The Game is Afoot!
Rex Ryan did it. Last night he swept Jets fans off their feet by going toe-to-toe with the mighty New England Patriots and delivering a swift kick to Bill Belichick’s backside. Sure, no one can accuse the Jets of operating on a shoestring budget, but they simply refused to shoot themselves in the feet like so many previous Jet teams have done. Let’s be honest, the Jets talked the talk, and for one game at least, they walked the walk. You know, by putting their best foot forward. Alright, I couldn’t help it. Channeling my inner Wes Welker was just too tempting.
In all seriousness, the Jets’ 28-21 victory over the Patriots was as impressive as it was unexpected. Most of us assumed that Mr. Gisele Bundchen, and his league record 309 pass attempts without an interception, was unbeatable. Well, most of us besides Jet linebacker Bart Scott, whose angry post-game rant is sure to be immortalized on YouTube.
I’m shocked to concede the point, but the Jets deserve all the kudos they receive now, especially given the unrelenting (and sometimes also well deserved) scorn and ridicule they’ve endured since Hard Knocks aired on HBO during the pre-season. They’re brash, they’re over-confident, and quite frankly, they’re a tough bunch to root for.
But none of that matters. It’s about getting the job done, and get it done the Jets have. Amazingly, in just his second NFL season, QB Mark Sanchez now sports a 4-1 career playoff record, with all four wins coming on the road. By beating Brady, Sanchez also becomes the first quarterback since 2001 to beat Indianapolis and New England in consecutive playoff games. Impressive stuff.
So now what?
With their divisional nemeses vanquished, the Jets now travel to frigid Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers and their vaunted defense.
The winner heads to Dallas as the AFC’s representative in Super Bowl XLV. It would be the first trip to the big game for the Jets since Super Bowl III in 1969. To say that Jets fans have been long-suffering would be like saying Rex Ryan likes feet.
Ironically, the Jets squeaked out a win against the Steelers at Heinz Field back in Week 15 of the regular season, a game in which All-Pro Strong Safety Troy Polamalu didn’t play due to injury. The rematch is likely to be quite a tougher test for New York this time around, especially since the Steelers boast the NFL’s best rushing defense, holding the opposition to a mere 62.8 rushing yards per contest. They’re also incredibly tough in the red-zone, giving up just 16 touchdowns out of 40 possessions inside their 20-yard line.
To win, the Jets are going to have to play another near flawless game. Oh, and hope that the media coverage focuses more on Ben Roethlisberger’s “dating” fetish than Rex Ryan’s alleged love of podiatry. The long range weather forecast doesn’t warn of a Snowpocalypse, so if the Jets can run the ball effectively, chew up the clock, and avoid turnovers, they’ve got a puncher’s chance.
Heck, if only for the Rex Ryan press conferences during Super Bowl week, I’ll be rooting for ’em.
The Payoff Pitch brings you Jamie O’Grady’s distinct take on New York and national sports every Monday. Having previously worked as a Contributing Writer for MLB.com., Jamie is also a practicing lawyer and an unapologetic Yankees, Knicks and Giants fan. He lives in Mount Kisco with his wife, Sarah, and son, Jack.
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @BronXoo
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.