Sometimes the decisive moments in a football game come early — very early.

And the two key plays in the Philadelphia Eagles’ awfully impressive 45-19 destruction of an absolutely dreadful and completely outmatched New York Jets team came before most of the 69,144 fans who eventually filled Lincoln Financial Field were in their seats.

The Jets had stopped the Eagles on their first possession, taking over at their own 7-yard-line and ran running back Shon Greene four times for 33 all-too-easy yards through Rex Ryan-sized holes in the Philadelphia front seven.

It looked as though Greene and the Jets would run free all day against the Birds’ stop-the-pass-first wide-nine and thus finish off the Eagles’ last feeble playoff hopes.
And then the Jets made a mistake — and it cost them the game.

On first-and-10 from their 40, New York offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer could have kept hammering Greene right at the Eagles. The Birds were in a nickel package — ideal to run against — but Schottenheimer called for a screen pass to the lost-a-step LaDainian Tomlinson, quarterback Mark Sanchez didn’t audible out of it, and much-maligned rookie linebacker Casey Matthews read it perfectly, swept in and dropped Tomlinson for a 4-yard loss.

On the next play, facing 2nd-and-14, New York had to pass up Greene and try to pass. Jets’ wide receiver Santonio Holmes fumbled thanks to hits by safety Kurt Coleman and Matthews, and defensive end Juqua Parker scooped it up and rumbled 47 yards for the game’s first score.

Less than 10 minutes of game time later, it was 28-0 Eagles.

“That play got everyone excited and it changed the momentum and everything,” said Parker of his second fumble-return TD of the season. “That started everything off.”

Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins agreed.

“That play there was huge for the start we had and getting up early on them,” he said.

Had the Jets kept pounding away with Greene, it’s very probable they’d have had continued success, shaking the confidence of a defense that has lacked consistency all season and perhaps even turning the crowd against the Eagles.

Instead, Matthews’ first-down play set the stage for Parker’s rumbling run — “Hey, man, I got some speed in me,” said Parker, laughing and joking in a very loose locker room — the fans howled with delight and roared for their boys. The Eagles were flying high.

“The fans were really there for us today,” Eagles’ head coach Andy Reid said. “It was cold out there and they were loud. They really helped.”

But if that opening Jets drive had ended 93 yards later in a Greene TD run instead of in Parker’s score, the fans may have been booing, not boosting.

Once the Eagles owned the lead, they could fire away at will against a dazed and confused Sanchez, who looked about as comfortable as a mouse in a hungry python’s cage. Sanchez got no help from a Jets team that just didn’t look ready to play, as its four turnovers, four sacks allowed and 11 penalties clearly showed.

“That was about as bad as it gets,” Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan said. “I’m shocked, I guess. Obviously a horrendous performance by us.”

None worse than Holmes, who should have caught a pass at the at Eagles’ 8 that turned into an interception and eventually Philadelphia’s second touchdown. Ryan called Holmes’ poor effort “disappointing”; “backbreaking” would have been better.

Because after Holmes’ fumble there seemed little doubt the Eagles would lose. New York did crawl back to within maybe-a-game-of-it-28-13 in the third quarter before Vick found Brent Celek for 73 yards — what is it with New York’s pitiful, bend-and-break alleged defense against tight ends? — to the Jets’ 1 to set up a LeSean McCoy’s second rushing TD of the game and end any questions as to the outcome.

Not that there was much doubt all along after Parker broke the plane.

“Oh, I definitely agree (Parker’s run) changed the game,” said Eagles defensive end Jason Babin, whose three sacks gave him 18 on the season, only the third Bird in history (Reggie White and Clyde Simmons) to reach that number. “That was the biggest key.”

A key to unlock a win the Eagles desperately needed, as it turned out.
 
Brad Wilson can be reached at bwilson@express-times.com.

Read More: New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles

Through the first 25 minutes of this Week 15 NFL encounter, the Philadelphia Eagles led the New York Jets by a score of 28-0. Things still aren’t going great for the Jets, but they were able to chip away at that lead before the end of the first half. They still have a chance to keep their playoff hopes intact, as they entered the locker room trailing by just 28-13.

This game has been, quite simply, one of the sloppiest and worst played games in the NFL so far this season. There have already been an astonishing seven turnovers, with both quarterbacks throwing an interception. The Eagles have lost three fumbles, while the Jets have lost two.

Mark Sanchez has not looked great, but he at least managed this great touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes to get his team back in the game.

The Jets will start the second half with the ball…if they don’t fumble the kickoff.

For more on the Eagles, go to Bleeding Green Nation. For more on the Jets, go to Gang Green Nation.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Slow starts are a thing of the past for the suddenly clicking New York Jets.

Remember those brutally boring first quarters when they couldn’t get much going? Well, those are so four weeks ago.

Mark Sanchez and the once-struggling offense have become an efficient group that has gotten on the scoreboard early and often during the Jets’ three-game winning streak.

“I think we’re all just playing a lot better across the board,” Sanchez said.

And they’ve done it against some pretty good defenses. Here comes another one this Sunday: the Eagles, who are coming off a nine-sack performance against Miami and playing for their playoff lives in a season that has been filled with inconsistencies.

“It sounds awfully familiar to another team I know,” center Nick Mangold said with a slight grin.

Big things were expected from the Jets offense this season, particularly in the passing game with Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress. Instead, there were a few impressive spurts scattered throughout an early portion of a season marked mainly by spotty play by Sanchez, the offensive line, the running game, and the receivers.

New York is ranked 25th in overall offense, but the Jets are in a real groove offensively. They have 13 touchdowns in the last three games, which ties them with New Orleans, New England, and Green Bay – the top-ranked three offenses in the league – for the most in the NFL during that span.

“I don’t think our practices were quite as sharp as they’ve been lately, and I think that carries over to the game,” coach Rex Ryan said. “I think you see right now our team is feeling pretty good about themselves.”

It all started in the fourth quarter against Buffalo in Week 12, when Sanchez led the Jets to a 28-24, comeback victory over the Bills with a touchdown pass to Holmes with just over a minute left. New York followed that by scoring on its first possession against Washington and then dominating the Redskins in the fourth quarter with three touchdowns in less than five minutes for a 34-19 win.

Last Sunday against the Chiefs, the Jets rebounded from an embarrassing timeout on their first play from scrimmage by again scoring a touchdown on their first possession, and kept going while cruising to a 37-10 victory. While no one might confuse this offense for those of the Saints, Patriots, or Packers right now, it certainly has become a force during the team’s streak.

“I think hopefully we’re just starting to hit our stride, and we’re not there yet,” Sanchez said.

“I think you’re seeing, for the most part, consistent play out of the offense,” right guard Brandon Moore said. “It’s . . . coming to fruition.

 

By Chris Celletti

– Contributor

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Dec 14, 2011 – Three straight wins, with some help from others around the National Football League, have launched the New York Jets into the final playoff spot with just three games left in the 2011 season. The goal is now crystal clear for Gang Green, win and in, and they really couldn’t have asked for much more when they were .500 having come off a brutal loss to the Denver Broncos. But the final three games for the Jets won’t be as easy as the past three, starting this week when they try to do something they haven’t done in the history of the franchise — beat the Philadelphia Eagles. The once-lauded “Dream Team” Eagles have stumbled to a 5-8 record, but looked quite good last week in dismantling the Miami Dolphins 26-10. They are still alive in the mediocre NFC East race, so they will be playing with desperation.

We’re also getting down to the nitty gritty of the fantasy football season, with playoffs in many leagues in full swing. If you have any Jets on your roster, here’s your primer on how to play them this week.

Start

RB – Shonn Greene – numberFire projection: 14.86 carries, 64.73 yards, 0.41 rushing TDs, 3.65 receptions, 25.66 rec. yards, 11.69 fantasy points

Greene has earned must-start status, finally, after his solid performances the past few weeks. Last week against the lifeless Kansas City Chiefs, Greene had his best overall day of the season, with 129 yards rushing (and a score) and 53 receiving yards. He’s improved leaps and bounds as a receiver out of the backfield, and I would expect the Jets to try more screens this week against an aggressive Eagles defense. It will also likely be a close game, meaning Greene will get a lot of touches.

QB – Mark Sanchez – numberFire projection: 17.35 completions, 202.12 yards, 1.00 TDs, 0.86 INTs, 12.61 fantasy points

Sanchez has been a solid fantasy quarterback this season. He’s thrown for 21 TDs against just 11 interceptions. He doesn’t put up huge yardage numbers, but the Jets are the NFL’s number one red zone team, so Sanchez is getting them in the end zone. He’s also been a threat rushing, as he has five run scores this season.

TE – Dustin Keller – numberFire projection: 3.71 receptions, 39.80 yards, 0.36 TDs, 6.14 fantasy points

The Jets have finally started to include Keller consistently in their game plan, and he’s received a lot of targets from Sanchez in the past few weeks. I would expect the Jets to be able to get Keller in mismatch situations against the Eagles and exploit them.

WR – Santonio Holmes – numberFire projection: 3.21 receptions, 55.13 yards, 0.30 TDs, 7.30 fantasy points

It’s been a statistically disappointing season for Holmes, who hasn’t had any real breakout games. I’m not sure if one will come this week going up against a talented Eagles’ secondary, but he has touchdown catches in three consecutive games. Hopefully that streak continues this week.

Sit

WR – Plaxico Burress – numberFire projection: 3.98 receptions, 47.76 yards, 0.26 TDs, 6.43 fantasy points

Burress had no catches last week against Kansas City, so its hard to say he should be an automatic start against the Eagles, who have a talented secondary. Maybe Burress is wearing down a bit late in the year after not playing football for two years prior to this season.

Jets Defense/Special Teams – numberFire projection: 20.22 points allowed, 2.74 sacks, 2.16 turnovers, 8.99 fantasy points

NumberFire seems to really like the Jets this week, ranking them as the number four projected defense. I have my reservations, as the Jets’ aren’t equipped to matchup with fast teams. I don’t think the Jets defense gets shredded, but I don’t think it’s a banner day, either.

Read More: Santonio Holmes (WR – NYJ), Plaxico Burress (WR – NYJ), Dustin Keller (TE – NYJ), Shonn Greene (RB – NYJ), Mark Sanchez (QB – NYJ), Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos

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LANDOVER, Md. — Another shaky performance for three quarters by Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets. And then, another fourth-quarter comeback.

Sanchez hit Santonio Holmes for a 30-yard touchdown pass with 4:49 to play Sunday, and Shonn Greene added a pair of insurance scores to give the Jets a 34-19 win over the Washington Redskins, keeping New York in the realistic hunt for an AFC playoff berth

It was Sanchez’s 10th career fourth-quarter comeback or overtime victory, including the playoffs, and his second in as many weeks. The Jets (7-5) scraped by the Buffalo Bills last Sunday, the first step in the team’s stated mission to win out and make the postseason for a third straight year.

But the playoff surge machine again looked more like a combustion engine missing a few spark plugs as coach Rex Ryan’s team pulled off another mistake-filled win. New York had only 168 total yards after three quarters, committed untimely penalties and had another special teams turnover against the Redskins (4-8), who have lost seven of eight.

Sanchez completed 19 of 32 passes for 165 yards and avoided throwing an interception after having at least one in five straight games. Greene ran for 88 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries.

Rex Grossman hit 19 of 46 passes for 221 yards and one interception for the Redskins, and his fumble while being sacked by Aaron Maybin deep in his own territory with the score 20-16 thwarted his own chance for a fourth-quarter comeback. Calvin Pace recovered, and Greene took a direct snap and scored on a 9-yard run two plays later to give the Jets an 11-point lead.

Graham Gano’s fourth field goal, a 43-yarder with 1:59 to play, pulled the Redskins within eight. Washington then failed to recover an onside kick, and Greene scooted in from 25 yards with 1:47 remaining.

The Jets trailed 16-13 after Gano’s 46-yard field goal with 7:52 to go, but a short kickoff was returned by Josh Baker near midfield. Sanchez and the New York offense then came back to life, with the quarterback scrambling to avoid pressure before completing a 10-yard pass to Greene on a third-and-4 two plays before the big throw to Holmes down the left sideline.

Both offenses started strong. After failing to score a touchdown on their opening drive in any of their first 10 games, the Redskins got one for the second straight week. A 42-yard pass to Fred Davis (99 yards on six catches) led to a 2-yard run by rookie Roy Helu, who rushed for 100 yards for the second straight week.

The Jets responded with a real clock-eater: 17 plays, 74 yards over 9:06, including three wildcat plays and a fourth-and-1 conversion. LaDainian Tomlinson was hurt along the way, apparently reinjuring his left knee on a tackle-from-behind by safety Oshiomogho Atogwe. Tomlinson missed the previous two games with an ailing left knee and didn’t start the game. Greene finished the drive a 1-yard touchdown run.

After the teams traded field goals, rookie Jeremy Kerley muffed a punt deep in New York territory and the Redskins recovered — the NFL-high sixth special teams turnover committed by the Jets this season. It set up another field goal by Gano to give Washington a 13-10 lead at the half.

Jim Leonhard, replacing Kerley as the return man, ran back a punt 14 yards in the third quarter to get the Jets in Washington territory. Nick Folk then tied it at 13 with a season-high 51-yard field goal.

The Jets had a chance to take the lead after forcing Helu to fumble — a call that needed a replay challenge by Ryan. New York took over at Washington’s 29 but went nowhere, and Folk pushed a 40-yard field-goal attempt wide right.