Jets Texans Preview

Prediction: Jets 17 Texans 10

New York is the toughest place to play football.  Here is an example.

If I were to tell you three weeks ago that the New York Jets would face their two toughest opponents back to back and split those games, you would have felt good about it.

So why are there so many bad feelings from the fans going into this game?  Why is everyone so upset with an onside kick attempt?  What is causing the rumblings in Jet Nation?  The answer is obvious.

The fans are afraid that their quarterback may be letting them down, that they may be looking at a quarterback controversy, or another change to face the unknown.

Chad has got to perform today and for the rest of the season, he has got to get it together right now.

I know that a lot of this falls on Chad as our team leader, but let me ask you, who is our Quarterbacks coach?  What role does he play in all of this?

Where is Brian Schottenhimer's role in all of this?  How about the organization-the front office?

Chad Pennington has performed well for others, so why not now?  What piece of the puzzle has changed that has gotten Chad so out of place?

If the team says his arm is fine, then the team has to be to blame, not necessarily Chad, but his supporting members.

The writing is on the wall-a loss today would almost certainly put the Jets out of the playoff race and result in the chain of events that would lead to Kellen Clemson starting at least two (maybe four) games this season.

Okay, that is everybody's fears, but that may not be the reality of the situation.

The reality may be that Chad simply had a few bad games this season and next year in the same system he will be a whole lot better.  He has no mentor on the team, he is the leader and he will be fine.  This is our third defensive coordinator in as many years, so give the guy a chance because he is basically carrying this offense on his back.  They have  to step up together as a team and win three in a row to build some momentum.

I'm saying this could be a "one or done" deal.

Win this one or you are done.

If Chad has a good day we are going to be fine, if he is a mess we may see a switch at halftime.

One or done, the "boo-birds" will be at the stadium today folks.

Notes: The New York Jets not so recently added flag carriers to their web site.  The fans at the stadium seem to enjoy them-especially when they put down the flags and pick up their pom-poms.

You won't find their own section on the New York Jets web site, and they have been rotating the same pictures since the Detroit game in October.  How can the organization be missing the boat on this one?  If I were running the team I would be promoting the heck out of them, personal appearances and all in the same manner as, well the Houston Texans!

Say hi to Marisa and Larisa, the twins from the Texans squad.

Prediction: Jets 31 Chicago 9

This game has had a big red circle around it on my calendar all year.

Nobody remembers history-but that's okay, I remember.

First of all, I'm sick of everyone saying nobody picked the Jets to win more than three games this year.  I clearly had them going to 8-8 back in July when I made my pre-season predictions.

So if you look at what I blogged in July, I am a combined 7-2 overall.  4-1 away, 3-1 home.  Not bad.  I may have a worse record during the regular season, I don't know and I am not checking.

I looked at every game and made a game by game analysis, and it wasn't pretty but it was the preseason so give me a break.

Here is what I wrote about this game back in July: "Jets defense will beat the Bears Offense.  Jets win." That's it, a short prediction that I stand by today. To that end, a blogger who goes by chitownsfinest wrote back this comment "I understand you are an optimistic Jets fan, but to pick the Jets over the Bears with no explanation besides Jets Def. beats Bears Off. is simply idiotic. Our Def. will surely crush your off., which is run by an un-named quarterback and still relies on Curtis Martin. And where you see that your defense will beat the bears offense is strange to me, seeing their running game was top ten last year, and only getting better with a healthy Cedrick Benson. All I can see to you bleeding green is that when you face the bears, at least one Jet will definitely be bleeding."

Ouch!

The Bears have been impressive this year; I mean who would have thought that they would beat teams with a combined win-loss record of 30-42.  The mighty Bears have beaten only 2 teams with winning records, Seattle and the Giants, both teams with serious player injuries. 

Oh yeah, they also lost at home to the 3-6 Dolphins, and beat Arizona by 1 point.  I guess I'm just not impressed.  I know the Jets have done poorly against teams with winning records as well, and they have played a few stinkers, but momentum is on their side.  Last week they found resolve, this time it will be momentum. 

So we find out this weekend, eh?  Will the Jets Defense beat the Bears offense?  Is it still an idiotic explanation after last week in New England? 

We will see.

No more yapping, your Bears in My house-Sunday, 1:00.

Oh yeah, I found the Flag Girls, se hello to a Flag Girl (No names provided)

Hey Jets-let's get some more pictures of our adorable flag girls this weekend!

Jets Patriots Preview

Prediction: Jets 24, Patriots 21

It is hard to believe that the last game the Jets played was in Cleveland.  That seems like a long time ago-light years.

I thought the Jets had that one in the bag and I remember their defense coming on strong in the second half.  It seemed almost as if they would win but in the end (zone) they fell short.  The Jets, losers to a team they used to own, the Patriots.

What will it take to win this game?

Resolve-that is what will get this done for the Jets, nothing shot of it will do the job today.

Go ahead and laugh, mock whatever, but I am from NJ and just saw one of the best football games I think I have ever seen last Thursday night.

What got it done for Rutgers?  Resolve.

(Plus a second half bone crushing defense.)

I look even further to last week when the meager Miami Dolphins brought down the mighty Chicago Bears.

Ha!  They caught da Bears in a pre-winter hibernation.  Resolve.  Miami wanted it more and they weren't taking no for an answer.

A lot of teams may think they have it, but they mistake it for swagger. 

The Jets must define this moment in time to change, to commit themselves to playing better football.  They must resolve themselves to winning today.

Chad Pennington must be on the money, and his decisions must be better.  Don't overplay the game Chad; just get back to where you were when you were at the beginning of the season when you were shredding defenses with your accuracy and you play-action ability-your undeniable strengths.

The defense must stop the run and come out of the gates ready to play.  The Patriots cannot be allowed to score in the first quarter.

Tom Brady is a sick man and he must be stopped before he spreads his lunacy around the field.  He gets off those short quick passes because he is afraid to take a hit once in a while.  Well, Chad isn't afraid.  He takes 'em hard for the team.  He ain't no pretty boy either.

Seriously, Brady did not look special last week.  Period.

Leon-will you have your breakout game today?

Ben-will you put up a 70+ yard attempt?  His punts not only travel a great deal further but they hang up in the air so high it looks almost like it is in slow motion.

Notes: The New York Jets web page is growing in the right direction, except for the fact that they took off the pictures of the flag girls.

They leave me with no other choice-folks, say hello to Briana Lee, Kristen O'Neil and Alison Preston.

The flag is dedicated to my Dad who served in Korea.