I think he's dead on: WHAT I SAW -- Everyone's saying that the Vince Wilfork play in the third quarter, when he scooped up a deflected backward pass and ran it down to the Jets' 15, just as New York was starting to move, was the game's turning point. Pure nonsense. One of those idiot myths that surrounds playoff contests, such as the one that says the Larry Seiple fake punt run turned the Dolphins' 1972 AFC Championship game against the Steelers. New England was leading by seven at the time. The Wilfork play set up a field goal, but the Jets, who supposedly had the steam knocked out of them, drove the length of the field and kicked a field goal, themselves, on their next possession. So it was back to seven points with 11:39 left. What won it for the Patriots was that they got their running game going, and Brady connected with his wideouts, and they drove 63 yards for the clinching touchdown. The rest was window dressing. I thought Chad Pennington matched Brady, stroke for stroke, for much of the way. The Patriot defense never forced a Jets punt for the whole second half. The difference, though, was that the Jets had been bluffing their way through much of the season, without a running game, and this time it bit them. If I were New York, I'd pick up a big back and some run-blocking linemen in the off-season, but that's another story.
He mades a good point. Even after the play we were in it, but being down 2 scores was a big turning point. In my opinion, the turning point was letting up the TD with 11 seconds to go in the 2nd. I know, we were still 1 score down, but if we let up 3, it would have been such a victory going into the locker room.
I can't argue with that analysis. The defense could use some tweaking too, but I think the RB and some run support is a good move this year.
I think the turnover gave a lot of momentum to the Pats, so I definately say that was the turning point. Up till then, the Jets hadn't shot themselves in the foot at all in the game really.
I think the fumble was the key play - we were driving downfield, I felt, inexorably, on our way to tying the game - Leon was running for big gains, Chad was finding the receivers. That play just killed us stone dead. OK, NE put together a good 4th quarter drive, but if we're tied at that stage it's less crushing and likely we don't force the play that led to the interception.
I think you hit the nail on the head. We clearly had all the momentum before that happened and were starting to move the ball on the ground very well. It really felt like we were about to take that game over. Down 2 scores with 10 minutes left you can't commit to the running game like you can down 1 score or tied (obviously).
I agree that the fumble knocked the shi^ out of us and sent us packing, but... it is very true that with a big bruiser in there wearing down d-lines, we would have played better all season. CP is one of the best play-action QBs of all time, WHEN HE HAS A QUALITY RB (Curtis)... If we had made the move for Thomas or some other back we would have done better.
I bet we have a 6 foot something 280 pound back-up D Lineman on the roster or practice squad that would LOVE a crack at running the ball right up the gut 10 times a game. A BT/SE type with nothing better to do then take the handoff and plow forward.
He'd have hands of stone and the moves of a spastic sloth. That's why almost nobody tries this tactic.
No, but they did force an interception returned for a touchdown as well as a fumble returned to like the 15 yard line. I'd take those two plays over a few punts any day of the week if I were the Patriots.
ill tell you why it isnt "pure nonsense"... the jets were moving the ball pretty well, and even though the VW fumble return only netted 3 points at the time for NE, it totally changed the game and perspective. yes, we scored another FG AFTER,...but that fumble recovery/return turned the tide of the game. after that drive, NE found their ground game, and you could see them playing with a newfound resilliancy. so your point that they won due to the ground attack got on track isnt wrong, but i think youre not crediting the reason behind it....which is that play with wilfork. we (as far as the draft) need a FB imo...and look to my sig to see whom i would enjoy seeing changing from red to green....we also need a big back. i dont mean big like 250+, but a back that we could put in as the featured runner.
Its hopeful thinking but they were just better than us. To win that game we would had needed some breakout plays by their mistakes for example our special teams returning a kick for a TD, or an interception return for a TD. That fumble we recored was kinda of a shot to the foot too since we didn't score the 7. Just a field goal. Also that first drive in the second half we didn't finish. Just got another field goal out of it. They made the plays when they had to and we didn't and why? because they had more playmakers and were just bigger and stronger then us. End of story.
The Jets "moved the ball pretty well" most of the game ... until the red zone. The Jets scored one TD on a missed assignment that went 70 yards. The Jets were already down a TD at that point and didn't score another TD the entire game. The Patriots already had the winning margin. Thats why its nonsense.
im a new poster,been a jet fan all my life,and all i can say is we were over acheiving to be playing the pats last sunday anyway.no individual faults dictated our demise.maybe a better offseason than the one we had last season can get us on even ground with them and the rest of the afc.i personally cant wait to see what management does.
interesting. i pegged the same turning point in my "Defensive Upgrades" thread. if the Defense comes up with a stop - with plenty of time left - we have a chance to tie the game. however, my solution wasn't to improve the running game, but to improve the D so next year they make that stop and give the Offense the ball back to tie/win the game. cheers
What we need is a good poll that asks the question "What lame thread will #1 Jets Fan start next". :breakdance: The fact you even have to ask this question is an obvious cry for help.
Hey,people. I'm also a new poster, but I read the threads on this site daily, as I value many of your opinions. Just to briefly introduce myself, I'm a big Jets fan, a season ticket holder since the 1-15 season, section 314, I'm neither a darksider nor a sunshiner, but consider myself an optimistic realist. With regard to this thread,while the blocked lateral pretty much put us away, I believe the difference between us and the Pats was our inability to score touchdowns. We pretty much had a one dimensional offense this year, and the fact that we made the playoffs was more a testament to our heart than our skill level. That we went toe to toe with the Patriots and held our own sends them a clear signal that there will be a day when they have to reckon with us very soon. But it takes baby steps to build a powerhouse team. We need to increase the size of our offensive line this offseason (including D'brick) and bring in a feature back that can give you 100 yds each week a la Curtis. Our defense is good, but we need a pass rusher and a shutdown corner (everybody does as well). I question whether we can get all that done this offseason. This season was a blast. Next season will be as well. Under this CS, I believe we'll eventually get to the show. Sorry about the speech, I guess I have a lot to say.
The turnover didnt seal it, but I dont think you can point to any other single play that did more to determine the games outcome. Jets are driving, lots of time left on the clock, one score game... and all of a sudden, the Patriots have the ball, they go on to wear a few minutes off the clock and make it a two score game. It was by no means a back breaker, but I would say it was the play that turned an even, back-and-forth contest into an uphill battle for the Jets, which is not their forte. Dr. Z is right though, the Jets managed to scrape together a rushing game with reverses and draws and tosses, but never had the ability to line up and run for 4 yards on first down. Its scary to think how effective this offense would be if it had that, and its exciting to think that it probably will next season.
Actually there was one other play that comes to mind when I think of "chances" that we let slip away last Sunday. It was not a play that lost us the game but a play that could have helped us win the game. The last possession we had before the half. We were driving pretty good and we had a 3rd and long. Chad is pressured, rolls out and finds an open reciever. Unfortunately, the play ended up well short of the first down and we punted. The reason this play comes to mind is it looked like Chad had time after the scramble to find a reciever on the positive side of the first down mark. The other thing was CBS panned the faces of a few of the NE defensive players and they were sucking big time wind. I thought to myself that this was a drive to take advantage of the situation and getting the momentum more securely in our corner. Unfortunately if it is any kind of 3rd and somewhat long we are doomed. We punt and NE drives the field before the half.
