New York Jets lose to Bears but still clinch play-off spot
After a rather embarrassing week for Rex Ryan and the New York Jets, things just couldn’t get any worse.
Or actually, they could. The Jets lost, 38-34, to the Chicago Bears Sunday night but after the Washington Redskins defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Jets are headed to the play-offs anyways. But they have no reason to complain. Who would? It was a tough
loss for the Jets though, who have lost three of their last four games. They played well the entire game but an attempted pass by quarterback Mark Sanchez was intercepted in the final minute of the game by Chris Harris, ending New York’s failed comeback.
Jay Cutler, quarterback for Chicago, had three touchdown passes. Matt Forte also racked up 113 rushing yards in their win. The 10-5 Jets are going to their second play-off season in two years under Ryan, after the Jags lost 20-17 to the ‘Skins in overtime.
As Ryan was addressing the media, a loud roar reverberated from the locker room, after which Ryan paused to say,
"By the way, I think we're in the play-offs. Not the way I wanted it, but I'll take it."
Graham Gano kicked Washington’s winning field goal. LaDainian Tomlinson said that it was “like Christmas.” After a snowstorm delayed the Jets flight back to New York, they’ll have one extra night to enjoy their play-off entry. The 11-4 Bears might just want
to soak their victory in too.
Chicago has won seven out of eight games. They were ahead by 10 points at the end of the first quarter but blew their lead. They are still in a good position to get a bye in the first week, though. They needed this win, badly. They Giants did lose to the
Green Bay Packers, 45-17 but the Eagles will not be playing the Minnesota Vikings until Tuesday, after severe weather postponed their game in Philly. Cutler went 13 of 25 attempts for 215 yards, along with his three touchdowns, while Johnny Knox made four
receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns. The second one by Knox came after outrunning Antonio Cromartie, on a 26 yard catch-and-run in the third, which broke their 31-31 tie. Cutler said,
"We came into it knowing we were going to have to take a few shots, go vertical on them. We knew with our speed it would be hard for them to keep up."
Forte had a great game and is the first player to run 100 yards or more against the Jets this season, if the numbers stand. Last week, Pittsburgh Steelers’ Rashard Mendenhall was credited with 100 yards but replays showed that he had one less at 99. Sanchez
is also happy to be back, after his return was questionable due to a shoulder injury. Luckily, doctors diagnosed it as normal wear and tear and he came back to throw 24 completions out of 37 attempts for 269 yards and one touchdown. However, his interception
near the end of the game sealed a win for the Bears, which brought an end to a rather wild week.
At the center of all the attention this week was coach, Rex Ryan. He was a subject of embarrassing foot-fetish videos that featured a woman who looks just like his wife, Michelle and an off-camera voice who sounds just like Ryan. He had little to say about
the report, calling it “a personal matter.” "To lose the game and I still make the playoffs, that's the best news you can ever have after a loss," said Sanchez.
Sanchez will likely sit out next week against the Buffalo Bills, so that he will be ready for the play-offs and does not risk injury. A fake punt on fourth and a long, in the third, ended in a failure, after Sanchez’s pass to Brad Smith was incomplete. They
turned the ball over but things just got worse, ending in a close loss. The Bears will play the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, 2nd January. The Jets will be at home against Buffalo on the same day.
Stay tuned!
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