Jets talking now, but will they after the game?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

You know what they say about waking up a sleeping giant, right?

Well, consider Tom Brady that GIANT.

It's become a war of words -- all on the New York Jets side -- as the Patriots prepare to face the hated Jets on Sunday in Foxboro.

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who could be nicknamed "toast" because of how often he gets burnt, is shooting his mouth off about Brady and how he celebrated late in the regular-season blowout vs. the Jets.

Do you need a tissue Cromartie? Stop being a baby. We all know that if you make a play -- and it happens very rarely -- you make sure you thump your chest and let everyone know you were the reason for a play being made. You even do that when a receiver drops a ball when you're in coverage, thinking it was all about your "lockdown" defense.

I bet Brady, who's killing the Jets with kindness in the media (which is the Patriot way), is licking his chops to destroy the Jets once again.

And I bet he'll be doing a little more finger-pointing at the Jets sideline every time the Pats score.

Well, if it happens, the Jets brought it on themselves.

We all know coach Rex Ryan and now Cromartie are trying to take Brady off his game. Good luck with that. Remember this is a three-time Super Bowl champion, he very rarely gets rattled. Words aren't going to do much to shake Brady's confidence.

He's probably more focused this week now, thanks to the loudmouth Jets. Well, I'm thinking the Jets are going to get what they rightfully deserve: A good old fashion butt-whoopin' courtesy of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Then, we'll see who's talking after the game.

No reason to be scared of Sanchez

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Wild-Card Weekend is officially in the books, and now it's on to the Divisional round.

For the Patriots, they now must content with the ever-dangerous (joking) New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Throughout the year, Sanchez has been asked to not make mistakes while the running game and the defense are expected to carry the load and win games.

But with New England up next, you can bet coach Bill Belichick is going to make the Jets young quarterback beat his well-rested defense, which welcomes back rookie inside linebacker Brandon Spikes.

A quick question for Patriots Nation: Are you guys really afraid of the Jets? Better yet, Sanchez?

I think taking the cautiously optimistic approach to beating the Jets is fine, but of all the quarterbacks still left in the playoffs, the Pats drew perhaps the easiest guy to face (I'd even take Jay Cutler and Matt Hasselbeck over Sanchez) and the least likely to carve up a secondary.

So advantage Patriots.

I'm going to say this all week, too: The Jets need to play a perfect game to beat the Pats, while the Pats will have to play a less-than-a-C-game to lose to loudmouth Jets coach Rex Ryan, who obviously wishes he had Tom Brady on his team.

Can the Jets keep up with the Pats and go point-for-point with them? No way, especially not with that offense -- led by pee-shooter-for-an-arm Sanchez running the Jets offense.

The Pats will make Sanchez throw, stacking the line of scrimmage in order to stop LT and Shonn Greene in the backfield. It's the right way to play them, too. Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes must deliver down the field, but plan on one of those two guys being taken away on every play by outstanding play from rookie Pro Bowl cornerback Devin McCourty.

I know the Pats and Jets split during the regular season, but expect the Pats to confuse Sanchez and prove to everyone the former USC product will never be a top-of-the-line starter in this league.

Early thoughts on Patriots vs. Jets

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's the showdown everyone has been waiting for: Patriots vs. Jets.

And it's a game that is going to be broken down every which way from now until Monday Night's kickoff.

But here are a few quick-hitters from Fan Fanatic Sports.

1. Does anyone even remember when these two hated AFC East rivals squared off in Week 2? Well, we all know the Jets won, but amazingly enough, Jets QB Mark Sanchez won the battle with Tom Brady. The former USC overrated QB threw three TD passes and no INTs in a 28-14 win.

2. Tom Brady and Co. were awful in the first meeting with the Jets. Brady was a dismal 20-of-36 passing for 248 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs. There's no way he can play worse, right? Is anyone expecting him to play subpar again?

3. LaDainian Tomlinson is back to being his old self -- as in old man. I've watched him over the last several weeks, and he's again lost that spring in his step. While he looked young and fresh early in the year, L.T. is having a hard time making a cut and getting to the outside.

4. Could the Patriots be playing any better with the Jets ready to come to town? The Pats have won 8 of their last 9, with the only stinker in the bunch being that terrible Cleveland loss.

5. After watching the Thanksgiving Day game vs. Detroit, Pats fans must still be worried about the defense. The Pats better tighten it up on 'D' vs. the Jets or they will dominate the time of possession, wear down New England and obviously have the best chance of winning.

6. Deion Branch vs. Darrelle Revis. I'll take Revis every day, including this Monday Night. Revis hasn't had the year he had last season (due to injuries and showing up late to camp because of contract issues) but he's still the best corner in the NFL, by far.

7. New York Jets coach Rex Ryan is a loudmouth, but that's OK with me. I'm actually a fan; he's a darn good coach and he provides season-lasting soundbites.

8. You can't run on the Jets, so the Pats better not try to force the issue when spreading that defense out and throwing quick passes is the way to attack.

9. Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are threats at the tight end position every time they're on the field. How many TE's in football can you say that about?

10. Can we please confuse and fluster Sanchez this time around? I love watching him self destruct -- and I'm even a USC fan -- when things aren't going his way.

Prediction: Not yet!

Sanchez should be worried about facing the Patriots

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Patriots fans should be smiling everywhere.

Why? Well, the hated New York Jets have decided to go with a rookie as their starting quarterback after naming former University of Southern California star Mark Sanchez the No. 1 guy.

Who's really afraid of a rookie QB? It's going to be fun pounding the Jets twice in the regular season and watching them scuffle on offense.

Rookie QBs and NFL defenses don't mix. NFL defenses can be extremely complex, just like the Patriots under coach Bill Belichick, and they also expose rookies.

And you can bank on it happening again this season.

If you watched the Jets' last preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens -- one of the most confusing defenses in the league -- you saw Sanchez dazed and confused, never really knowing where the next blitzer was going to come from. It's all about confusion and deception with defenses, masking coverages and making the QBs really question what is going on. And it works like a well-oiled machine against inexperienced QBs that are just hoping to not screw up too much.

The Jets know they'll take their lumps offensively with Sanchez, perhaps electing to protect him by pounding away with the running game, but rookie QBs all need to go through growing pains.

Luckily, the Patriots can play a huge part in welcoming Sanchez into the NFL.

Boy, playing the Jets should be a lot of fun. 

How do you think that Fireman Fool in the Jets cheering section, leading that stupid cheer of "J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets" is going to react after watching Sanchez throw pick after pick for an entire season?

Remember: it's always better to hand out the lumps instead of absorbing them.

We'll be seeing you on the field Sanchez. FYI, expect the unexpected against a Belichick defense.

This is going to be fun!