Jets Fly High and Other Week 1 Thoughts

Jets

After only scoring 31 points in four preseason games, the Tony Sparano run Jets offense took off scoring a franchise opening game high 48 points in their 48-28 thumping of Buffalo at JetLife Stadium. That's how you start a season Giants fans! The Jets played with a purpose after being called Clowns and criticized in the media all offseason after a dismal 2011 campaign. It looks like the Jets put their concentration back on the football field, and if that lasts all season we are a force to be reckoned with. While it was fun watching the first Football Sunday with my boys at the sports bar yesterday, and it made my week at work a lot more enjoyable, you can't take a lot out of the first game.  

I'm ecstatic that Mark Sanchez had an amazing game going 19-27 for 266 yards, three touchdowns, and a dumb pick ( it was negated by a Revis Island INT on the ensuing Bills drive). Sanchez kept the defense off the field by successfully converting 7 of 9 third down conversions in the first half. Stephen Hill had an impressive rookie debut catching five balls for 89 yards and two touchdowns. The offensive line as a whole played really well, and Sanchez had plenty of protection all game long. 

Tim Tebow was pretty much a non-factor in the offense running the ball five times for 11 yards (but he did recover the onside kick at the end of the game). The Jets Nation crowd showed support for Sanchez booing Tebow at one point in the game. It was strange to see Tebow run in the game and see #6 leave the field, but it could be beneficial against tough defenses. All in all Tebow took seven snaps under center, and played a few more lined up as a wide receiver. I know that Sparano has more ideas in his bag of tricks that he saved up because the regular offense was in a rhythm and the Jets were clicking on all cylinders.

One negative, if you want to even call it that, was that Gang Green's ground and pound running game didn't really take off. Shonn Greene, Bilal Powell, and Tebow ran the ball a combined 36 times for 118 yards (only 3.3 yards a carry). Other than that the offense looked great. Sparano is a breath of fresh air from the Schottenheimer Era, and it is a good sign for the next 15+ weeks. 

Defensively, it was another great performance from Rex's unit. The final stats don't tell the real story, because the defense took most of the second half off. The Bills ran 23 plays in the first half for 85 yards, with three turnover, one punt and a touchdown as the Jets ran out to a 27-7 lead. LaRon Landry had an impressive debut game leading the team with seven tackles and a forced fumble. All three starting corners had an interception, with Cromartie returning his for a touchdown. Special teams had a good game as well. Jeremy Kerley returned a punt for a touchdown, Tebow recovered an onsides kick, Nick Folk was a perfect 2/2 in field goal tries.

Thoughts Around the League

The Giants defensive line couldn't get to Tony Romo and he torched their weak secondary. Wait, didn't someone say that in their season preview :) SUCK IT GIANTS!!!!! I heard they're hiring corners off the street, even if the closest you got to a football field was Madden '13. And yes, I know you won 4 Super Bowls and the Jets only won 1, I don't care......... RG3 had an impressive rookie debut against the Saints who may miss Sean Payton more than they're letting on..... The Eagles almost lost to the Browns..... the Eagles almost LOST TO THE BROWNS. That is all....... The 49ers might be the real deal giving the Packers all they could handle..... Matthew Stafford looked awful against the Rams, and Detroit would be waking up really depressed today if not for a last second drive..... Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall are going to be a dangerous combination in Chicago. They haven't missed a step since their days together in Denver....... Russell Wilson almost led Seattle to a last second win in Arizona, even if they got five timeouts.

The Patriots offensive line issues could one of the biggest stories in the NFL this season. Tom Brady was getting killed by an average Titans defense......  The Texans are as good as I thought, and the Dolphins are as bad as advertised on Hard Knocks..... The Broncos ended last season the same way they started this one. This time it was Peyton Manning (who looked good in his Broncos debut) hooking up with Demaryius Thomas for the long TD against Pitt..... Could the Steelers offensive line be worse than New England's?...... Welcome to the NFL Andrew Luck. He got a tough draw going up against Da Bears in his debut.... Two big Monday night games tonight with four possible AFC playoff contenders.

The replacement refs had a good week all things considered. Especially when regular MLB umpires missed the Mark Teixeira safe call on Saturday.