A Comeback Win of Historic Proportions

WhiteShoeWillis · Nov 23, 2010

Posted by Randy Lange on November 22, 2010 – 6:07 pm

Rex Ryan and the Jets don’t prefer to have themselves and their fans reaching for the Digitalis at the ends of games this season. But Rex recalled, about 24 hours after the Jets’ latest heart-arresting development, the 30-27 home win over the Texans, telling owner Woody Johnson why this game was good for the Jets’ health in the coming months.

“I’ll sign up for a win of any kind,” Ryan repeated at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center following this afternoon’s walkthrough. “It didn’t have to be that close, obviously, but the fact that we came back might be better for our team in the long run. The mental toughness, the resolve it took, the fact that our young quarterback led our team down the field when it looked like things were stacked against us, I think is better for our team.”

One thing is certain — there has been no better win of this kind for the Jets in their history. Their 16-point lead is the largest in the fourth quarter in franchise history that they lost in a game they ultimately came back to win. It’s an obscure factoid, but Jets fans may remember the two previous record holders in this category.

In the 1968 Super Bowl season, they turned a 13-0 lead into a 14-13 deficit at Houston on two Don Trull touchdown passes, then beat the Oilers, 20-14, on Matt Snell’s 2-yard TD run. In 2004 at the old Meadowlands, they lost a 13-0 advantage over the Bills on two Drew Bledsoe TD passes but pulled out the 16-14 win on Doug Brien’s field goal with 58 seconds left.

In any event, Jets Nation doesn’t have to debate too long this week whether their favorite team is lucky or good because the Green & White have already moved into short-week mode to prepare for their next home game Thanksgiving night against the Bengals.

“This week has to be about your mental preparation, your focus,” the head coach said. “We’ve got to study, we’ve got to spend more time in the classroom than on the practice field. This team played two overtime games on the road, came right back home with a tough one yesterday, then they play Thursday night. The physical part’s got to be done Thursday. There’s a lot of doing things on your own and in the classroom to make sure we have everything dialed in so we can have a physical game Thursday.”

That will be required because even though Cincinnati fell from ahead to a 49-31 home loss to the Bills on Sunday for their seventh straight defeat, there’s no guarantee the Bengals will come to New Meadowlands Stadium feeling like a beaten team.

“We’re really gong to be challenged by this group,” Ryan said. “They’ve got two Pro Bowl receivers, a Pro Bowl running back, a Pro Bowl quarterback and a big tight end. Our defense will definitely be challenged. But again, I think we’ll be up to it.”

Tired? Perhaps, but Ryan also warned those working the angle that LaDainian Tomlinson is tiring out too quickly might be mistaken.

“I like this ‘lack of production by LT the last two weeks,’ ” Ryan said. “That’s all right. He’s had 100 yards two weeks [actually three weeks] in a row. Maybe the lack of rushing average, I can see that as a legitimate thing, but he’s gone over 200 yards the last two games. We’ll take that from him.”

Specifically, Tomlinson had 12 carries for 36 yards, 3.0 per carry, vs. the Texans’ packed-in defense. Both the yardage and the average were his lowest game figures as a Jet. However, LT countered that with seven catches for 71 yards at 10.1 per catch — all three figures highs for his Jets career. The result is that he finished with 107 yards from scrimmage, his third 100-yard game in a row and sixth of the season.

So go to sleep on the Jets if you want, walk out of NMS with a minute to go if you dare, but you could be sorry. The Jets are not winning the preferred way, but they’re getting really good at the unorthodox method.

Health Watch

Ryan was not required to give an injury report yet this week but he ran down his “if we would’ve had a real practice today” list. At the top was RT Damien Woody, who left after the last offensive play of the first quarter with a knee injury.

“Damien hasn’t had his MRI yet,” Ryan said late this afternoon. “If he’s ready to go, he’ll be in there. If not, we feel good about Wayne Hunter. We feel like we have the best backup tackle in football in Wayne and if he has to play, we feel he’ll make a good account of himself.”

Ryan already said CB Dwight Lowery (concussion) will sit out a second game. He wasn’t sure about WR Jerricho Cotchery (groin): “We think he’s doing well. Will he be good enough to play on Thursday? I’m not sure.”

Players who would have been limited today were Marquice Cole (hamstring), Drew Coleman (“He had a little groin issue during the game”), Shaun Ellis (knee), Sione Pouha (ankle) and Brad Smith (low back). “Full” practicers would have been David Harris (calf), James Ihedigbo (neck), Nick Mangold (shoulder), Calvin Pace (foot), Darrelle Revis (hamstring) and Mark Sanchez (calf).

Dangerous from Third-and-10

Here’s an odd little number. Most of the Jets’ third-down conversion rates for different yardage are in keeping with an offense with a 41.1 percent conversion rate. All except third-and-10. The Jets have converted nine of their 11 tries from that distance this season, including both tries Sunday, one on a 12-yard Sanchez scramble and the other on an 18-yard completion to Tomlinson. That 81.8 percent rate compares favorably to the Jets’ third-and-10 success rate from 2000-09 (including playoffs) of 25.8 percent.

Weatherford Still Hangin’ ‘Em High

Two more measures of how well Steve Weatherford has been punting this season. Against the Texans he averaged 47.5 yards gross and 45.3 net on his four punts. The gross was fine but the net was great — it was the Jets’ third-best net (minimum of four punts) since net yardage began to be recorded in 1976, trailing only Brian Hansen’s 48.0 at Houston and 46.3 at Miami, both in 1994. And so Weatherford’s game was the best net punting by a Jet in a home game in 35 seasons.

And dare we say Weatherford has mastered the drop punt? He’s hit 15 of the Aussie-style end-over-end punts this season, including one vs. the Texans. Thirteen have been downed inside the 20, five inside the 10, only one has gone for a touchback and only one has been returned.
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http://blog.newyorkjets.com/2010/11/22/excitement-past-focus-and-determination-ahead/

624 · Nov 23, 2010

Good stuff by Weatherford

Rascio · Nov 23, 2010

Should let Woody take a break this game and plug in Duccasse and Hunter.. With the next game coming on a monday night it's basically like a bye week and the rest couldn't come at a better time for cotchery as well.

Rascio · Nov 23, 2010

And Weatherford has been spot on great this year so far.

milo · Nov 23, 2010

Trying to find the stat on the greatest Thanksgiving Day comeback in NFL history so I know what we have to do this week...

Milliner is your Mommy · Nov 23, 2010

Rascio said: ↑

Should let Woody take a break this game and plug in Duccasse and Hunter.. With the next game coming on a monday night it's basically like a bye week and the rest couldn't come at a better time for cotchery as well.
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When ever I read Duccasse I think of Ramstein.

Italian Seafood · Nov 23, 2010

This game reminded me a lot of 1981, also on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, the Jets beat Miami 16-15 to gain a share of first place. It was the first time in November since I think the 60s. Similar in that the D held Miami to a FG on a big stop by Abdul Salaam keeping the game to one score, 15-9. Richard Todd then drove the Jets to the winning TD over the final 2:00, hitting Jerome Barkum in the final seconds for a 16-15 win. By virtue of beating and tying Miami that year, we were in first place at 6-4-1. We didn't end up winning the division but it got us a share of first like we have now.

Rascio · Nov 23, 2010

milo said: ↑

Trying to find the stat on the greatest Thanksgiving Day comeback in NFL history so I know what we have to do this week...
Click to expand...

Bears vs Lions 1980... Bears overcame a 14 point 4th quarter deficit to force overtime and win it on a Dave Williams 95 yard kick return

MadBacker Prime · Nov 23, 2010

Rascio said: ↑

Should let Woody take a break this game and plug in Duccasse and Hunter.. With the next game coming on a monday night it's basically like a bye week and the rest couldn't come at a better time for cotchery as well.
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You'll get your wish about Woody-

"RichCimini Rich Cimini
#Jets RT Damien Woody (knee) not practicing. Don't expect him to play Thursday. Told he has legit sprain."

Italian Seafood · Nov 23, 2010

I'd say Hunter, not sure about Duccasse. We don't need to get our QB killed.

dthomas53 · Nov 23, 2010

So go to sleep on the Jets if you want, walk out of NMS with a minute to go if you dare, but you could be sorry.
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I really hope the fans that walked out on their team to beat the traffic learned something this past Sunday. Our team is 8-2, and quite possibly on pace for their best season since '98, or maybe even since '68 rolleyes. For as much as we harp on their imperfections week in and week out (offseason included), and demand greatness from a NY team, I think we owe them a couple extra minutes of our Sunday, even if things look bleak.

And for some who don't think the team notices when the couple of fans boo (yep, 7-2 and still some jacka** fans were booing them at times), or when the damn-near whole stadium empties with time left on the clock, I hope these gentle jabs serve notice.

Our team is building something that has the look of a contender in 2010. So, please... get to your seats early (if possible), stay in them till 0:00, make some damn noise on *all* defensive downs, and show your team you love what they're doing for you this season. 8-2 don't come along every year...

Rascio · Nov 23, 2010

MadBacker Prime said: ↑

You'll get your wish about Woody-

"RichCimini Rich Cimini
#Jets RT Damien Woody (knee) not practicing. Don't expect him to play Thursday. Told he has legit sprain."
Click to expand...

I immediately regret my post and now need to be slapped... repeatedly..

milo · Nov 23, 2010

Rascio said: ↑

Bears vs Lions 1980... Bears overcame a 14 point 4th quarter deficit to force overtime and win it on a Dave Williams 95 yard kick return
Click to expand...

Oh fuck it that's nothing. Rex should Freeway them the first two drives befor we start picking Palmer off.

fozzi58 · Nov 23, 2010

Rascio said: ↑

I immediately regret my post and now need to be slapped... repeatedly..
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I guess your not switching with 3rdand15 now....

Rascio · Nov 23, 2010

fozzi58 said: ↑

I guess your not switching with 3rdand15 now....
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:sad:

/filler

A Comeback Win of Historic Proportions

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