Jets @ Bears . . .

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Prediction: I apologize as I did not have time this week to write an in-depth preview, so I will get right to the prediction. The Jets really responded well last week against the Steelers. As you saw on Thursday, the Steelers D is no slouch, so I think the Jets offense deserves a lot of credit. The offense and Sanchez will get tested again in this game, although I think there will be chances for the offense to move the ball. Look for another conservative game from Sanchez and more of Shonn Greene. As far as the defense, I really think Cutler thinks he can beat Revis and he will lose. Look for the defense to get some big turnovers in this game. The Jets know if they win, then they are in the playoffs. They will be focused and I believe they will win.

Jets - 20   Bears - 16

Shoulder issue??

So apparently Mark Sanchez is having some shoulder pains. An MRI revealed no rotator cuff, tendon, or bone damage. It did, however, show that his cartilage is "torn". Cartilage is the cushioning between your bones that prevents them from rubbing together. It is more like a mesh than a tendon. So it can't exactly be torn, it can be poked or pitted. A source inside the Jets organization says that the injury will not get worse if 

he continues to play. It may be wise to rest Sanchez this week since the Bears have a devastating pass rush. The Jets cannot afford to have their franchise QB take a pounding with playoffs on the line. The team may end up getting in the playoffs whether they win or lose on Sunday. There is a good chance Jacksonville or Indianapolis will lose Sunday and get the Jets in. So should they rest Sanchez this Sunday and have him completely healthy for the Bills game? Or play him this week with the risk he could be tentative or be inaccurate?

Sanchez vs. Cover 2 D's

The Jets will be facing the Chicago Bears on Sunday and they run a Cover 2 Defense. Of course Lovie Smith comes from the Tony Dungy coaching tree who really created the Tampa 2 Defense that he then brought to the Colts. The cover 2 defense allows both safeties to split the field in half while the CB's and LB's cover everything underneath. I think the Jets style of offense really matches up well against the cover 2. Let's take a look at Sanchez's stats against other teams that run a cover 2 defense:

Week 5 - Minnesota Vikings - 21/44, 190 yds., 0 TD, 0 INT, 59.9 rating, 48 % completion percentage

Week 9 - Detroit Lions - 22/39, 336 yds., 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 rushing TD, 82.9 rating, 56 % completion percent

Week 11 - Houston Texans - 22/38, 315 yds., 3 TD, 1 INT, 100.2 rating, 58 % completion percentage

As you can see Sanchez did fairly well against the cover 2. The only game where he completed less than half of his passes was the Minnesota game. The thing with the cover 2 is you can create mismatches with LB's trying to cover WR's or TE's. Also you can really attack the middle of the field by say sending Edwards deep then sending Holmes on a post through the middle of the field, which will force the safety to decide who he is going to cover. I definitely think the Jet's can and will have success against the Bears on Sunday, as long as the O-Line can give Sanchez time and the weather is decent.

Rex Ryan and FEET????

courtesy of deadspin.com

Ok not really sure what to say about this story. It seems as though this is Rex Ryan's wife in this foot fetish video and it definitely sounds like his voice. I don't care what Rex does on his on time but you have to wonder what he was thinking in posting these video's to youtube. Did he not think someone was going to put two and two together?? I am no fan of Rex Ryan and this is a reason why. He brings bad publicity to the Jets on what is, almost a weekly basis. He has a press conference scheduled for 2:15 today. I am anxious to see what he has to say and see if he can remove the foot from his mouth!

Playoff Scenarios. . .

The Jets can clinch a playoff berth on Sunday with a WIN over the Bears OR a JAX tie/loss or an IND tie/loss.The team needs to take care of business on Sunday and defeat Chicago. With the Jets playing at one, the Jaguars also playing at 1, and the Colts playing at 4, they do not have the luxury of knowing whether they will be in before the game. So with all that said JUST WIN!

They did it!

Keith Srakocic - AP

Jets-22, Steelers-17: The Jets did the impossible last night, they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. While everyone had counted them out(including myself) they showed great resiliency and really took the fight to the Steelers. Mark Sanchez rebounded going 19-29 with 170 yds. and a crucial rushing TD. His bootleg fake on the Steelers seven yard line in the 3rd quarter was a thing of a beauty and a great play call by Brian Schottenheimer. The offensive line allowed one sack the whole game, James Harrison and Lamarr Woodley were non factors. The defense played average, except for Jason Taylor's safety in the 4th quarter, they had no answers for the Steelers reeling offense. I don't want to be debbie downer but the 3rd and 24 on the Steelers final drive should have never been converted. The unit stopped Big Ben when it mattered most and the Jets leave Pittsburgh with a win. At 10-4 the Jets need to win one of the last two games to clinch a playoff spot. The team will travel to Chicago next to take on the Bears.  

Safety position. . .

I forgot to mention this in my previous post. This will be the third week the defense will be without Jim Leonard. His replacement, Eric Smith, suffered a concussion last week and has been ruled out for this game. So who does that leave at safety? James Ihedigbo suffered a high ankle sprain in the NE game but should be able to play this week. Brodney Pool will take over the play calling responsibilites. This will also be Dwight Lowery's(pictured above) first game in the NFL as a saftey. He played safety in Junior College at Cabrillo College were he had 13 INT's in 15 games. He then went to San Jose State where he played CB. He was a two time All American and had 13 INT's.  He has the skills to be an excellent coverage safety but he is still a little small to be an every down safety. He feels that safety is the position best suited for him. He has one interception, this year,that was returned for a TD against the famous Brett Favre. Lowery is in his third year as he was drafted in the 3rd round out of San Jose State. Let's hope he does well and is not a liability.