After a huge sports weekend filled with nail-biting playoff basketball, the much anticipated NFL Draft and a full docket of Major League Baseball match-ups; the release of “ESPN darling” Tim Tebow has quickly overshadowed the world of sports.

Upon selecting Geno Smith with the 39th overall pick, the Jets had no intention of bringing six quarterbacks into OTA’s. After Jets General Manager John Idzik spent the weekend begging teams to give him something for the former Heisman trophy winner, he decided to cut ties. Tebow may have been more of an appetizing trade chip had he not come with the ESPN circus that followed him to Jets training camp last summer. As crazy as it may sound, Skip Bayless may be the reason Tim Tebow never dons an NFL jersey again.

Tim Tebow should be happy that he collected an NFL paycheck for as long as he did. Tebow is in no sense of the word an NFL quarterback. The Jets are moving away from the circus atmosphere that Woody Johnson usually likes to stir up around his team and focusing on winning football games. Idzik has been touted as a no nonsense businessman and all of his moves so far as general manager have echoed that sentiment.

As we look back on the Jets sending two draft picks to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the highly polarizing services of one Timothy Richard Tebow, it is clear that the move was one of the most ridiculous publicity stunts ever to be pulled in the history of New York Sports. And this is a town that has witnessed the abomination that was the “Mercury Mets.”

The old saying was true for the Jets last year: when you have two quarterbacks, you really have no quarterbacks. After supposedly developing a secretive wildcat package for the unconventional lefty, the Jets under-utilized Tebow and ultimately turned him into a laughing stock of the National Football League. It not only tore down whatever clout Tebow still held with NFL teams, it caused catastrophic damage to their once beloved franchise quarterback: Mark Sanchez.

As the Jets and their boy band of five quarterbacks move closer to the NFL season one question remains, who takes the snaps against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 8th..

Monday night in Tennessee was the last straw for Mark Sanchez. Don’t expect the fourth-year quarterback to ever see a snap in a Jets uniform again. The Jets announced today that they will be looking to trade him this offseason. The Sanchez era is New York is finished.

It has just been a nightmare season for Sanchez. Monday night was the icing on the cake. Sanchez cost the Jets not only the game, but a chance at the playoffs. Rex Ryan gave him all the opportunities in the world week after week and he continued to let down his coach, his team, and the fans. Monday night’s loss all falls on the shoulders of Sanchez. It was a performance worse than any of his prior disasters. Sanchez threw for an embarrassing four interceptions and if that wasn’t enough, he couldn’t handle a snap in the final minute costing the Jets the game. Five turnovers, all on pitiful decisions made by a quarterback who has lost all confidence that he once had.

The quarterback who led the Jets to two straight AFC Championship games is long gone. His performance last season was bad. This season, it has been disgraceful. While he has had nowhere near the talent on offense that he did the past three seasons, his play has been brutal. He has made throwing decisions that you would see from a rookie, not a guy who has been in the league for four seasons. His 17 interceptions and seven fumbles lost this season say it all. 24 turnovers from your quarterback won’t get you to .500, let alone a spot in the playoffs. Sanchez has led the NFL in turnovers the last two seasons with an astounding 50.

Rex Ryan has finally made the decision to go with Greg McElroy at starting quarterback Sunday when the Jets return home to play the Chargers. The Jets will see what McElroy has and determine if he could be the answer at quarterback for the future. Clearly, the Jets aren’t very fond of Tim Tebow taking over as the starter as he still has not been given the chance. Tebow is now requesting to be released or traded as he deserves a shot somewhere else. This team brought in Tebow and didn’t use him. A guy who helped lead the Broncos to the playoffs last season deserves a shot to play and for some reason, the Jets felt Sanchez deserved it more.

Sanchez is due to make just over $8 million next season. The Jets will be looking to trade him this offseason. The question remains who will take over. Reports have said that the Jets are interested in Michael Vick and Vick would be willing to play for Gang Green if Sanchez is gone. There’s a very good chance that Vick will be the New York Jets starting quarterback next season.

So where will Sanchez go? Where will Tebow go? Will Vick be the Jets starter in 2013? Get ready for another dramatic Jets offseason folks.

Sunday at the Meadowlands was proof that the preseason just does not matter.

The Jets’ offense exploded for four touchdowns in the season opener this afternoon against the Bills. Gang Green crushed Buffalo, 48-28 in a wild game at MetLife Stadium. Mark Sanchez had a sparkling debut throwing for 266 yards and 3 touchdowns. Rookie Stephen Hill caught 5 passes for 89 yards to go with 2 touchdowns. Jeremy Kerley had a breakout performance with a 12 yard touchdown catch and a 68 yard punt return for a touchdown. Tim Tebow came in for the wildcat and carried the ball 5 times for 11 yards.

The Jets’ offense was in cruise control and their defense was absolutely dominant for the first 40 minutes of the game. After Sanchez made a poor throw that was intercepted on the Jets’ opening drive, it seemed like the “Te-Bow” chants were on the way. That would be the only mistake Sanchez would make all day. Darrelle Revis would intercept Ryan Fitzpatrick and it was all Jets from there.

Sanchez was spot-on with his passes all afternoon. It was something that Jets fans can definitely get used to. Hill, Kerley, and Santonio Holmes were his main targets on the day catching a combined 13 passes for 202 yards.

The ground and pound was successful as Shonn Greene carried the ball 27 times for 94 yards and a touchdown. Tebow came in as a tight end on the first offensive play of the game. He carried the ball for 11 yards. The run game complemented the pass game very well Sunday afternoon.  Expect to see Tebow get more wildcat carries and different packages as the season goes on.

Most importantly, the Jets’ secondary was very impressive for the most part. They were falling apart in the fourth quarter, but for the most part they held Fitzpatrick in check. They forced him into three interceptions with one of them being a pick six. Revis left the game with an injury, but is expected to be ready for next week.

It was an electric atmosphere at the Meadowlands Sunday. The crowd was ready for some football. The beginning of the season always brings new hope. Not one person out of the 79,088 people expected a 48-point performance from the Jets, which happens to be the most in franchise history in the season opener.

It was definitely a good performance by the offense, defense, and special teams, but there are definitely a lot of things the Jets need to work on. Their defense had trouble stopping C.J. Spiller and the running game allowing him to run for 169 yards and a touchdown. Also, the pass rush was awful for Gang Green. Fitzpatrick had all day to throw allowing him to get some of those late touchdowns. Pass rushing was the Jets’ weakness last season and could be this year. Look for Rex Ryan’s team to put some more pressure on the quarterback, especially next Sunday.

The Jets head to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers Sunday. Ben Roethlisberger should play, unless the birth of his child ends up happening Sunday. While the Jets still have a lot to work on, Sunday was a good sign and a good start. The offense can put up points and move the ball. The defense can stop the pass. Let’s see if Sanchez can go on the road to Pittsburgh and have a repeat performance of his brilliance in the 2012 season opener.

The two guys taking the snaps under center have become the center of attention on a daily basis thus far in training camp.  The New York media has fallen in love with Broadway Tebow and the so-called “controversy” at quarterback for the Jets.  Everyday, there seems to be a segment on SportsCenter updating The problem is that Gang Green’s issue does not come at that position.  The real concern right now should be who these two quarterbacks will be throwing to this season.

After Santonio Holmes, the Jets depth chart is fairly depleted in terms of proven, experienced wide receivers.  Antonio Cromartie’s controversial statement claiming himself to be the second best wide receiver on the team may actually be 100% correct.  The receivers behind Holmes consist of Jeremy Kerley, Chaz Schilens, Patrick Turner, and rookie Stephen Hill.  Kerley is entering just his second season where he caught just 29 passes for 314 yards last season.  Schilens had 23 receptions for 272 yards with the Raiders last season.  Turner also did not do much in limited playing time last year catching 8 passes for 96 yards.  Hill, a rookie out of Georgia Tech, has a lot of upside and could play a major role in the Jets offense, but is still unproven.  Cromartie is definitely going to see some playing time on offense.  Having the stamina to play cornerback and come back out and play receiver is not easy though.  Gang Green also has Dustin Keller at tight end who will have a chance to have his best year becoming a huge part of the offense now.

There is not much to write home for Sanchez and Tebow there.  Everyone seems to be worried about who the quarterback will for this team and whether Tebow will take Sanchez’s job.  The Jets starting quarterback is Mark Sanchez.  That is not changing barring an awful start to the season.  Tebow will come in for the wildcat and certain package plays as well as help out on special teams.  This is Sanchez’s job to lose after signing an extension this offseason that brought his contract to a hefty 5 years and $58.25 million.

The Jets need to go out and get a wide receiver before they open the season September 9th at home against the Bills.  Chad Johnson is completely out of the question.  This team has enough distractions already with local and national media in Cortland every day.  A guy they could use is someone like Percy Harvin.  The Jets have been rumored to be interested in acquiring Harvin, but nothing appears imminent as of now.  The Vikings star wide out had an impressive year last season in Minnesota catching 87 passes for 976 yards to go with six touchdowns.  Harvin would completely change the Jets offense giving them a second deep threat to keep the defense from double covering Santonio Holmes.

This team needs another veteran wide out to complement Holmes and teach the younger receivers.  With an improved defense, but a suspect pass rush, the Jets are going to need some help from an offense that was not very explosive last year finishing 25th in the NFL in total yards a game.  The ground and pound will be in full effect this season, but Shonn Greene, Joe McKnight, and Tim Tebow cannot carry an offense themselves.  Sanchez needs guys he can trust to get the ball to if he wants to improve on his 2011 season where he missed the playoffs for the first time in his three years in the NFL.

Rex Ryan’s team has a great defense, but not one that can win games by themselves.  On offense, losing Jeff Otah came as a blow to the offensive line after failing his physical and being sent back to the Panthers.  There are some question marks on the line that struggled last season.  The Jets will need good blockers if their ground and pound offense will be successful this season.  Jets management needs to bring in one more receiver if they want to get a slimmed down Rex Ryan a chance to coach his crew to make a playoff run.

Tim Tebow; Photo by Jeffrey Beall

The Tyrannosaurus Rex is virtually the biggest and most feared dinosaur of all time.  Contrary to popular belief, studies show that the T-Rex is more of a scavenger than a predator, and it is taking MetLife Stadium by storm.

Who is T-Rex?

The trade for QB Tim Tebow to the Jets has formed one of the most feared player/coach tandems ever. The addition of the scavenging Tebow and loudmouth Rex Ryan form an unstoppable beast called, T-Rex!

The late game heroics from the former Denver Broncos QB were based on survival tactics. Tebow orchestrated a 95-yard game winning drive versus the Jets in week 11. When everyone thinks there is no hope … Tebow finds a way to get it done. The competitive spirit of the QB catches defenses off guard, motionless, not playing a full 60 minutes. He simply takes what is given to him, much like a scavenger does.

Ryan can arguably be deemed to have the most intimidating defense in the league. In the last three years Gang Green has ranked in the top five in total defensive yards per game (285), anchored by a man holding villains in cuffs on Revis Island. The loud mouth of Ryan is equal the roar of a T-Rex.

The dysfunctional locker room of the Jets will now be mellowed out with the spirit of Tebow. Thou, the controversy of the QB situation will heat-up, Tebow will bring camaraderie to the locker room that CB Darrelle Revis said is in “disarray.”

Why Tebow?

Quarterback Mark Sanchez averaged 6.5 yards per pass attempt when throwing to WRs, last in league. The Jets averaged a measly 105.8 rushing yards per game last year, which raises concerns for an organization that likes to pound the football. Tebow spearheaded the leagues best rushing attack last year, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Indefinitely, the rushing attack will improve. At the very least, Tebow-mania will be implemented on short yardage situations or as the wildcat centerpiece, which has been absent since Brad Smith departed to the Buffalo Bills.

“Tim is going to be a major contributor to our football team,” Ryan said in the interview. “With the Wildcat specifically, the great thing is you don’t know if we’re going to run it one snap a game or 20 snaps a game — you have no idea. Every week it could be different. That’s some of the preparation problems he gives you.

Also, Tebow is slightly better that Sanchez throwing over 20 yards.

Ryan’s defensive mentality took a bold move with the addition of Tebow. Ryan trusts his defense to win games, not Mark Sanchez. With Tebow now in the mix, the offense slows down and the defense has a better shot of being disruptive on drives, due to being fresh. Ryan will use Tebow to calm the game, and unleash his defense.

During the 2011 season, Tebow led the Denver Broncos to a Time of Possession of 31:14 compared to Sanchez’s 30:49. The difference of 25 seconds means the world to Ryan and his defense.

Will the confidence of Sanchez sputter during Tebow-mania? When will Tebow become first on the depth chart? These are questions that will be answered during the 2012 season, for now enjoy New York’s newest star.

Follow me on Twitter @Ty_Hardamon

Some stats are provided by NFL.com and ESPN Stats and Info.

After two years where Sanchez took the Jets to consecutive AFC Championships, the former USC quarterback seemed to regress from his prior two years as the Jets missed the playoffs.  Sanchez lead the Jets to an 8-8 record and a collapse down the stretch where Gang Green lost their final three games to miss the playoffs.  Sanchez struggled mightily as the season winded down throwing seven interceptions in the final three games costing the Jets a playoff birth.  He threw for 26 touchdowns and 18 interceptions on the season.

Many Jets fans are banging their heads against a nearby wall right now, but its time that fans take a deep breath and give Sanchez a chance.  The guy did help lead the team to two consecutive AFC Championship games.  The deal also frees a little over six million dollars in cap room for the 2012 season.  The Jets can now make a move to get some help on the defensive line that saw nearly no pressure put on the quarterback last season.  Also, Sanchez will have a brand new playbook and a fresh start with a new offensive coordinator with Brian Schottenheimer no longer under the helm. Schottenheimer had times where he was very conservative making very questionable play cals.  He also called for Sanchez to throw 64 times against the Giants on Christmas Eve.

The deal might be more than what Sanchez deserves, but the Jets organization has all the confidence in Sanchez.  It is time that everyone stops pointing the finger at Sanchez for all the Jets mistakes.  The Jets were a dysfunctional team down the stretch last season that ended in a complete breakdown.  Sanchez is going to work to get better and get the Jets back to the playoffs once again.  Sanchez will be under center for at least a couple of more seasons and Jets fans need to understand that and accept that and show some confidence in a guy that nearly took his team to the Super Bowl.

In a New York minute the coaching carousel will begin, which means “Black Monday” is here. The obvious coaching changes will hit the: St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Indianapolis Colts.

Coughlin may just walk away even if the Giants clinch the NFC East. The Giants problems this season has not stemmed from coaching mistakes. Ranked dead last in rushing yards per game, and mental lapses late in games have hunted Eli Manning and company. Standing at 8-7 and playoff hopes in a limbo, the hot seat continues to find Coughlin. This could mark the third straight year of a playoff absence. Yet, the aging Coughlin could be fed up with hot seat musical chairs. I think so, count him out.

The loud mouth Jets head coach Rex Ryan job should be carefully reviewed. We know he can coach a team. But can he coach this Jets team? Critics raved about his spontaneous personality, saying this was a perfect hire to match New York sports scrutiny.

But are these things added pressure for his ball club. Ryan often makes “guarantees” that his mouth can’t cash. The belief that he has in his squad is commendable, wait, how do the players view their coach, or even live up to the odds of wining a super bowl every year. We have heard the war of words between quarterback Mark Sanchez and coach. The undisciplined Santonio Holmes continues to show his lack of maturity. As fierce, and demanding as a defensive mind Ryan is, it seems he isn’t that way with the relationship with his players.

These things may be far fetched, still, consider Rex getting the X, and homage being paid to Coughlin.

The Jets suffered their most pivotal loss of the season on Saturday against the Giants.  The Jets hopes for a playoff appearance took a huge hit as the Jets played a horrific game against a Giants team who needed a win to stay alive to make the playoffs.  The Jets face a situation that they did not want to be in.  They need a win and a lot of help to try and get in as the six seed in the AFC playoffs.

They will need to beat the Dolphins on the road and also need a loss by the Bengals, Titans, and either the Raiders or Broncos.  The Bengals face the Ravens at home.  The Ravens are playing to win their division as well as for the two seed and a bye in the first round of the playoffs.  The Bengals win and they are in.  The Titans will play on the road against the Texans.  The Texans have already clinched the three seed so they are virtually playing for nothing as they cannot move up or down from the three seed.  That may be where the Jets will have trouble.  The Titans are playing to get in the playoffs while the Texans will be resting their starters for the playoffs.  The Raiders will play the Chargers on the road.  The Chargers are eliminated from the playoffs and will be trying to play spoiler against the Raiders who need a win to have a chance to get in.  Struggling Tim Tebow and the Broncos will play the Chiefs at home.  Kyle Orton will get a chance to send home the quarterback that took his place in Denver.  The Chiefs are also eliminated and will try to play spoiler against a Broncos team who needs a win to clinch the AFC West and the four seed in the AFC playoffs.  Essentially, the Jets are going to need a lot of help to get in the playoffs this year.

Do the Jets really deserve to make it? Mark Sanchez has regressed as a quarterback this year and does not look to be the answer for the Jets.  Sanchez threw for just 258 yards on 59 attempts Saturday with two interceptions.  The Jets have been a team that relies on their running game and when Sanchez throws the ball that much, it is trouble for Gang Green. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has taken tough scrutiny from fans and media as he should.  Schottenheimer has been very poor with his playcalling this season.  Any time a quarterback like Mark Sanchez is throwing 59 times, you got to scratch your head and think what was he thinking? This team has three solid running backs in Shonn Greene, future hall of famer LaDainian Tomlinson, and up and coming running back and kick returner Joe McKnight.  Someone needs to tell Schottenheimer to run the ball a lot more than the Jets are doing.  It is inexcusable that the Jets threw nearly 60 times on Saturday.  The Jets answer might be to hire a new offensive coordinator and head in a different direction at quarterback.

The Jets have only beat one team over .500 this season which was back in week one when they beat the Cowboys coming from behind late to win.  All their other wins have come against teams under .500 and out of playoff contention.  Whenever the Jets have faced a tough test this season, they have come up short every time.  Coach Rex Ryan guaranteed again this year that this Jets team would be a Super Bowl team and now they face elimination this weekend.  Fans are starting to grow sick of what they are seeing.  A team with boat loads of talent has underachieved this entire season and their playoff hopes are hanging on a thread.  The Jets are going to need quite the miracle this weekend if they hope to play January football for the third straight season.  Jets fans will be Ravens, Texans, Chiefs, and Chargers fans as well this weekend.

Photo by Marianne O'Leary

There is only one way to describe this week’s matchup against the Giants: it’s a must win game. Now you may say to yourself “well every game is a must win game,” but I will tell you that there hasn’t been a more important game for Rex Ryan, the Jets, and their fans since he took over as head coach.

From the moment Rex Ryan took over the reigns, he hasn’t stopped running his mouth and has guaranteed Super Bowl victories in each year. News flash Rex: actions speak louder than words.

In his third season, the Jets are on the verge of missing the playoffs, have finished second best in the AFC for the past two years, and have won zero Super Bowls. If the Jets end up losing this game, their chances of going to the playoffs get a little bit colder, and Rex Ryan’s seat gets a little bit hotter.

After what has been a subpar year for the Jets, Rex has been on the hot seat for a couple of weeks now and a loss to the Giants would have Jets fans in an uproar. Rex’s antics don’t seem to be affecting teams as much as they used to. In fact, it seems as if it is affecting his own team and doing the exact opposite of what he aims for.

Now it’s no secret that the Jets have been more successful than the Giants in the past couple of years and as much as the players are saying they aren’t looking at this game as a bragging rights game, they’re full of it. It doesn’t get much bigger than a Jets vs. Giants game with playoff implications on the line and the Jets have an opportunity to turn the tides and take one step closer to becoming New Yorks “team.”

I’m sure Rex is aware of this, but finishing second doesn’t settle well with New Yorkers. So if he has any hopes of keeping his job, all he has to do is win. No pressure though, Rex…

Saturday afternoon at MetLife Stadium will be one for the ages for New York sports fans.  It might be the biggest matchup we have seen in New York since the 2000 World Series between the Mets and Yankees.  The Jets and Giants play each other for the first time in the new stadium.  It could not have come at a more pivotal time for both teams.  The Jets are holding the six seed in the AFC by a hair right now.  The Giants are out of the playoffs as of now but are only a game back of the Cowboys and play them at home next week to end the regular season.

Essentially, if the Giants win they are eliminated.  If they lose, they would fall to 7-8 and their only hope would be if the Cowboys lose to the Eagles, they beat the Cowboys in the final week, and the Eagles lose in the final week to the Redskins.  If that scenario plays out, they would win the division.  The chances are very slim.  This game is a must win for the Giants as well as next week versus the Cowboys.  The Giants control their destiny these last two weeks.

The Jets are also in a must win situation.  A loss to the Giants will have the Jets watching the scoreboard on Sunday as well as next week.  The Bengals are tied with the Jets at 8-6.  Right behind them are the Raiders, Titans, and Chargers all with a 7-7 record.  If the Jets and Bengals win out, the Jets would make it in as the six seed due to a better win percentage in common games.  The Jets end the season at Miami to face the Dolphins.  It is definitely a game the Jets need to win, but a loss does not exactly eliminate them.  It puts them in a position they do not want to be in next week.

In the end, there is a good chance the loser of this game will not be playing football in January.  The winner is also not guaranteed to make the playoffs with a win, but it puts them one step closer to getting in.  The Jets win and the Giants are essentially out.  The Giants win and the Jets will be doing a lot of scoreboard watching this weekend and next weekend.  We have heard all the smack talking going on all week.  We will see which team wants it more Saturday at 1:00 in a game that might just send the loser packing.

Photo by Daniel Spiess

Current NFL standings and records will show that the NY Jets (6-5) have one the easiest remaining schedules. However, a check of Jets history will prove that these RexJets must win games against teams that have given them fits since the NFL merger in 1970. Bluntly stated, they must take out the NFC East.

The Jets playoff push begins tomorrow afternoon in D.C. against the Washington Redskins (4-7). They are 1-8 lifetime versus the Skins. Their lone victory was a 3-0 triumph in a torrential rainstorm back in 1993. In case any of you die-hard Jet fans forgot, that was Boomer Esiason’s only December win during a 2 year period (1993 and 1994) where a clear path to the playoffs existed, but each season ended in misery. I call it being “Esiasonated.” It’s worse than being assassinated.

The good news for December arrives on the 11th in the form of the Kansas City Chiefs (4-7). Since both teams began play as original members of the AFL back in 1960, they are 16-16-1 head to head. The early days of the AFL had Gang Green start out as the NY Titans and, the Chiefs began play in the state of Texas as the Dallas Texans. This may be viewed as an easy home win but, for all of you Jet’s know-it- alls, don’t forget about 1988. That season the Jets playoff path was derailed by a 4-11-1 Chiefs team. They played Kansas City twice that year losing late in the season. However, nothing was worse than an early season 17-17 tie, that this writer witnessed in person in the pouring rain. A game in which coach Joe Walton, with an easy game winning overtime field goal in front of him, chose to run the ball one more time in order to center it for the kick. Instead, there was a fumble, a game ending in a tie and a playoff season de-railed, as losses followed in 5 of the next 7 games. “Same Old Jets” Football at its best.

The dreaded NFC East returns on December 18th when the Jets travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles (4-8). At that time the Eagles record will not matter because the Jets have never beaten them. That’s right, don’t adjust your eyesight. The Jets are 0-8 all-time versus Philadelphia, the worst loss arriving back in 1993 during those great Esiason years. Check the memory bank for that early season clash where the Jets turned a 21-0 first quarter lead into a 35-30 loss. This was a game in which this writer was first introduced to being “Esiasonated,” having been there in person. I should have known at that time what I was in for during the next two years.

On Christmas Eve the Jets will hopefully be 9-5 and ready to take on their rivals and roommates, the NY Giants (6-5). The Giants have the edge over the Jets in this head to head battle through the years, but the Jets have the more significant wins. An early season, 4th quarter comeback win against the Cowboys has the Jets 3-7 versus Dallas all-time. However, the Giants are the NFC East team the Jets have faired against the best at 4-7. Here is a good memory for you Jet fans regarding one of those more significant wins. In 1988, during one of those Jets playoff years that never was, the Giants were on their way to the playoffs. On the final day of the NFL season the Giants just needed to beat the Jets in order to make the post season. They had a 21-20 lead late in the game until Jets quarterback Ken O’Brien hit Al Toon in the end zone for a TD with less than a minute to play and a Jets 27-21 win eliminating the G-Men.

You didn’t think I forgot about the Miami Dolphins, did you? Well, I didn’t. The problem is the Jets have three monsters to slay before they get to New Years Day. If they arrive with a record that puts them in the playoffs or needing just a win to get in, you Green Machine loyalists will find comfort in that the Jets are 48-42-1 against the Phins all-time. To further put you at ease, the Jets faced Miami in a win-and-your-in scenario on two occasions. One time was in 2006, but the first time and one of the most exciting wins in Jets regular season history was in 1991. In this regular season “playoff game” the winner made the playoffs and the loser went home. The Jets trailed 20-17 with less than one minute to go and no time outs left when Ken O’Brien engineered a quick drive to put the Jets in field goal range. Raul Allegre hit a 44 yard field goal to send the game into overtime and a 30 yard field goal to win it in OT for the Jets 23-20.

So there it is folks, the last 5 opponents mapped out for you. The moral of the story is that the NFC East has not been kind to the NY Jets through NFL history. Now its time for these RexJets to change that history!

Photo by cool13902008

For another season, the playoff spot is slipping away from the New York Jets. Talking the talk, but not walking the walk again – Mr. Rex Ryan. But no one seems to be putting the blame on the big guy; alll fingers are pointed towards Mark Sanchez. Sanchez has made shocking decisions, has bad time management and thrown some ill-timed interceptions in the past weeks. His work ethic always seems consistent, but it is not enough.

Shall it be football malpractice? On November 13th Sanchez killed a timeout with only 1:24 remaining against the New England Patriots. Then the Jets seemed strong against last week’s Denver Broncos, but ended up getting Tebow’d in the end. In the past three games Sanchez has only had two touchdowns and four interceptions. His completion rate is only 56.7 percent.

New York fans are tough. They are right by their team’s side when they are winning, but when they are losing they cut them no slack. Does anyone really know why the Jets are not performing at the level they should? Throwing Sanchez off the team bus at this point should not be a question. Just look at Eli Manning’s stats his first three years in the league; they are comparable to Sanchez’s record. Not to mention, Sanchez never got the chance to sit behind a senior QB, as Aaron Rogers did behind Brett Favre. He’s been fighting on the field from the beginning.

Rex Ryan during a press conference two weeks ago went on an air-muffling rant on all his injured players.

This week’s key injury is LaDainian Tomlinson. During the same game, LT had a late knee injury. It is looking like he will be on the injury list instead on the field against the Buffalo Bills.

In their first meeting with the Bills the Jets had a well-balanced attack on offense. Even though Sanchez overall completion rate has been low often, he connected for 71 percent of his passes against Buffalo. The Jets might just get lucky since the much-anticipated Bills have fallen off their winning wagon. The Jets can not afford another division loss. Already being 5-5, they need a 6-0 record to make the playoffs. If not they will be watching the playoffs far from the sidelines.

This weeks side note to the controversial Jets: Rex Ryan’s smack talk won’t likely be directed at the fans. We all heard you when you said you could afford the $75,000, but beware pedicures are expensive.