the end had almost taken back victory.
Favre made many mistakes in the night, including two fumbles and an interception that ultimately cost the Vikings the game. Sanchez’s 3 touchdown run came to a crashing end as he was denied even a single touchdown pass. Sanchez wasn’t even able to pass 200
yards in the game. Luckily for the Jets, Tomlinson and Greene weren’t hampered by the Minnesota’s defence as they tallied a combined 155 yards rushing. The Jets won the game with 29 against 20.
By the numbers the Jets are looking amazing. They have protected their quarterback well and allowed just 7 sacks, better than all except five teams in the league. New York’s 5.1 yards rushing average per attempt is tied for second
place in the league and their rushing game is simply unmatched. Average score per game for the Jets is the third highest in the league. The numbers don’t lie, the Jets are doing brilliantly and their run isn’t likely to end yet.
Next week the Jets would face the Denver Broncos and are favourites for the game. If they win, their 5-1 start would be the best they have had since 2004.
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