New York Jets finally get their first touchdown in preseason – NFL News
New York Jets have downsized the expectations before the start of the season as they were unable to win any of their preseason games.
One thing they did manage to do was that they finally reached the end zone in the final preseason game on Thursday, August 30, 2012 against Philadelphia Eagles, who won the game 28-10.
Third tier quarterback Greg McElroy achieved the feat as he started the game in absence of starting quarterback Mark Sanchez and backup Tim Tebow.
Jets did not score a single touchdown in the first three preseason games, breaking a 35-year record. The last time any team went through without a touchdown in three preseason games was Atlanta Falcons in the 1977 season.
Head coach Rex Ryan showed a great expression of relief as McElroy threw a six-yard pass to running back Terrance Ganaway in the 37th drive.
Ryan has been under great pressure to solidify the offence during this offseason. After the end of the game, Ryan said:
“I think this team is a lot better than others. But again, we get to prove it on the field. I know where my bet would be. I believe in this team, I believe in this coaching staff. I would have liked to have won, clearly, but that wasn’t the case.”
Jets had to wait for more than 201 minutes and nearly 200 plays in the preseason to get their first touchdown. Ryan got the chance to analyse his second and third tier team before cutting down the roster to 53 players at the end of deadline.
Ganaway is hoping that Tebow will take more responsibilities as a wild cat package and in the special team, in order to get more chance of playing in the regular season. Ganaway said:
“It was just a sigh of relief. Let’s just finally relax and have some fun.”
Although the Jets have managed to reduce the pressure on the offensive team by scoring the touchdown, it will be a completely different story in the regular season when the teams would start with their starters.
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