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 have 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.

Photo by Daniel Spiess

The New York Jets playoff push will officially begin this Sunday when they host the Buffalo Bills at Metlife Stadium. After an embarrassing defeat against the New England Patriots and a not so surprising last minute loss against the Denver Broncos just three days later, the Jets are now riding a two game losing skid. But, despite the fact that the Jets are two wins behind the AFC East leading Patriots (three games back with head to head match ups), there is still a small amount of hope for Rex Ryan’s squad.

I have to admit I was one of the many frustrated Jets fans after the loss against the Broncos. Shortly after the game I called my father and insisted that he sell our tickets to this weeks game against the Buffalo Bills. I couldn’t get the “Same old Jets” thought out of my head and I was enraged with the way the season has gone so far. But, even having to get over two consecutive tough losses I am looking ahead. Despite the Jets owning a 5-5 record with just a game left in November to play, I did what any worried fan would do. I immediately took a look at the season standings.

Thanks to this week’s losses by the Bengals, Titans, and Bills the Jets are still are still very much alive. Aside from poor consecutive performances from Mark Sanchez and the rest of the offense, the Jets are only one win behind the final playoff spot in the AFC with six games left to play. Of those six games only one team (New York Giants) owns a winning record and the Jets will face them on December 24th. By then that game might not even be relevant in terms of playoff standings.

Coming up the Jets will host the Bills, Redskins, and Chiefs which are all beatable teams and defenses that individually give up more than 330 total yards per game. Also, of those three teams the Jets defense will go against a struggling Bills quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick, a rookie Chiefs quarterback, and who knows which underachieving quarterback will be the guy for Washington.

If the Jets want to prove to the league that they deserve to be playing football in February than they will have to do what they have done since Rex Ryan has been at the helm. They have to have a stellar second half of the season. Impossible? I think not, after all this is the script the Jets have written the past two seasons.

Just find a way to make the playoffs and playing the role of the underdog has been the game plan for the past two years, third times a charm. To those fans who are counting the Jets out, I say not yet. After all if the Jets beat Buffalo this weekend they can very well find themselves sitting as a sixth seed come Monday. Isn’t it funny how many football fans can change their minds after one game?

Photo by cool13902008

Coming off two straight AFC title game appearances the New York Jets were poised to take flight this season, but the fuel in their engine is running out for a flight to the playoffs. With Rex Ryan as the pilot, the Jets have gone through a turbulent flight thus far.

At 5-5 New York has been a streaky team. After a two-game winning streak to start the year the Jets were flying high, but then an unexpected loss to the Raiders, a blowout in Baltimore, and a loss to their archrival Patriots started the turbulence. With the Jets experiencing major turbulence Ryan took the Jets out of cruise control with three straight wins over the winless Dolphins (at the time), road weary Chargers, and slumping Bills. Feeling confident, Ryan put the Jets back in cruise control as New York was embarrassed at home by the Patriots, and left “Tebowing” to Tim Tebow after he rallied the Broncos by himself to a fourth quarter rally.

It’s time for co-pilots Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes to help Rex Ryan minimize the turbulence and land safely at the NFL playoff airport. In his third year as a quarterback pilot Sanchez hasn’t earned a shiny flight pin from Ryan. His completion percentage remains under 60% while committing costly turnovers that have killed long drives. Holmes, the $50 million man, hasn’t earned his paycheck this season. He’s on pace for career lows in yards and yards per catch after being paid to stretch the defense vertically.

The Jets head into Week 11 with an easy game on paper. The Bills put star running back Fred Jackson on injured reserve, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has struggled mightily since signing a contract extension, and the team is coming off three straight losses. This game is a cloud the Jets must pass through to get to clear blue skies and the NFL playoffs airport. It’s time for Ryan, Sanchez, and Holmes to take the Jets out of cruise control once again and pilot a direct flight to the playoffs without any more turbulence.

Follow me on Twitter: @MikeAScotto

Photo by Jeffrey Beall

Tim Tebow might not have the greatest arm.  He may not be the most accurate passer. He might not be the most fundamental quarterback.  With that being said, Tebow does do one thing very well.  That is winning football games.

Trailing 13-10, the former star at the University of Florida led a magical drive down the field late in the fourth quarter to win the game, 17-13, and hand the Jets their second straight demoralizing loss.  Starting at their own five yard line with 5:54 remaining on the clock, Tebow led his best drive of his short NFL career to win the game for the Broncos.  Tebow, who has predominately ran himself or handed the ball off in the games he has started, was forced to throw more than usual on the drive and was extremely successful.  The drive would end with “Tebow magic.”  On a third down and four at the Jets 20 yard line, Tebow would have a miraculous run to the left side running 20 yards into the end zone with just 58 seconds left on the clock.  The defense came blitzing and Tebow read it perfectly scrambling to the left finding a hole and finding the end zone.  It was one of the best and most clutch plays seen all season.  The play put Denver on top, got them to 5-5 on the season, and gave them their third straight victory putting them right in the thick of the playoff race in the AFC West.  Since taking over for Kyle Orton as quarterback, Tebow is 4-1 in just his second NFL season.

The Jets really hurt themselves in this game.  There is a lot of fingers that could be pointed in this one, but it was a team effort and a very sloppy performance by the Jets in a game they should have won.  The Jets came out playing very poorly on offense in the first half.  It has been the same story all season for the Jets.  They come out of the tunnel and never have a great first half.  They have to play from behind put themselves in a position they should not have to be in.  There is not one specific finger to point for this.  The coaches have to do more to prepare the team early to come out of the gate firing.  In the Jets last four games they have three total points in the first quarter.  They cannot expect to be a playoff team if they cannot play four good quarters of football a game.  Mark Sanchez needs to come out making smarter throws as well.  Sanchez made a throw that should not have been made in the third quarter that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.  Also, last night special teams play was very poor.  T.J. Conley punted a ball for a measly 13 yards.  It would lead to a field goal by the Broncos. Kicker Nick Folk missed two field goals as well.  That is a nine point swing that completely could have changed the outcome of this game.  All these mistakes costed the Jets an important football game not only for the standings, but for the Jets morale as well.

The Jets really needed to win this game and they came out with one of their worst performances we have seen this season.  In order to win, this team has got to play mistake free.  It starts with the coaches.  Rex Ryan has to prepare his team better than he did as well as all the other coaches.  Offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer has been questioned all year for his questionable play calling.  The Jets have been very conservative and predictable offensively this season.  A lot is going to need to change if the Jets want to get one of the two wild card spots in the AFC this year.  They are currently 5-5 with six games remaining.  They will return home next Sunday to face the Bills.  The Jets are in dire need of a victory as their playoff hopes start to slip away with each loss.

Photo by by Keith Allison

The Jets may be loaded with talent defensively, solid receivers, and a good running game, but they do not have the one man that can make the difference to put them over the edge. That man for the Patriots is Tom Brady.

The Jets came into Sunday night’s game against the Pats with a great opportunity to get a win and capture sole possession of first place.  The Jets were riding a three game win streak coming,  and playing at home where they were 4-0 on the season.  The Pats had come in losing two straight games and struggling defensively.  The Jets were looking for revenge for their 30-21 loss at New England in week 5.  The winner would stand alone in first place.

The Patriots handed the Jets a crushing loss, 37-16 to essentially take a two game lead in the AFC East.  They hold the tie breaker by defeating the Jets in both games this season.  The Jets had no way of stopping Brady, the three time Super Bowl champion.  The future hall of famer had an extraordinary amount of time in the pocket to throw the ball.  The Jets defensive line was atrocious in forcing Brady into any bad throws.  Brady’s offensive line was remarkable in allowing him all the time he needed to get it to his receivers.  The extra time allowed him to hit his tight ends alone for 12 receptions and 154 yards.  Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez were unstoppable down the middle of the field.  Pats receivers also had big games against a Jets secondary who is considered one of the best.  Wes Welker and Deion Branch had 104 yards and 11 receptions combined.  Even Chad Ochocinco, who has been ineffective this season had two catches for 65 yards.  The Jets had no problem stopping the rush.  They only allowed 60 rushing yards total.  Brady was just too good throwing for 329 yards to six different receivers.  The Jets had no answer for arguably the best quarterback in the league.

The turning point of the game came in the second quarter with around 1:20 to go in the half instead of letting the clock run down all the way then using a timeout, Sanchez called a timeout with plenty of time still on the play clock.  The Jets would score the touchdown on the next play, but they left the Patriots 1:20 on the clock and two timeouts to drive down the field.  Rex Ryan told NBC at the half it was “The stupidest thing in football history.” Clearly, Ryan was in fuming that Sanchez used a timeout with so much time remaining for a Patriots team that is known for their offensive capabilities.  The Patriots would end up scoring a touchdown with nine seconds left and go into the half with all the motivation in the world.

The Jets were outplayed and out-coached by Bill Belichick and the Patriots Sunday night.  This was a demoralizing loss for two reasons.  One being that the Patriots looked dominant in both games this season against the Jets.  The second being that the Patriots remaining schedule is one of the easiest in the NFL for the final seven weeks.  Of their seven remaining games, the only team above .500 that they play is the last game of the season at home against a Bills team that has lost three of their last four after starting 4-1.  The Jets will only play two more teams with a winning record as they face the Bills and Giants.  Five of the Jets last eight games will be on the road.  When asked if his team still had hope to win the division Ryan said, “It looks doubtful right now.”  The division seems to be a long shot for the Jets.  They will hope to get one of the two wild card spots in the playoffs.

The Jets will now have a short week as they hit the road to face the Broncos in Denver Thursday night.  Tim Tebow has had the Broncos playing well of late and still in the race in the AFC West. It is going to be a tough road for the Jets from here on out.  The key will be to come out strong Thursday night with no signs of a hangover effect from a pivotal loss Sunday night. The Jets will need to avoid any “Tebow magic” and head back home with a victory under their belt as they face Buffalo the following week at the Meadowlands.