This is the time of year where we're thankful for the good people, friends and family, in our lives.
I was taking a train from northern Illinois back to Chicago while the Jets-Colts game was on. I didn't have to worry about knowing what was going on, though, since I was getting regular updates from Matt, Greg, and my brother Eric, who all knew I was on a train.
Sometimes it's the little things. This story won't make it on an Oprah special, but it was heartwarming to me nonetheless. All my people taking care of me, making sure I knew what was going on with the Jets game I couldn't watch. Aaaaw.
Anyway, for once the Jets got lucky all the way around. Everyone they needed to lose lost. The Colts pulled the starters, and the Jets had played well enough up to that point that they were able to take advantage and win the game.
And now it's simple: win against the Bengals and make the playoffs. Lose and they don't make it.
The game's at home. Last game in the Meadowlands ever. Last game of this entire NFL regular season. Prime time Sunday night. The Bengals don't have anything really to play for. The Jets have a good enough defense to beat good teams, let alone a team with not much to play for.
This is one of those games where it helps to have a great run game and great defense. Don't turn the ball over. Grind the win out. Figure the Bengals stop giving a crap around the 3rd quarter, if not earlier.
Or, you know, do what the Cowboys did last year and get walloped by 35 points or whatever.
Either way, all things considered, it's fitting that the season comes down like this. Maybe it shouldn't have had to, considering the 3 or 4 games the team should have won if the QB wasn't such a turnover machine. But the QB is a rookie. The head coach is a rookie.
It won't be a losing season. The defense is great, and just about every important piece will be back next year. The offensive line has been pretty good, and they'll all be back. Between Thomas Jones, Shonn Greene, and Leon Washington, the run game should be good again next year. G-d willing, Sanchez improves next year.
So this is where my mind is at - of course I want them to win. Of course it will suck if they lose, especially if they do that classic lose-in-the-last-minute Jets special.
But it won't be the end of the world. This isn't the last shot for this group. It's just the beginning.
Anyone buying that? No? Yeah, me neither. Never mind. I'm going to go prepare my liver for the drinking and crying on Sunday.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Here Come The Warm Jets: Week 14 2009
I'll be honest - it was cold in Chicago. I was out late on Saturday. The Jets were starting Kellen Clemens. And playing the miserable Bucs.
I didn't leave my apartment so I could watch this game at a bar.
I stayed home and watched the Red Zone Channel (still the awesomest thing in home NFL viewing.)
I'm not sorry about that decision.
The Jets did what they were supposed to do - rely on the defense and the run game and conservative play calling. Make no big mistakes and beat a bad team physically.
That's what they were supposed to do. They did it. Good.
I'm of two minds about the team at this point in the year. I am happy that the team has the number one rush offense and the number one defense. That is what the team set out to do before the season started, and they achieved it. However, that makes it all the more frustrating that they are 7-6 instead of 9-4 or so (I figure the Buffalo and Jacksonville games both should have been wins.)
Anyway, the last three games aren't particularly easy. Atlanta next week. They're banged up, but just played a pretty good game against the Saints. Then the Colts, and then the Bengals.
Best case for the Jets in order to win out would be for the Colts to lose their next game so they wouldn't be trying for a perfect season anymore, and for the Bengals to have locked up their playoff seed prior to the last game, so they don't play their starters the full game.
Not that likely that they'll win out - it's hard to win 6 games in a row in the NFL. Still possible, though. It's also still possible that they can go 10-6 and miss the playoffs (that's what they get for losing to the goddamn Dolphins twice.)
I think when it's all said and done this year, I'll be okay with it if they finish 8-8 or better. Rookie coach, rookie QB, a couple of tough injuires, and something to build on for next year.
I think I'll even be okay if they finish 10-6 and end up missing the playoffs. It'd be annoying, but not devastating. Mostly because I'm already resigned to the idea that they're not making it.
Which, by the way, is what Jets fans never seem to learn - you can't get your expectations crushed if you don't have any in the first place. That's where we always get in trouble - allowing a couple of good games early in the year to raise expectations.
Right now, I'm in the right place. I expect the Jets to miss the playoffs. I expect they will lose at least one of the last three, if not more. If they do, whatever. If they win out, then, hey, lucky me, I get to be unexpectedly happy.
A little unexpected happiness this time of year never hurt anyone, right?
I didn't leave my apartment so I could watch this game at a bar.
I stayed home and watched the Red Zone Channel (still the awesomest thing in home NFL viewing.)
I'm not sorry about that decision.
The Jets did what they were supposed to do - rely on the defense and the run game and conservative play calling. Make no big mistakes and beat a bad team physically.
That's what they were supposed to do. They did it. Good.
I'm of two minds about the team at this point in the year. I am happy that the team has the number one rush offense and the number one defense. That is what the team set out to do before the season started, and they achieved it. However, that makes it all the more frustrating that they are 7-6 instead of 9-4 or so (I figure the Buffalo and Jacksonville games both should have been wins.)
Anyway, the last three games aren't particularly easy. Atlanta next week. They're banged up, but just played a pretty good game against the Saints. Then the Colts, and then the Bengals.
Best case for the Jets in order to win out would be for the Colts to lose their next game so they wouldn't be trying for a perfect season anymore, and for the Bengals to have locked up their playoff seed prior to the last game, so they don't play their starters the full game.
Not that likely that they'll win out - it's hard to win 6 games in a row in the NFL. Still possible, though. It's also still possible that they can go 10-6 and miss the playoffs (that's what they get for losing to the goddamn Dolphins twice.)
I think when it's all said and done this year, I'll be okay with it if they finish 8-8 or better. Rookie coach, rookie QB, a couple of tough injuires, and something to build on for next year.
I think I'll even be okay if they finish 10-6 and end up missing the playoffs. It'd be annoying, but not devastating. Mostly because I'm already resigned to the idea that they're not making it.
Which, by the way, is what Jets fans never seem to learn - you can't get your expectations crushed if you don't have any in the first place. That's where we always get in trouble - allowing a couple of good games early in the year to raise expectations.
Right now, I'm in the right place. I expect the Jets to miss the playoffs. I expect they will lose at least one of the last three, if not more. If they do, whatever. If they win out, then, hey, lucky me, I get to be unexpectedly happy.
A little unexpected happiness this time of year never hurt anyone, right?
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Here Come The Warm Jets: Week 13 2009
We all know where this is going, right?
Of course the Jets beat the Bills on Thursday night, to get the team back to 6-6.
Of course the Pats, Steelers, and Ravens all lost.
Of course the Jets are going to find a way to get really close to making the playoffs and then blow it spectacularly.
Maybe it'll be by losing to Tampa next week. Maybe it'll be losing to a banged up Falcons team at home in a couple of weeks. Maybe it'll be winning the next three and blowing the last game against Cincinnati's backups to fall just short.
We know this is coming. This is how this always works. There is no other way for this to play out. These are the Jets. They're not going to just lose the last four, go 6-10 and make the last couple of weeks easy, if a bit sad, for the fans.
No. We are going to get simultaneously kicked in the stomach and punched in the balls. Or vice versa. Or both.
Anyway, until then, it was a decent win against the Bills. Should have been bigger, but Sanchez missed Cotchery in the end zone once, and Braylon Edwards let a perfect bomb hit him in the face.
The defense was outstanding, except for the one drive where Marshawn Lynch had two big runs in a row. Sanchez played better. The running game was unstoppable. The offensive play calling was only occasionally retarded. The kick coverage was good (no small thing against the Bills, who always seem to kill us on kicks one game a year.)
If there's any real positivity to take out of this season, it's that the defense has been pretty consistently good (last drive in the Miami and Jacksonville games aside.) That means that Rex Ryan's system isn't a fluke. Get a few more of "his" guys in there, especially in the secondary (Kerry Rhodes and Lito Sheppard aren't playing very well) and it can be even better next year.
Also, despite some bumpy games early on, the offensive line has played generally well. I'd be somewhat concerned about Faneca and Woody's age, but other than that you have to be pleased.
And, if Sanchez gets a bit better next year, too, then this turns into an interesting, possibly contending, team.
But this is optimism for next year. And this isn't August. So for now we have to embrace the approaching doom.
And embrace it we shall. Do your worst.
Of course the Jets beat the Bills on Thursday night, to get the team back to 6-6.
Of course the Pats, Steelers, and Ravens all lost.
Of course the Jets are going to find a way to get really close to making the playoffs and then blow it spectacularly.
Maybe it'll be by losing to Tampa next week. Maybe it'll be losing to a banged up Falcons team at home in a couple of weeks. Maybe it'll be winning the next three and blowing the last game against Cincinnati's backups to fall just short.
We know this is coming. This is how this always works. There is no other way for this to play out. These are the Jets. They're not going to just lose the last four, go 6-10 and make the last couple of weeks easy, if a bit sad, for the fans.
No. We are going to get simultaneously kicked in the stomach and punched in the balls. Or vice versa. Or both.
Anyway, until then, it was a decent win against the Bills. Should have been bigger, but Sanchez missed Cotchery in the end zone once, and Braylon Edwards let a perfect bomb hit him in the face.
The defense was outstanding, except for the one drive where Marshawn Lynch had two big runs in a row. Sanchez played better. The running game was unstoppable. The offensive play calling was only occasionally retarded. The kick coverage was good (no small thing against the Bills, who always seem to kill us on kicks one game a year.)
If there's any real positivity to take out of this season, it's that the defense has been pretty consistently good (last drive in the Miami and Jacksonville games aside.) That means that Rex Ryan's system isn't a fluke. Get a few more of "his" guys in there, especially in the secondary (Kerry Rhodes and Lito Sheppard aren't playing very well) and it can be even better next year.
Also, despite some bumpy games early on, the offensive line has played generally well. I'd be somewhat concerned about Faneca and Woody's age, but other than that you have to be pleased.
And, if Sanchez gets a bit better next year, too, then this turns into an interesting, possibly contending, team.
But this is optimism for next year. And this isn't August. So for now we have to embrace the approaching doom.
And embrace it we shall. Do your worst.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Here Come The Warm Jets: Week 12 2009
So I realize that I didn't write anything after the week 11 loss to the Patriots. I guess it just didn't seem worth it. Didn't really have another "man, this team sucks and why do I bother rooting for them" post in me. Another "Mark Sanchez is a turnover machine" game. Fine, whatever.
As for the win against Carolina, the best thing about it was that I was there. In terms of a football game, it was sloppy, and probably the least inspiring win I can think of. The Jets tried to give it to Carolina, turning the ball over often. Luckily, Carolina turned it over even more, and the defense managed to play a really stellar game (for the most part.)
But let's talk about being there, since it will be my final game at Giants Stadium. They move to the new building next year, and I won't be in Jersey for either of the last two home games. So this was it for me.
Many of the games I've gone to have been on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, since that is the Sunday during the season when I am always home.
Never, though, has the weather been this perfect. Unseasonably perfect. It was in the low 50s, and sunny. It was actually pleasant to be outside.
Also, major props to my friend Jared, who has a great tailgating setup. A highlight were the sliders and the breakfast sausage that had marinated overnight in maple syrup (off the charcoal grill, and even better than you think.)
The atmosphere was relaxed. I was with friends I've known forever. We ate, had a few drinks, threw a football around, and made fun of people (particularly each other.)
The seats were great. 50 yard line, 2 rows from the top of the stadium. You can see every thing that happens from up there, see plays as they develop, see the open receivers that your rookie QB inevitably missed.
The game wasn't particularly tense. The Jets were more or less in control the whole game, despite the turnovers keeping it closer than it should have been. So we were relaxed in the seats, cracking a few jokes, complaining about our team, and throwing paper airplanes.
It was a perfect cap to my week back home. It was a perfect personal send-off to seeing the Jets at Giants Stadium - a win, but not one I could feel all that good about.
The team is 5-6. The next two games are Buffalo and Tampa Bay, which are winnable, even for a majorly flawed team like the Jets. At 7-6 they'd be in the mix for the playoffs. Then, of course, they'll blow it, but that's how this team always is. Give you a bit of hope, snatch it away so that you promise you'll never get roped in again, win a bit so you get roped in again, and then be left ultimately and in retrospect inevitably disappointed.
It's a lifetime of frustrating mediocrity, being a Jets fan. But at least it's a comfortable frustration.
As for the win against Carolina, the best thing about it was that I was there. In terms of a football game, it was sloppy, and probably the least inspiring win I can think of. The Jets tried to give it to Carolina, turning the ball over often. Luckily, Carolina turned it over even more, and the defense managed to play a really stellar game (for the most part.)
But let's talk about being there, since it will be my final game at Giants Stadium. They move to the new building next year, and I won't be in Jersey for either of the last two home games. So this was it for me.
Many of the games I've gone to have been on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, since that is the Sunday during the season when I am always home.
Never, though, has the weather been this perfect. Unseasonably perfect. It was in the low 50s, and sunny. It was actually pleasant to be outside.
Also, major props to my friend Jared, who has a great tailgating setup. A highlight were the sliders and the breakfast sausage that had marinated overnight in maple syrup (off the charcoal grill, and even better than you think.)
The atmosphere was relaxed. I was with friends I've known forever. We ate, had a few drinks, threw a football around, and made fun of people (particularly each other.)
The seats were great. 50 yard line, 2 rows from the top of the stadium. You can see every thing that happens from up there, see plays as they develop, see the open receivers that your rookie QB inevitably missed.
The game wasn't particularly tense. The Jets were more or less in control the whole game, despite the turnovers keeping it closer than it should have been. So we were relaxed in the seats, cracking a few jokes, complaining about our team, and throwing paper airplanes.
It was a perfect cap to my week back home. It was a perfect personal send-off to seeing the Jets at Giants Stadium - a win, but not one I could feel all that good about.
The team is 5-6. The next two games are Buffalo and Tampa Bay, which are winnable, even for a majorly flawed team like the Jets. At 7-6 they'd be in the mix for the playoffs. Then, of course, they'll blow it, but that's how this team always is. Give you a bit of hope, snatch it away so that you promise you'll never get roped in again, win a bit so you get roped in again, and then be left ultimately and in retrospect inevitably disappointed.
It's a lifetime of frustrating mediocrity, being a Jets fan. But at least it's a comfortable frustration.
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