Monday, January 17, 2011
Jets deserve to talk because they embarrassed the Patriots
By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
So what, the New York Jets like to talk a lot of trash.
Well, if they can back it up, then it really doesn't matter, right?
And the Jets backed it up -- in a big way -- to knock off the Super Bowl-favorite Patriots out of the playoffs.
And the Jets really sent a message: The Pats aren't unbeatable.
Simply put, New England couldn't do a darn thing right, while the Jets did everything right.
The Jets won all the battles, especially on defense by confusing the Pats and QB Tom Brady with multiple coverages that Jets coach Rex Ryan drew up in the sand during the week.
Ryan devised a plan to confuse, and it worked to perfection. Man coverage looks were really zone; zone looks were really man-to-man. By the time the Pats adjusted --oh, yeah, they never did -- the game was over.
Tip of the hat to Ryan, he outcoached Bill Belichick in a big way -- much bigger than Ryan's mouth and gut, too. Ryan deserves all the kudos in this game, he got his team to believe in the team and plan, while the Pats completely pooped their pants in every part of the game.
Mark Sanchez outplayed Brady --that wouldn't happen 99 out of the 100 times, either. Same for the Jets' defense that had five sacks and a pick, while the Pats defensed didn't show up and had a chance to deliver when the Pats cut the deficit to 3 points, but quickly let the Jets burst down the field and make it a 10-point lead.
New England's key threats -- Deion Branch, Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Benjarvis Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead -- got taught a lesson in making big plays by the Jets' key threats like Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, LT and Shonn Greeene.
It was a total failure, a total team collapse and gigantic choke.
The Patriots best player yesterday was hands-down punter Zoltan Mesko, who averaged 47 yards on four punts, including bombing a 55-yarder. At least he didn't crumble under the spotlight.
If you still ask me, the Pats are still the best team in the NFL, but in these one-game situations, you must play well to advances and if you don't, well, just ask the Pats that today.
It's a shame that the Pats played their worst game of the season on the biggest stage. They've got some young guys that got some great experience this year, however, so plan on the Pats returning to the playoffs next year. They've got a solid team, but must address both sides of the line in the draft this season.
It's not all gloom and doom in New England. Yes, this loss hurts, but we're very lucky to have a team like the Pats to cheer for. We could live in Buffalo and never get a sniff of the playoffs, you know.
But Rex Ryan and Jets got the last laugh this year. They can talk all they want because they backed it up. They deserved to win, too. This humble pie tastes like feet.
The long offseason has already started. And it's going to be a LONG offseason.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Chad vs Jim: NFL Divisional Round Playoff Picks
By Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
It certainly seems like the Wild Card weekend was a continuation of how the regular season went for picks between Chad and myself. I have opened up a 2 game lead as I went 3-1 last week and Chad had a tough 1-3 record. Of course, the Seahawks really threw things for a loop with that miraculous victory against the reigning Super Bowl champs. Chad has the chance to gain just one game back this week as we only differ on the Ravens/Steelers game. Either way, I look for another great weekend of playoff football.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
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.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Thoughts about the NFL playoffs
By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Here are some quick-hitting thoughts about Wild-Card Weekend and a look at this weekend's Divisional Round.
1. Can you believe that the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints lost to the sub-.500 Seattle Seahawks? The 65-year-old Matt Hasselbeck simply carved up a Saints defense that looked lost and confused. Bet the Saints go after defensive players in this year's draft. They better.
2. The Indianapolis Colts blew a chance to advance in the final minute of the game. That should never, ever happen. Poor coverage on the kickoff gave the Jets great field position, and then Sanchez lofts a pass that Braylon Edwards snags on the sidelines to help Nick Folk boot an easy field goal as time expires. Shame on the Colts.
3. How about that Baltimore Ravens defense? More like, how garbage is Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel? For him to not even look Dwayne Bowe's way all game long, the Chiefs deserve to lose just for that. Plus, Cassel looked timid, scared and baffled every time he dropped back to pass. Did he study the Ravens defense during the week? Just a JV quarterback if you ask me.
4. Why is everyone trying to blame Mike Vick for the Eagles' loss to the Packers? I know he threw a pick to end the game, but shouldn't the intended receiver tried to break up that pass in the end zone instead of letting the corner make the pick? Who cares about that play, anyway, point to David Akers missing two easy field goals as the reason why Philly lost. Field goals at home, mind you. The veteran kicker is being blamed my me. If they played again tomorrow, I'd still take the Eagles ...I still am not impressed with the Packers.
5. Best game this coming weekend: Baltimore at Pittsburgh ...if you like defense. The teams split during the regular season, and expect some bloody lips, a lot of hard hitting and maybe a fist or two flying around over the course of the 60 minutes. It might even go into overtime, too. The quarterback -- Ben Roethlisberger or Joe Flacco -- that can make the most plays in the passing game will win because both teams will have trouble moving the ball on the ground.
6. Seattle at Chicago: Who cares.
7. Green Bay at Atlanta: Should be another classic ...if you like offense. Aaron Rodgers can beat up Atlanta's secondary, and the Falcons' balance with running back Michael Turner and Matt Ryan throwing to Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez can produce points pretty quickly, too. The winner of this game will go the Super Bowl.
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.
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