Same Old..... No No No Not Today

Jets-Bucs

They were on the brink of victory, when a boneheaded play by their linebacker cost them the game, Same Old ...... Bucs (What?!). The roller coaster of emotions Gang Green put their fans on during the last 5 minutes of Sunday's opener against Tampa Bay was nothing short of amazing.

Nick Folk hit a 30-yard field goal with 5:05 left in the game to give the Jets their first lead since 1:07 in the first quarter. Then, Josh Freeman led the Bucs on a nine play, 61 yard drive, sparked by a 37 yard reception by Vincent Jackson, to put Tampa back up 17-15 with just 34 seconds left in the game. After an incomplete pass, rookie Geno Smith fired a 25 yard completion to Kellen Winslow, and followed it up with a 10-yard run to the Tampa 45. Then, which brought back shades of Eric Barton in the 2004 playoffs, Lavonte David was called for a 15-yard personal foul, which set up Folk's game winning 48-yarder.

After hearing all offseason how they would be one of the worst teams in the league, Rex's crew came out to prove a point on Sunday, defeating a team many figured will compete for the NFC South title, thanks to the addition of former Jet, Darrelle Revis. The defense played a great game, which is expected by a Rex Ryan coached team. The question was, how would rookie Geno Smith play in his first career start. While there were some bumps in the road, Smith (24-38, 256 yds, 47 yds rushing) came up big when the moment called for it. After two first half turnovers, Geno settled down and showed tremendous poise battling back in the second half.

The offense showed signs of struggle, and there are a few issues for the long term, but for now football is back, and one New York team is 1-0, and they wear green.

 Week 1 Quick Notes

• Speaking of the Blue guys, Eli did his best Sanchez impersonation, throwing a pick to Demarcus Ware on his first throw of the season, the first of six turnovers for Big Blew It in their season opening loss to Dallas. Not even a clearly injured Tony Romo could rescue the G-Men from themselves. All that was missing was a butt-fumble.
• Chip Kelly unleashed his quick strike, no-huddle offense on the NFL Monday night, in a 33-27 win in Washington. The Iggles are going to be fun to watch this season. 
• In the biggest upset of Week 1, the Titans demolished the Steelers, who were shutout offensively, with a grand total of 2 points. 
• I hope none of my readers have the unfortunate situation I found myself in, with David Wilson and Steven Ridley rushing for a combined 65-yards on Sunday for my fantasy team. 
• After preparing all off-season for the read-option offense, Jim Harbaugh threw Green Bay for a loop, with Kaepernick throwing for 412 and 3 TD's in a rematch from last season's division round playoff. Kaep and RG3 have a target on their backs this season after the option offense befuddled defensive coordinators all of last season.
• "Tom Brady pulled out too early"- a Sportscenter anchor during Pats-Bills highlights
• Speaking of the Patsies, the Bills and rookie EJ Manuel gave them all they could handle, and now both Danny Amendola and Shane Vereen are out with injuries. 
• Falcons fans had nightmares of the NFC Championship Game, as Matty Ice failed to score from the Saints 7 yard line late in the 4th Quarter as Sean Payton gets a win in his return to the NFL.
• That Peyton Manning guy is pretty good. I think he has a bright future ahead of him.

Jets-Patriots

No rest for the weary, on Thursday when arch-nemesis' the Jets and Pats look to rekindle their rivalry in 2013. Gang Green has lost their last four against the Pats, with their last victory coming in the 2010 playoffs. The last time these two teams met was Thanksgiving 2012, in a game us Jets fans would like to forget. 

These aren't the same Pats that played that game 10 months ago. Welker, Gronkowski, Hernandez, Vereen, and Woodhead will all be out of action, as will new acquisition Danny Amendola. Like a wounded animal, however, any team with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick is always dangerous. 

The key to this game is for the Jets defense to hit Tom Brady early and often, as he is known to get rattled. Geno Smith should have an easier time moving the ball against the Pats than he did against Revis and the Bucs. 

I don't think the Jets are going to win, but this game is a hell of a lot closer than Vegas is predicting with a 12 1/2 point spread. Maybe Rex can keep preaching the message of us against the world to the locker room, and you never know what could happen when they take the field Thursday night. 

Prediction: Patriots 30 Jets 20

Ship-Rexed?

Another offseason has come and gone, and now, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!!!

Gang Green has had a quiet offseason, by Rex Ryan's standards, and truth be told are in rebuilding mode. That isn't to say that there isn't anything to be excited about as a member of Jet Nation. We will see rookie Geno Smith get a chance to start this season, hopefully our young receiving corps will show some sparks, and as always with Sexy Rexy we'll have a hungry (for goddamn snacks) and aggressive defense.

Quarterback

The offseason competition between Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith had a clear winner in my opinion, that was until Rex brought Sanchez in the 4th quarter, to take home the Snoopy Trophy in the annual MetLife Bowl, not the real Bowl game the stadium will be hosting in February. Jets fans know what you're going to get with Sanchez. When you ask him to be a game manager, he is an adequate player, but when asked to lead a team, he is a rumbling, stumbling, butt-fumbling turnover machine.

Geno Smith is the question mark. He fell to the second round for a reason, and there are some questions about his leadership and work ethic. Scouts say he has good arm strength, but could struggle with accuracy, as you saw against the Giants in the preseason. He was announced the starter and will play the first game of the season. Despite that, Rex has said that the QB competition is ongoing, and the job isn't Geno's to keep, if he struggles early.

Grade: C-

Running Backs

Chris Ivory will get his chance after playing behind a variety of backs in New Orleans. After playing in only 24 games in 3 seasons with the Saints, Ivory will be given a chance to be a star in this run-first offense. Ivory's physical running style makes him susceptible to injury though. Second year back Bilal Powell showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie year. He is a good runner and decent in the passing game.

Grade: B-

Wide Receivers/Tight End

The main question for this group is if/when Santonio Holmes will be back. Despite a rough 2011, Holmes was showing more maturity in the first few weeks of the 2012 campaign, before suffering a season-ending lisfranc injury. Holmes is a playmaker who has history of coming up in the clutch, and will be a play-maker in an offense in desperate need of one. Stephen Hill is going to have to improve from a rough rookie season. He was targeted 47 times, only catching the ball 21 times, and had a problem with the dropsies. Jeremy Kerley reminds me of a Jerricho Cotchery type player. He runs good routes and has great hands, a prototypical possession receiver.

Kellen Winslow and Jeff Cumberland will have to replace Dustin Keller in the offense. Winslow is an athletic tight end, but his age and injury concern leave legitimate question marks. Cumberland has had a good preseason, and we'll see if it carries into the season.

Grade: B-

Offensive Line

Pro Bowlers Nick Mangold and D'Brickshaw Ferguson are the anchors on the o-line. They are joined by Vlad Ducasse, Austin Howard and former Steeler Willie Colon. The big guys up front are going to have their work cut out for them on what will be a run-first offense.

Grade: B+

Defensive Line

The front-seven is the Jets strength. Mo Wilkerson has the makings of a star defensive end, and this could be his breakout year. Kendrick Ellis and Damon "Snacks" Harrison are the big bodies in the middle. Both guys have had a great camp. First round pick Sheldon Richardson will man the other end.

Grade: B

Linebacker

David Harris is going to have to step up his game after a poor 2012 season. Demario Davis is taking over for the retired Bart Scott, and should add some great speed to the linebacking corps. Calvin Pace returns for his 6th season in the green and white, and is still a good pass rushing outside linebacker. Quinton Coples will miss the first few weeks of the season with a hairline fracture of his ankle. Coples came on strong in the second half last season, playing defensive end, and may struggle a bit this year adjusting to his new position.

Grade: B-

Secondary

Revis who? Without the best cornerback in the league, the Jets were still the 2nd ranked pass defense in the league. Antonio Cromartie returns after a great 2012, and he is out to prove he is the second best corner in the NFL. Rookie Dee Milliner takes the other side of the field, and he has a lot of potential coming from the National Champions, Alabama. Kyle Wilson will move back to the nickle spot, after playing on the outside with Revis' injury last season. Dawan Landry will be replacing his brother LaRon in one safety spot, while preseason standout Jaiquawan Jarrett mans the other spot.

Grade: B+

The Jets are in a strange spot this season. They are in rebuilding mode, but they aren't good enough to compete for a playoff spot, and not bad enough to get a top 5 draft pick. After going 6-10, with some of the worst quarterbaThcking in the history of the league, you have to imagine Geno is going to be an upgrade. Plus, our younger players, Wilkerson, Hill, Kerley, and Coples ony getting better I think we're looking at an 8-8 season for Gang Green.

Week 1 Preview

Only the Jets will trade Darrelle Revis, and then have to play him on Opening Day, as the Bucs come to town. This game will be a good litmus test for the team, since Tampa is a decent but not great team. How they perform here will give us a good idea of what to expect the rest of the season. 

Tampa had the top run defense in the league last year, and they may force rookie Geno Smith to beat them. The good news for Jets fans is that it looks like Santonio Holmes is going to start for the first time since Week 4 last year. Rex Ryan already said that he's warned Smith not to test Revis, who is recovering from an ACL tear. 

Josh Freeman is going to struggle against our secondary, with Cromartie matching up well against Vincent Jackson. The Jets had problems against the run last season, and they will be tested by Doug Martin. 

This should be a close game, with either Geno or Freeman being forced to make a play late to win it. I think Gang Green makes the JetLife Stadium crowd happy with a home opener win, before going to New England on Thursday night.  

Prediction: Jets 20 Bucs 13