Lucky? Yes, but Jets are good, too.
Following an ugly Week 15 loss at home to the Falcons, a game in which they botched three field goal attempts and had their head coach mistakenly announce that they were out of the playoffs, the Jets’ season appeared to be over.
The Jets needed several things to happen over the final two weeks of the season to keep their postseason hopes alive, one of which was to beat the 14-0 Colts in Indianapolis. Then they had to hope that the Jaguars would lose to the Patriots and the Dolphins to lose to the Texans.
Well wouldn’t you know it, that’s exactly what happened.
Jim Caldwell decided to pull his starters in the second half and the Jets cruised to a 29-15 victory over the Colts in Week 16. The Jaguars and Dolphins both lost, meaning a win over the Bengals in Week 17 meant that the Jets would make the postseason as the fifth seed.
With little to play for, Cincinnati gave a pathetic effort in a blowout loss to New York in Week 17, which allowed a once dead team a chance at a second life. And with that second life, Rex Ryan’s Jets have taken full advantage of their opportunities.
The word “lucky” is being tossed around in comparison to the Jets, which is fair. They were lucky that Caldwell pulled Peyton Manning and the rest of Indy’s starters in the second half in Week 16 and lucky that the Bengals decided to play J.T. O’Sullivan for the entire second half of that final game. They were also lucky that their Week 15 loss to the Falcons (a game in which they should have won) didn’t come back to haunt them, which happens to fringe teams with playoff aspirations every season.
But a team that owns the best defense and running game in the league doesn’t get to the AFC Championship Game on luck alone. The Jets earned the right to play the Colts this Sunday by winning not one, but two postseason games on the road this year, not to mention doing so with a rookie under center. Ryan and his coaching staff deserve a ton of credit for installing two solid game plans to take down the Bengals and Chargers and the team also hasn’t strayed from who they are (i.e. a team that relies on its running game and defense to win games). There has been no panic in this young Jets team, even though they’ve trailed in each of their first two playoff games.
Did they catch some lucky breaks along the way? Absolutely. But they have also made the most of those breaks with excellent game-planning and perfect execution. Luck played a part in getting the Jets to this point, but talent has carried them since.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
The Jets have that look about them that the Giants had back in 2007, where they refuse to lose. They caught some breaks along the way but talent is what wins out in the end.
The Colts better win this game or they get hammered because they allowed the team that knocked them off to creep into the playoffs.
I don’t think luck has anything to do with it. People act like a kicker missing a field goal is “catching a break”. A field goal is not a given! If it were, we should just automatically grant a team 3 points once they get past the opponents’ 30 yard line. And that would effectively remove a great deal of crunch time strategy as well as dampen the effects of varying field conditions (like ceiling or no).
Not picking on you Stalter, but for everyone out there saying, “The Jets wouldn’t have won if the Chargers’ kicker hadn’t missed those field goals” is basically akin to saying “Thet Jets wouldn’t have won if the Chargers had scored more points!”
Dr. E,
I actually didn’t write anything about Kaeding missing field goals. The “luck” factor I brought up is that the Colts pulled their starters in Week 16, the Bengals laid down in Week 17 and the Jets could have had the Atlanta game come back and haunt them in Week 15.
As improbable and “lucky” as it seems, this particular JEts team and the important decisions Tannebaum made in the past two drafts (Revis being one trade-up pick) as well as Rex’s sometimes blind devotion and leadership have all had their impact. I am not sure who said it but there is a saying that goes something like:
the only difference between winning and losing is who wants to win more.
The Jets wanted to win more than the Colts, more than the Bengals (2x) and even more than the redhot Chargers.
There is blood in the water now. The sharks are circling. They are hungry. Peyton Manning is by far one of my favorite QBs of all time and I begrudge him absolutely nothing with regard to his effort and poise and intelligence at that position. Except beating the Jets. He just can’t do that on his own.
Oh, it’ll be close, but the Oline, the Dline, the Secondary and the all out belief in themselves will launch the Jets.
Side Note: Its the first time I have been excited to be a Jets fan in 20+ years( — well now and when the Patriots caved and Bellichick called his players a bunch of wusses — on TV! The End of The Dynasty!!)
R.I.P. Patriots!
A strong, young Jets team and the Patriots on decline. Not sure a new coach can pull off what Ryan did this year in Buffalo and the Dolphins are looking stronger than in recent years… But I can’t wait until next year either!!
Ahhh…
Even if the Jets lose on Sunday (which they won’t), I am happy with my team again.
J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS!
Whoever put this team together is a football genius!
No offense, Bellycheck.
Jets have chance. Don’t use last weeks game as a berometer for Colts defense. Ravens should have put a Colt player in huddle. Every 1st down Ravens they lined up in run formation, Colts put 7,8 even 9 in box. 2nd down pass formation, Colts rushed 3, dropped 8. Any defense looks quick when they know the play
As a Colts fan I am quite relieved that we are playing the Jets on Sunday instead of the Chargers. I also appreciate the Jets and their momentum and passion and what they have accomplished this year as well.
I am afraid that the Jets may have to come down to earth this weekend if the Colts do what they traditionally do to teams. AKA: If they can get in the groove quick and run up a 21-0 or larger lead then they will be very hard pressed to keep up with the Colts for the rest of the game. The Colts have much more offense than the Jets and that could be the determining factor.
I am sure this is going to be a good game though and I guess we will see what the result is on Sunday.
i think many are talking how lucky jets are, this indeed i believe. however… they had some rather unlucky breaks during the season (especially that atlanta game, miami [ted ginn], …) this team really should have a better standing than 9-7. it was serious bad luck that gave them that standing. look back and tell me i’m wrong.
I can’t stand this luck thing or everyone saying the Jets were handed wins. Granted the Colts pulled their starters in the middle of the 3rd qtr. However, they were not able to put many points on the board before hand…the bungles, they pulled Carson after the game was out of hand in the middle of the 3rd qtr. The Jets beat them again a week later which nullifies the lay down factor. Then everyone said the Chargers will dismantle the Jets, too many weapons, well guess what they never played the best D in the league. Rivers looked lost and the Jets created the chaos on the field for the Chargers, Field Goals are not gimme’s, no one gave any love to the Jets when Feely missed 3 against Atl…why give the Chargers love, they lost period…please give the Jets credit for doing what needs to be done…WIN!
Barrydaboom,
The only game in which I would question that the Jets were “unlucky” in was the Atlanta game.
If you’re referring to the missed field goals, those aren’t unlucky breaks – that’s failed execution. The Jets were driving the ball up and down the field that day, yet couldn’t execute inside the red zone. And the blocked FG was just a great play by Atlanta’s D-lineman.
Unless I’m missing something, that wasn’t an “unlucky” outcome for the Jets. That was just an ugly loss.
lets face it already – the last time the jets played the colts they were taking it to them and the colts coach was scared sh itless that his little peyton might get hurt and took him out
the jets will win on sunday because they have something to prove and they will be all over manning and his receivers
jets/saints in super bowl
manning will go down in this game, you can bet on it – we all seen what a bum their back up is – the jets defense is much better than the colts and the jets offense is no slouch either and they will prove it big time
Its great to be part of a winner. The JETS are winners. Indy better have a game plan or they’re dead. There were times this year when they looked flat. Reggie Wayne and the TE are studs, however,Garcon and Collie are average. The Jets have excellent personnel for their specific game plan. Run, Run, Screen, Dink pass. Kill the Clock. Rex Ryan is exactly what the franchise needed. They had great talent all along. They needed a motivator – someone who could get the very best from each player. As far as luck – yes they have gotten lucky at times, but no luckier than any other team here right now. The Jets are a throwback. They are a team of destiny. They will be Super Bowl Champs.
The thrill of my life would be to see Brett Farve get beat by the Jets !!! Have to get past Peyton first !!
I’ve sat thru miserable games for a long time with the Jets at the stadium and at home and am proud of this team getting there !!!
J…E…T…S… JETS JETS JETS
EVERYONE NEEDS TO CHECK OUT THIS POLICE BRUTALITY, A JETS FAN GETS ARRESTED AT THE SAN DIEGO GAME FOR CHEERING FOR THE JETS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJqd_5fC7ZI
We posted that video yesterday, Mike:
http://www.scoresreport.com/2010/01/19/jets-fan-arrested-for-what-v
ideo/
Caldwell made the move to sit Manning & Co. after taking a 15-10 lead with 5:36 left in the third quarter. so i do not think fear was the reason manning was removed from the game.
I don’t think you can classify that as “police brutality”.
Rodney King
This is great … we are actually talking about the Jets. And they are in the Final 4. It’s about time.
1969