There is the quick update of the day.

There is the quick update of the day.

The Philadelphia Eagles have plenty of reasons to be bitter at the New York Jets. First the Eagles destroyed the Jets on Dec. 18 to get their hopes up for a miracle playoff run, and then the Jets ruined that by losing to the New York Giants on Dec. 24. But while Philadelphia fans are stewing in disappointment, they can take solace in how New York fans – also like myself – are equally disappointed in their team.

The Jets have gone from potential Super Bowl contenders to playoff long shots in the span of just a few weeks. What’s more, New York has lived through this situation before – which pretty much triggered the Rex Ryan/Mark Sanchez era to begin with.

Before Ryan and Sanchez arrived in 2009, New York was just coming off the end of its stint in the Brett Favre soap opera. In 2008, the Jets had Super Bowl hype around them when Favre came to town, but they started slowly with a 3-3 record. Likewise in 2011, the team stumbled out of the gate to a 2-3 start. Yet in midseason, the 2008 and 2011 squads got on a roll and looked ready to make a big run.

The 2008 team was a bit hotter, as it won five straight games to go to 8-3. And since the defending champion Giants only had one loss at the time, hype for an all-New York Super Bowl was building up. However, once the Jets got their eighth win everything started to fall apart – like it has for the 2011 edition.

The outcomes aren’t completely similar, since Favre’s Jets did at least get a ninth win while Sanchez’s team is still stuck at 8-7. But in both cases, they had chances to lock up playoff berths and utterly collapsed in the month of December. Favre ran out of gas and was more hobbled up than usual, three years before Sanchez completely crumbled against the Eagles and Giants.

The 2008 Jets got so bad in their final two losses that it triggered a full scale makeover, as Favre “retired” again, Eric Mangini was fired and the Ryan era was ready to begin. New York seemed to get the better end of that deal with two straight AFC title game appearances, yet Ryan and Sanchez have now reached the low point of their tenure.

If the 2011 Jets complete their collapse and miss the playoffs as well, it might not get Ryan and Sanchez out of town like the 2008 downfall did to Mangini and Favre. However, after three years of talk and bluster and no Super Bowls for Ryan, and after another season of regression from Sanchez, their time is starting to run out. After this, New York might not forgive another year or two with this kind of ending – or any other ending before the first week of February.

In 2009 and 2010, the Jets proved to be experts at ending a season on a hot streak. But in between , there have been a pair of pretty ugly Decembers that have kept New York from January. The consequences for the horrible ending of 2011 may not be as severe as the ones from 2008. Yet Ryan and Sanchez’s window of opportunity is getting smaller, and that might be severe enough before long.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident who has followed the Eagles since he was eight years old.

Other stories by this contributor

Rumors of Spagnuolo’s return to Eagles more of the same

Pro Bowl roster includes three standout Eagles

Eagles, Jackson ending year on best behavior

NFL power rankings after Week 16 set stage for finale

Eagles getting hot enough to keep both Reid, Castillo?

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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP)—Mark Sanchez has been knocked around all season,
battered by defensive linemen on the field and by critical fans and media
members off it.

It has been one trying year for the embattled New York Jets quarterback.
And, he acknowledges, he has brought a lot of it on himself. But he wants those
who criticize him to know this: You’re not going to drag him down.

“Win, lose or draw, I’m the luckiest guy in the world, I promise,” Sanchez
said Wednesday. “I’m lucky to be here. I’m lucky, fortunate, blessed, whatever
you want to call it. I’m thrilled about this job and about this opportunity this
week.”

Sanchez was referring to the chance he and the Jets (8-7) have to make right
all that has gone wrong this season, and there has been plenty. New York is
heading to play AFC East rival Miami (5-10) needing to win and also get plenty
of help from other teams to have a chance at a third straight playoff trip.

The Jets had control of their postseason hopes at this time a week ago, but
a miserable performance by Sanchez and his teammates in a 29-14 loss to the
Giants last Saturday took care of all that.

“Look, the game never worked out,” coach Rex Ryan said. “That’s not the
only game we’ve ever lost, but you’ve got to move on from it. You’ve got a
challenge right in front of you. We have an opportunity. The facts are this: I
know for sure that if we don’t win, we’re not in, so we better win, and we’ll
see what happens. We’ll do whatever it takes, light candles, we’ll do it all.”

But it could all come down to the play of Sanchez, who threw a career-high
59 passes last week—something Ryan says “there is no way” the Jets will do
again. It was much more than that, though: Sanchez threw two interceptions
against the Giants, lost a fumble near the goal line and was sacked for a safety
that sealed it.

“Have we played our best? No,” Sanchez said. “But it’s still the best
time I could possibly scheme up in my head. We just have to keep pressing, be
smart, win the game and see what happens.”

Despite two straight losses that have the Jets’ season teetering on the
brink, Sanchez appeared more upbeat than he has in weeks. He was almost sullen
while talking to the media previously.

Not on Wednesday. Sanchez answered every question as if he had snapped out
of a funk, seeming more confident and thick-skinned even while some outside the
team have wondered more than ever if he can lead the Jets to a Super Bowl. Not
only that, fans and media members are debating whether this is as good as
Sanchez will ever be.

He says there’s “no question” that he has “absolutely” improved in his
third season.

“Whether it’s defensive recognition or clock management and stuff like
that, understanding the offense and the system, I’m light years ahead,” he
said.

The numbers actually aren’t all bad. His career-high 24 touchdown passes are
the most since Vinny Testaverde had a franchise-high 29 in 1998. Sanchez is also
on pace to have career highs in completions, completion percentage, quarterback
rating and yards per game. But he also has been sacked a career-high 37 times
and lost eight fumbles, and his decision-making and ability to read defenses
have been questioned.

“I’m not out to prove anything like that to people,” Sanchez said of
whether he’s the quarterback of the future. “I just want to work hard for these
guys on the team. These guys know I’m leading by example, being vocal if I need
to. These are the guys I’m playing for right here in this locker room and in
this building.”

Sanchez has taken lots of the blame for the inadequacies and inconsistencies
of the offense, and so has coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Ryan said it should
ultimately lead back to him, not Schottenheimer or the guy he still deems a
franchise-type quarterback—even if few outside the organization do.

“That kind of stuff happens when you’re not playing as well as you’d like
to,” Sanchez said, “and when your team is not in control of their own destiny
in the playoffs and stuff like that. That’s natural and that’s a part of this
league, so you have to handle that stuff.”

Sanchez believes he “absolutely, no question” has the support of everyone
in his locker room. Players such as Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold and tight end
Dustin Keller say they are impressed by how Sanchez has dealt with the
criticism, and insist it’s not all his fault. They say the line could block and
protect better, the running backs could churn out more yards and the receivers
could run better routes.

“He works hard, things haven’t gone particularly well for him or us, but he
comes in and works hard every day,” wide receiver Plaxico Burress said.
“There’s no doubt about it that he’s going to get better.”

Sanchez believes he can start in that direction Sunday in Miami with the
season on the line.

“I don’t think we’ve hit our potential this year, that’s for sure,” he
said, “but that doesn’t mean that we can’t accomplish a lot of the goals that
we set out to accomplish. We have a chance.”

Notes: LB Garrett McIntyre has a sprained knee and didn’t practice. His
availability for Sunday’s game was uncertain. … Ryan said LB Ricky Sapp would
be promoted from the practice squad to fill the spot vacated when the Jets
waived WR Eron Riley on Tuesday.

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According to a Yahoo! Sports report, the Christmas Eve clash between the New York Giants and New York Jets actually matters for a change. “For all the history of these teams – the Jets have Joe Namath and Super Bowl III while the Giants have Lawrence Taylor, the David Tyree catch and three titles – none of it intersects,” says the author of the article, Jason Cole. But of the 11 times the teams played during the regular season over the past 42 years, five were highly entertaining and significant. Here’s a look back at the top five games in the Giants-Jets rivalry.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning
wikimedia commons

1) Nov. 1, 1981

The Giants and Jets were both in the midst of the playoff race by the midway point of the season, and the early November matchup between the squads would determine who was the top team in New York in the 1981 season. The Jets, featuring legendary Sack Exchange players Mark Gastineau, Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam, sacked Giants quarterback Phil Simms nine times and held their offense to just seven points. The Jets came away with a 26-7 win.

2) Dec. 18, 1988

The teams squared off in the season finale of the 1988 season, with the Jets coming away with a 27-21 victory to knock the 10-6 Giants out of the playoff race. The Jets, who finished 8-7-1, were already eliminated from the postseason, but they showed plenty of heart in the affair. The Jets held a 20-7 lead in the third quarter, but Phil Simms hit Stephen Baker and Lionel Manuel for touchdown passes to give the Giants a 21-20 advantage. But with time winding down, Jets wide receiver Al Toon caught a touchdown pass to seal the victory for the Jets and end the Giants’ playoff hopes.

3) Nov. 2, 2003

The Giants would win their third straight game against the Jets in a wildly entertaining overtime affair on Nov. 2, 2003. New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington pushed the pace of the offense and led a late comeback charge, tying the game at 28-all in the waning minutes of regulation time. But Giants kicker Brett Conway booted a field game with four seconds left in overtime to earn a 31-28 victory for his team.

4) Oct. 7, 2007

The last time the Giants played the Jets in the regular season was in the 2007-08 season, the year they won the Super Bowl over the New England Patriots. The Giants would ultimately win their fourth consecutive game over the Jets in thrilling, come-from-behind fashion. The Giants found themselves behind, 24-14, but Eli Manning connected on touchdown passes to wide receivers Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress to put his team back on top. Aaron Ross then sealed the victory with a game-changing interception, ultimately helping the Giants come out on top, 35-24.

5) Nov. 10, 1974

The Jets earned a 26-20 win over the Giants for their first ever regular-season overtime victory. It was also the first time any regular-season NFL game ended with an overtime win, as this was the year that the league instituted overtime to non-playoff games. It was a back-and-forth affair, with the Jets tying the game in the fourth quarter on a quarterback sneak from Joe Namath. In the overtime period, Namath connected with Emerson Boozer to seal the win for the Jets.

Eric Holden is a lifelong New York Jets fan and he will be pulling for his team to knock Big Blue out of the playoffs on Christmas Eve. Follow the author on Twitter @ericholden.

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That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

The Philadelphia Eagles face the New York Jets in a Week 15 game on December 18. The Eagles still have an outside chance at reaching the playoffs so the game has meaning. But too much needs to happen for fans to worry about that. Instead, the goal should be to simply get a win at home. The Eagles only have one so far in 2011. As an Eagles fan, the team can win this game. Here are five keys to the game for the Eagles.

1. Establish the run

The Jets are pretty solid against the run. However, the Eagles have to utilize the running game if they want to win. LeSean McCoy didn’t play well against the Miami Dolphins but he is still the best player on this team. McCoy should get at least 20 carries in this game. If he does, the Eagles will move the football and control the clock.

2. Open up the passing game

It is no secret that the Jets have dominant cornerbacks. But that doesn’t mean the Eagles shouldn’t try to throw the ball deep. DeSean Jackson looks like he might have regained his desire and he looked good against Miami. As strong as New York is in the secondary, Jackson should be able to break away a couple of times. It will be important for Michael Vick to find him.

3. Protect the quarterback

The Eagles know that Vick is going to try and do too much and absorb too many hits. It is up to the offensive line to take some of that heat away but protecting better. The Jets don’t have an elite pass rush so that should help the line protect Vick. If the quarterback can stay in the pocket and deliver the ball in a timely fashion, the offensive line will have done its job.

4. Stay aggressive on defense

The Eagles got nine sacks and three turnovers against Miami. That is a pretty remarkable game and it is asking a lot to duplicate that effort two weeks in a row. But the Eagles can put together a strong performance if they stay aggressive. Mark Sanchez is vulnerable to mistakes and he will turn the ball over if the Eagles keep the heat on him. That could mean the difference between winning and losing.

5. Stay composed

The last time the Eagles played at home, fans started chanting for Andy Reid to be fired. If the Eagles play like they have in most of the home games this season, those chants will start again. This team has a tendency to stop playing when things don’t go well. That can’t happen in this game. If they fall behind early, they have to remain focused and composed.

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The Philadelphia Eagles will look for their second win in a row when they face the New York Jets on Sunday, December 18. The Eagles have never lost to the Jets in the eight times they met. However, circumstances are a little different this time around. New York is 8-5 and surging toward the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Eagles are 5-8 and looking to avoid their fifth loss in seven games. It seems like this is the kind of game the Eagles should lose. But as an Eagles fan, I have a feeling the team will win this game.

I’m not thinking about the playoffs. I know the Eagles are mathematically alive but there is a lot that needs to happen for this team to get there. For me, it is about finishing the season on a strong note. I realize that won’t erase the disappointment that has already happened. But after three more weeks it will be a while before I see the Eagles on the field again. I would like those games to be meaningful. This game would represent a huge win for Philadelphia. The Eagles are just 1-5 at home and it would be nice to treat the fans to a good effort.

There are many out there that wouldn’t mind seeing the Eagles tank the rest of the season so that Andy Reid is more likely to be fired. I’m not among those fans. For one thing, there is no guarantee that Reid will be fired even if the Eagles lose the rest of their games. I think that if the Eagles were going to fire Reid, they will do it no matter how the Eagles finish. For that reason, fans should keep on cheering for this team.

This should be a pretty interesting game. The Jets have a strong defense and usually play their best football this time of year. Meanwhile, the Eagles had their best defensive effort of the season in Week 14. They want to prove that that was no fluke. The Eagles should be able to get to Mark Sanchez enough to limit the New York attack. However, the real key to the game will be how the Philadelphia offense attacks. The Jets are vulnerable in certain areas and this feels like the kind of game where Reid’s game plan works.

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PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Nnamdi Asomugha was headed for Broadway when the
Philadelphia Eagles swooped in at the last minute and stole the All-Pro
cornerback from the New York Jets.

Too bad for him there are no do-overs in free agency.

Asomugha chose the Eagles over the Jets, thinking he could help the
defending NFC East champions reach the Super Bowl. That won’t happen this year.

The Eagles (5-8) are clinging to slim playoff hopes entering Sunday’s game
against New York (8-5). Maybe Asomugha should’ve picked that other team in green
instead.

“No, I don’t regret it at all,” Asomugha said. “The thing that has been
very difficult is not winning. I think the tough part about that is the fact
that the expectations were really high coming into it. Even if my expectations
were realistic, the expectations that were out there, I think, I kind of let
that get to me, as well, the expectations of everything will be and must be
perfect with this team now that they’ve acquired these players and blah, blah,
blah.

“I always have a realistic approach to it, but I kind of let that seep
through and then that made the losing of it all a little bit tougher, a little
bit more difficult to deal with. But no, I have never, have not and will not
regret it. Our story still isn’t over yet, so there is always something to learn
and we’re still fighting. That’s pretty much where I stand with that.”

The Eagles stunned the football world when they signed Asomugha to a $60
million, five-year contract shortly after the NFL’s lockout ended in July. A day
earlier, the Eagles had acquired two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique
Rodgers-Cromartie in a trade from Arizona.

Asomugha, Rodgers-Cromartie and Asante Samuel, a four-time Pro Bowl pick,
were expected to form the best cornerback trio in the league. But they haven’t
come close to fulfilling those expectations.

Part of the problem for Asomugha has been fitting into a different defensive
scheme than the one he excelled in for years in Oakland. Defensive coordinator
Juan Castillo, who switched from coaching the offensive line, gave Asomugha far
more responsibilities than he was used to with the Raiders.

“It’s been completely different from what I was doing in Oakland,”
Asomugha said. “Obviously, in Oakland, when I was there it was about just
finding a guy, matching up with him and playing him one-on-one pretty much the
whole game. It’s just completely different than with the one-on-ones and
putting in some new things.

“He has also been just moving me around the field. He’s wanted me to be
sometimes the corner, wanted me to be sometimes the nickel, he’s wanted me to
play a rover, sometimes a free safety, and there are some challenges with that
because you basically have to learn the scheme and the coverages for every
single position that you have to play. That’s where I think that the biggest
challenge has come in, is knowing how you fit based off each call, depending on
what position you’re playing. Then, he has some different techniques that he has
guys playing.”

Perhaps things would’ve been different if Asomugha had picked the Jets. With
star cornerback Darrelle Revis shadowing the opponent’s top receiver on one
side, Asomugha may have been left alone to play man coverage against the No. 2
guy.

Jets coach Rex Ryan called Asomugha once the free agency period opened and
went after him hard during the recruiting process.

“I really liked the staff there in New York,” Asomugha said. “I was
really close with Rob Ryan, so I know that Rex, being his twin, would be very
similar to him. During the 48 hours or whatever it was that we were able to
talk, they were saying some really great things. I liked how the defense played.
They were doing a lot of the things that I had done throughout my career, so
there wouldn’t be much adjusting or anything like that. I was really close.”

Then, the Eagles called.

“The Eagles came in that 11th hour or whatever it was,” Asomugha said.
“All along, I had always admired the Eagles. They were always the team that, if
they were involved, that was where I wanted to be. At the end there, they did,
they came in, so I managed to flip back to how I was thinking in the
beginning.”

Asomugha spoke with Eagles quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver DeSean
Jackson at the Pro Bowl last January. He knew several other players on the team
and was impressed with the way they talked about the organization.

“Obviously, no one is going to say anything disparaging about their
organization, but everything they were saying, I just took it to heart and
really liked it,” Asomugha said.

What are your opinions.

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.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — A sense of urgency is driving the struggling Buffalo Bills and New York Jets these days.

Mounting losses. Injuries. Fading playoff chances.

They’ve all combined to turn a pair of promising teams that once appeared poised to dethrone the New England Patriots in the AFC East into scuffling squads desperate for a victory.

“It’s a must-win game for us,” Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes said. “We know what’s at stake right now. We have to come out firing just like we did against these guys the last game we played them.”

The Jets (5-5) host the Bills (5-5) at MetLife Stadium in a game New York coach Rex Ryan said marks the start of his team’s playoff push. It was only three weeks ago that the Jets won their third straight game by dominating the Bills 27-11.

Neither team has won since. Two bad losses by New York; three straight for Buffalo.

“They’ve been in a little slump, as well as we have,” Holmes said. “We know it’s another game on the schedule and they get paid just as well as we do, so they’re going to be ready to come out and put a real good stamp into our playoff chances right now. So we have to be on high alert right now.”

That’s for sure. But, so do the Bills. As far as both teams are concerned, their playoff chances depend on it.

“I think especially the last (few) weeks have been hard on us,” Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. “The biggest thing for us is we’ve really fallen down early, fallen behind and taken big deficits. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to come back from those.”

Fitzpatrick’s play has been one reason. Since signing a six-year, $59 million contract extension Oct. 28, he has mostly struggled with four touchdowns and eight interceptions in four games after a terrific start. In Buffalo’s past three losses, the Bills have been outscored 106-26 — including a 35-8 thrashing at Miami last Sunday.

“Well, we’re not playing the way we were playing earlier in the season and it’s not necessarily (Fitzpatrick), even though I think he believes he can play a little bit better than he has been playing,” Bills coach Chan Gailey said. “But we can all do better, every one of us can, me included. I watch him play and it seems like we’ve had a different offensive line in there each week for the last three or four weeks and it seems like we’ve had different receivers going out there each week, so it’s been hard on him.”

There will be some more of the same lineup-shuffling this week for the Bills as running back Fred Jackson, their biggest offensive star, was placed on injured reserve with a broken bone in his lower left leg. That means the speedy C.J. Spiller will get more playing time in the backfield instead of at wide receiver, where he has been lined up a lot this season.

“We lost a great player, but this season’s far from over,” Spiller said. “I’ve just got to elevate my game to a higher level. I’ve got to play at kind of a level that Fred was playing at. Of course, we won’t replace him, that’s obvious. So we’ll just have to try our best and go out there and execute.”

Andy Levitre struggled to replace the injured Eric Wood at center, so Kraig Urbik will be moved to center this week while Levitre slides back to his normal left guard position. Starting cornerback Terrence McGee and wide receiver Donald Jones were placed on injured reserve because of injuries, and starting safety George Wilson (safety), wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt (shoulder) and kicker Rian Lindell (shoulder) are sidelined for the game against the Jets.

“We’ve had a good amount of guys go down, but to be honest, the way that this team is structured, a lot of the guys that have gotten the chance to play and to prove themselves had to do it by waiting their turn in line,” Fitzpatrick said, trying to put a positive spin on things. “A lot of young guys that are hungry and ready to get out there are really looking forward to the opportunity.”

The Jets are a significantly healthier bunch than the Bills, but running back LaDainian Tomlinson and rookie wide receiver Jeremy Kerley were both questionable with sore left knees that kept them out of New York’s last game.

Both are understandably itching to play, especially with how important the team considers today’s game. The Jets are in the middle of a muddled AFC playoff picture, but have some winnable games on the schedule — starting with this one.

“If we win the rest of our games, we’ll be fine,” linebacker Calvin Pace said. “I think that’s the mindset we have to have going in. Stop putting ourselves in a hole, hoping somebody kind of slips up.”

They’re in this position again, as it seems they are every year under Ryan, where they need to play their best football down the stretch just to get into the playoffs.

“That’s the story of our seasons these past three years,” Pace said. “We’ve had to make these miraculous pushes at the end when it should’ve never come to that.”

After all, finishing 5-1 and 10-6 overall might not be good enough this season.

“Six-and-oh,” Pace said of the team’s goal. “Sometimes when you get caught losing to teams you’re not supposed to lose to, you end up kicking yourself in the (butt) saying, ‘Man, we put ourselves behind the 8-ball. These are games we should win.’”

The Jets are still trying to get over letting one slip by them Nov. 17, when Tim Tebow drove the Broncos 95 yards for the winning touchdown. The defense insists it’ll be better, as does the offense with a fired-up quarterback, Mark Sanchez, whom Ryan took a few snaps from in practice as a motivational ploy — which worked last season.

Both the Jets and Bills know if they lose this game, the focus suddenly will be on looking ahead to next season rather than finishing in the playoffs.

“Whether people believe about the Jets on the outside or not, we believe in ourselves, and we’re going down swinging,” Ryan said. “If we go down, we’re going down swinging. But we think that we have a good enough team to where we can right the ship and get back to winning and get in those playoffs. That’s what it’s all about.”

Not much else going on in the NFL world today.

Feel free to leave your comments below.

“J-E-T-S, Jets! Jets!! Jets!!!” This is what every person yells who bleeds green and white on a football day or night because they know the New York Jets are in their flight mode, or as Santonio Holmes likes to say, ‘Tone Time,’ ready to win this game so they’re a step closer holding the Lamordi Trophy. Because everyone knows, when a team holds the Lombardi Trophy, they have every right to say they were the best in the world that year. Yes, the Jets deserve to say that!

I’m definitely not the one who is going to talk bad about the NY Jets because I believe they are strong, tough, fun trash-talkers, intelligent nice guys who all need a Super Bowl ring and many more. The flight boys can make some mistakes every now and again but making mistakes helps people learn to make better choices on and off the field.

The offense is coming together in ways that we may not always have to count on defense to win games. No one really talks about quarterback Mark Sanchez’s weapons, so I will! He goes from wide receivers Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes to Jeremy Kerley, then to his tight end number 81, Dustin Keller (remember this name!) and if he wants to run the ball, running backs Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson are there backing him up. While Sanchez is busy throwing the ball, he has the best center, Nick Mangold, leading the offensive line.

When I watch the Jets offense, it gives me the idea that if I put my mind to something, the end results will be fantastic. Touchdown! The Jets defense, though, teaches me to never give up and be tough.

Where should I even begin with their defense? Rex Ryan had made comments about how it would be sweet if his defense were better than the 85 Chicago Bears defense. But 26 years from now, people will want their team to be like the 2011 Jets defense. When I finally own a NFL team in my future, I would want it so bad; I might beg linebackers Bart Scott, David Harris cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis to be on my team.

I love number 51 on defense, Aaron Maybin. He is a role model that people should look up to. He dealt with some personal issues in football and out of football by being labeled as a burst to losing a child. To escape from problems, he draws. He doesn’t cause issues and I think doesn’t want to be a part of any problems unless it involves hitting the quarterback.

Also, Eric Smith and Jim Leonhard are the best safeties in the league. I mean, they would never let a rookie catch a touchdown pass; cough cough, Troy Polamalu.

But one thing I want to tell everyone, including New England Patriot fans: Just because your team won against the Jets before does not mean you guys are the best football team ever and the Jets suck. It means you were better that day. Repeat this in your head a couple of times!

What do you guys think about this.

Through 10 games this season, the New York Jets have only managed to break even, falling to 5-5 after losses to the New England Patriots (6-3) and Denver Broncos (5-5) in Weeks 10 and 11, respectively.

After Denver quarterback Tim Tebow(notes) (9 of 20 passing, 104 yards; 68 rushing yards, 1 TD)—facing a three-point deficit late in the fourth quarter—marched his team to New York’s 20-yard line Thursday night, he rushed the ball in for a go-ahead touchdown. The Jets came up empty in their final possession and would lose 17-13.

We can talk about the Jets possibly being fatigued since their most recent game entering Thursday had taken place four days prior; we can talk about them losing running backs LaDainian Tomlinson(notes) and Shonn Greene(notes) to injury before and during the game, respectively; and we can talk about Mark Sanchez(notes) (24 of 40, 252 yards, 1 INT) throwing a pick six and no TD in the contest. This loss is on the shoulders of the coaches.

On offense and defense, players, no matter their level of talent, have to be placed in a position to succeed. For instance, why wasn’t someone spying on Tebow during Denver’s last drive? Anyone who’s ever played an NFL video game the last 15 years knows having a QB spy has its benefits—especially against a QB who runs as often as Tebow. At the very least, it could have helped to prevent him from winning the game with his legs.

Look at the replay of Tebow’s game-winning dash; no Jet was in position to seal the corner, creating a wide open lane that made the 24-year-old’s 20-yard TD run fairly easy.

Is Gang Green’s season over? Not mathematically. But losing to a QB many experts believe should be no more than a towel boy in professional football certainly doesn’t help morale. Head coach Rex Ryan and his staff knew—along with the entire planet—how Denver’s offense was going to come at his team, and yet Tebow couldn’t be stopped at the very end.

And perhaps that is because, when you get through all the hype and tinsel, the Jets this season just aren’t that good.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Thanks for reading! .

Football fans in New England woke up a little happier Monday morning with the knowledge their team hadn’t completely lost its touch after a 37-16 victory over the Jets on Sunday night.

In the Big Apple, it’s a different story.

After the Jets’ embarrassing loss, in which they missed a chip shot field goal and turned the ball over three times, the New York Daily News ripped head coach Rex Ryan and his team as “Gag Green” on its back page.

Check out the back cover below.

Leave your comments on the news below.

Life at the top is too heady for the New York Jets right
now.

Plagued by errors on offense, defense and special teams, the
Jets were routed by New England 37-16 Sunday night. While the
Patriots took command of the AFC East, the Jets not only fell one
game behind in the standings, they fell so flat on the field that
they were thoroughly outclassed.

“It hurts bad,” star cornerback Darrelle Revis said. “We knew
what position we could have been in if we won. We wanted this very
bad.”

But they played so badly, especially in the second half, that
they had little chance of slowing Tom Brady and the team that has
dominated the division for a decade.

“We made too many mistakes and it cost us,” Revis added. “You
can’t do that against an offense and against No. 12 (Brady).

Brady threw three touchdown passes, including two to Rob
Gronkowski, and the Patriots moved to 6-3. They also have swept the
Jets (5-4), who are tied for second place with Buffalo.

While New England pulled away in the second half, the game
turned late in the second quarter. Mark Sanchez took a timeout at
the wrong time _ coach Rex Ryan took responsibility for it, but
Sanchez admitted it was his goof. The Jets didn’t take advantage of
kicking off from the 50-yard line after going ahead 9-6. And they
couldn’t get any pressure on Brady, who picked them apart on a
quick 80-yard drive.

All part of a bad night for New York, which had won three in a
row.

Ryan was so angry, he told NBC at halftime that the timeout was
the “stupidest play in NFL history.”

“They (the coaches) were talking about taking a timeout and as
soon as I heard it, I walked over to the ref. As soon as I did it,
I saw Rex when I was walking off … It was a horrible mistake and
one you can’t make,” Sanchez said.

There also was a muffed punt by Joe McKnight that two other Jets
also mishandled before the Patriots recovered, leading to a field
goal. And two interceptions by linebacker Rob Ninkovich. And a
team-record 4 1-2 sacks by Andre Carter.

“We had some big mistakes that you just can’t overcome,” said
Plaxico Burress, who caught a TD pass from Sanchez. “We kept
putting our defense in tough situations against a quarterback like
that.”

That quarterback and his coach set an NFL mark with their 117th
victory, breaking a tie with Miami’s Dan Marino and Don Shula as
the winningest duo since 1966.

After the Jets got within a score at 23-16 early in the fourth
quarter, Brady coolly led the Patriots down the field on an 84-yard
drive that was capped by an 8-yard touchdown catch by Deion
Branch.

Ninkovich then sealed the victory _ which snapped a two-game
skid _ on the Jets’ next possession with a 12-yard interception
return for a touchdown midway through the final quarter.

It was also the first home loss for the Jets (5-4) after opening
4-0, but they can’t dwell on it because they play again at Denver
on Thursday night.

Ryan insisted his team was greatly improved since a 30-21 loss
at New England on Oct. 9 and declared it a must-win if New York
wanted to get some home playoff games. Turns out, the Jets still
have plenty of work to do if they expect to dethrone the
Patriots.

New England was coming off losses to Pittsburgh and the Giants,
but said there was no concern in its locker room. It certainly
showed as the Patriots avoided their first three-game losing streak
since 2002.

Brady finished 26 of 39 for 329 yards, the 40th time he reached
the 300-yard mark in a regular-season game, breaking a tie with
Hall of Famer Joe Montana for eighth on the NFL’s list. He also
joined New Orleans’ Drew Brees as the only players to throw for
3,000 yards in their team’s first nine games. Brees also
accomplished the feat this season.

Gronkowski finished with eight catches for 113 yards and the two
scores, and Stephen Gostkowski kicked three field goals. Carter had
all those sacks as the Patriots’ defense, ranked last in the league
coming in, harassed Sanchez all night.

Sanchez was 20 of 39 for 306 yards and a touchdown, but was
intercepted twice and sacked five times.

The Jets appeared to get back in it when Burress caught a 7-yard
fade pass over Antwaun Molden in the right corner of the end zone
on the first play of the fourth quarter, making it 23-16.

But Brady led the Patriots on a typically efficient drive, going
84 yards on 13 plays using a no-huddle offense that kept the Jets’
defense off balance. Brady coolly spread the ball around to his
receivers before connecting with Branch with 8:04 remaining.

“We got caught,” Jets safety Jim Leonhard said. “We do a lot of
things where we’re trying to match personnel, and every once in a
while they get in that hurry-up and it catches us.”

The score sent many in the crowd at MetLife Stadium heading for
the exits.

Earlier, Gronkowski appeared to catch his second TD pass of the
night, but video replay showed he stepped out of bounds. Gostkowski
then booted his third field goal, from 27 yards.

But Gronkowski got into the end zone again a few minutes later
after Ninkovich returned a twice-tipped interception as Sanchez’s
throw went off the hands of running back Shonn Greene, then was
deflected by linebacker Jerod Mayo.

The Jets got on the scoreboard when they got some rare pressure
on Brady. Jamaal Westerman got to him in the end zone, and Brady
threw the ball away left-handed. He was called for intentional
grounding and a safety.

New York took the free kick and moved 65 yards on seven plays,
including a 21-yard run by LaDainian Tomlinson and a 22-yard grab
by Patrick Turner, his first catch of the season. Sanchez ran in
from the 2 on a quarterback draw for a 9-6 lead.

Adding to the frustration was New York not opting to try a pooch
kickoff following a 15-yard penalty on New England’s Vince Wilfork,
and Nick Folk kicked the ball through the end zone. Brady hit five
passes on an 80-yard drive, with Gronkowski getting open over the
middle for the 18-yard score with 9 seconds left in the half that
made it 13-9.

Folk was wide left on a 24-yard field goal attempt at the end of
New York’s opening drive.

New England took advantage, taking a 3-0 lead on Gostkowski’s
50-yard field goal that squeezed over the crossbar.

Not much else going on in the NFL world today.