Playoff Preview: New York Jets

Offensive MVP: WR Santonio Holmes

After missing the first four games of the season, Holmes was amazingly able to come back and fit into a new offense with the Jets. Holmes gave QB Mark Sanchez an instant security blanket, a guy he could rely on in big situations. The former Steeler has always had flair for the dramatic, and has been absolutely clutch this year, helping the Jets win three close games in a row in dramatic fashion. Holmes cooled off a bit at the end of the season, and everyone will remember the big drop he had against Miami, but expect the former Super Bowl MVP to have a big playoff run.

Defensive MVP: LB David Harris

No player has really stuck out this year, and a strong case can be made that S Jim Leonard was their defensive MVP before he went down with a season ending injury in week 12. The best player this year is probably the most unsung hero on the Jets defense. Harris is a consistent player that leads the team in tackles with 99 to go along with 3 sacks and a forced fumble.

Best Win: Week 15 at Pittsburgh

After being blown out by the Patriots 45-3, and then losing a close match-up against the Dolphins, many thought the Jets may have an epic collapse and miss the playoffs. Coming out and beating a very good Steelers team in a hostile environmental was a huge win. They showed a lot of toughness and character in this game. Their team could have easily made excuses and come out and played flat. Instead they rallied and showed those two losses were more of an aberration. If the Jets can beat the Colts in the first round of the playoffs, they will most likely end up facing the Steelers again and they know they can match-up with them even on the road.

Rookie Grade: D-

The Jets only had 4 draft picks but none of them had an impact this year. The Jets expected big things from first round pick CB Kyle Wilson but after starting the first two games, he basically disappeared and has not really had much impact this year. Second round pick G Vlad Ducasse had a chance to start at guard where the Jets were very weak, but was not able to win a starting position. RB Joe McKnight, who the Jets kept over RB Danny Woodhead, has been disappointing and did not really see the field until the end of the season. Overall, a underwhelming rookie class.

How Can They Make It To The Super Bowl: Mark Sanchez

Quarterbacks like Rex Grossman, Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson have shown that you don't necessarily need to be a star quarterback to lead your team to the super bowl. The Jets need Sanchez to be smart with the football and manage the game. The Jets have a lot of talented players around him that can make plays on their own, but when Sanchez has a bad game like he did against the Patriots and Dolphins in week 13 and 14, he gives his team no chance to win. The Jets have struggled with extra time off (lost first game of season, game after bye week, and long lead up to the Patriots game), and considering most of their starters sat out last game, it will be interesting to see if the trend continues.

MNF: Jets Perspective

Players to Watch

WR Braylon Edwards- He’s a homerun threat who could pose serious problems against the Patriots young defensive backs. He scored one touchdown against the Patriots the first time around, and will look to have another good game against them tonight.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson- He is the Jets leading rusher but also has been a big part of the Jets passing game, and a solid option for Sanchez out of the backfield. He doesn’t necessarily need carries to make his presence felt on offense. His legs have been winding down a little bit as the season has worn on, so watch for the Jets to utilize Tomlinson on screens and quick passes, where Tomlinson has space to work.

CB Darrelle Revis- He injured his hamstring trying to cover Moss during the first meeting with the Patriots, but with Moss gone his attention will likely shift to Wes Welker. Welker is Brady’s favorite target, and Welker’s effectiveness is a big determinant in how successful their offense is. Revis is known for his ability to cover elite receivers, but it will be interesting to see how he fares against one of the best route-running possession receivers in the NFL. Limiting Welker’s effectiveness is the first priority in stopping Tom Brady.

Key Matchup: Mark Sanchez vs. Patriots Secondary- Sanchez had his best game against the Patriots this year, but this time around will likely be a tougher test. No one is better at fixing their past mistakes than Belichick, so it will be interesting to see if Sanchez can beat the unfamiliar formations that he is likely to see. He’s thrown at least one interception in his last 6 games, and mistakes will kill you against an always capitalizing Patriots team. Will Ryan limit Sanchez to a game manager, or if he will let him try to replicate the success he had last time against New England? I'm betting the latter.

Why the Jets Will Win- The Jets have been squeaking by average opponents as of late, but Rex Ryan should have no problem pumping up his team against the Pats. Gillette Stadium is one of the toughest places to play, especially in December, but the Jets are a team built to play in the cold, with their excellent running game, and brutal run defense. If Mark Sanchez can limit his mistakes, and the pass defense can shut down Welker, I think the Jets will be able to sweep the Patriots this year. The offense is good enough for 3 touchdowns against the Patriots, which will be good enough for the W.

Prediction: Jets 24, Patriots 20

MNF: Patriots Perspective

Players to Watch

Patriots' Tight Ends - The one place Tom Brady and the Patriots may want to attack the Jets' defense is in the middle of the field with their tight ends. The Jets have very talented corners, so the best option may be trying to beat their linebackers and safeties (especially because the Jets are missing the quarterback of the defense in S Jim Leonard). Look for Aaron Hernandez (who went for over 100 yards last game against the Jets), Rob Gronkowski, and Alge Crumpler to have a huge impact.

RB Danny Woodhead - I think Woodhead will have a big game against his former teammates. Lining it up and trying to run straight at the Jets defense is tough, so the Patriots will probably spread them out and feature Woodhead a good amount in the passing game. Woodhead averages 5.4 yards per carry and has already racked up 24 receptions for 230 yards in limited playing time.

CB Devin McCourty - McCourty has really come on as of late, bringing in 5 interceptions in the last 6 games and defending 9 passes. McCourty is a very good looking rookie that has started all 11 games and is second on the Pats with 61 tackles, if he continues his great play he should be in the running for defensive rookie of the year.

Key Matchup: Antonio Cromartie vs. Patriots Smaller Receivers - One of the reasons the Jets beat the Patriots in their first match-up was because of Cromartie's dominant play against WR Randy Moss (who did not have a reception when Cromartie was covering him). With Moss now off the team, Cromartie will be matched up against the Patriots' smaller, quicker receivers. Cromartie has been known to lock on to bigger faster receivers and dominate them, but it will be interesting to see if he can dominate tonight.

Why the Patriots Will Win - Tom Brady is playing his best football. Brady has been absolutely dominant in his last 3 games. He looks extremely confident in the offense and reminds me of the Tom Brady from the super bowl winning seasons. He is spreading the ball out to a lot of different players, finding the open guy and protecting the ball (13 touchdowns 0 interceptions last 6 games). I expect Brady to put up great numbers tonight and get his 25th straight win at Foxborough even with the cold, windy conditions.

Prediction: Patriots 34 Jets 17

MNF Preview: Jets

Players to watch

LaDainian Tomlinson- He is averaging a CAREER best 6.1 ypg which is quite a statement by the 31 year-old who is trying to be one of the few running backs who have been able to be effective after the age of 30.

Darrelle Revis- In his first game back after tweaking his hamstring, Revis will get a chance at redemption against Randy “The Sloth” Moss after “The Sloth” embarrassed him on the injury inducing touchdown.

Santonio Holmes- The former Super Bowl MVP wide receiver makes his return from suspension, and looks to build upon the success of his first 1000 yard season last year.

Calvin Pace- The outside linebacker, who is returning from a foot injury, will also see his first action of the season this year and is a huge upgrade on defense as he is able to provide a consistent pass rush for the Jets as he was able to register 8 sacks in only 12 games last year.

Key Matchups

LT vs. Willliams Brothers- LT and the Jets #1 rushing attack will go up against the Vikings #9 defense against the rush. It’s a battle of strength vs. strength and it will be up to brothers Pat and Kevin Williams to make sure every yard LT gains is hard-earned.

Antonio Cromartie vs. The Vikings Wide Receivers- With the success against Moss filling in for Revis, it will be interesting to see whether the Jets elect to have Cromartie cover Moss or Percy Harvin for the majority of the game. Either way, Cromartie will see a lot of opportunities to make some big plays and intercept some questionable Brett Favre passes if the Jets defense is able to shut down Adrian Peterson.

Why the Jets Will Win- While the Vikings improved their chances with the addition of Randy Moss, the Jets are far too talented on both sides of the ball to lose this game. Mark Sanchez has done exactly what the Jets have asked of him over the last three games, and this is likely to continue against a Vikings defense that is ranked 23^rd against the pass, especially with the addition of Santonio Holmes. Both teams are excellent run defenders, but also are committed to running the ball so we could see a war of attrition as the teams grind it out. The Jets defense has excellent defensive backs that will likely cause nightmares for Brett Favre. The “Old Gunslinger however may be having more nightmares about the potential repercussions of alleged inappropriate messages sent to former Jets employee Jenn Sterger. If the NFL finds that Favre indeed sent the messages, his record consecutive start streak could be broken by a suspension of all things. This game will cement Favre’s regret of coming back for one more season.

Final Score: Jets 27, Vikings 13

AFC & NFC East Quarter Review

NFC East- This division is completely up for grabs.

By New Contributor Jimmy Hawley

Washington Redskins (2-2)

Washington has been greatly improved by the arrival of new coach Mike Shanahan and longtime Eagles QB Donovan McNabb. The team has to be ecstatic about their 2-0 start within the division with big wins over the Cowboys and the Eagles. While the loss to the Rams was a little baffling, the Redskins have shown a new toughness under Shanahan and even Albert Haynesworth, who has been a major distraction this season, played very well against the Eagles.

Standout Players: Donovan McNabb, Brian Orakpo, Santana Moss

New York Giants (2-2)

The Giants finally saw the resurgence of their defense in their last game against the Bears, registering an

incredible 10 sacks. The defense, which looked awful in the loss to the Colts, is starting to find its rhythm. The offense, however, is still a big problem spot, and they need improved play out of Eli Manning if they want to contend in the division.

Standout Players: Ahmad Bradshaw, Hakeem Nicks, Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck

Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)

Philadelphia may have taken for granted how great it is to have a reliable QB in Donovan McNabb. The concussion to QB Kevin Kolb opened up the door for Michael Vick to showcase what could only be characterized as a MVP performance in his first three appearances, leaving Kolb, who was once thought of as the future franchise QB as merely an afterthought. Vickmania may need to cool down, however, as Vick suffered an injury to his ribs. The injury is not likely to keep Vick out of action for more than two weeks, but it is obvious the type of style Vick plays makes him more susceptible to injuries. Kevin Kolb will get the chance in the mean time to try to show why the Eagles traded away McNabb, and QB situation in Philadelphia will likely be a yearlong storyline and continue into the offseason. Despite the issues, the Eagles are right in the mix to contend for the division and have the talent to rise to the top, however that chance will suffer if Vick cannot stay healthy.

Standout Players: Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy

Dallas Cowboys (1-2)

Dallas seems to have one of the most talented teams in the league every year, yet it is always a question of if that talent can translate into wins. The Cowboys are usually a team that starts out great and fades as the season progresses, but this year they have struggled right out of the gate. A mediocre offensive line has made the running game practically nonexistent. They may have righted the ship with the win against the Texans, but the team has a brutal schedule this year. The defense is solid but does not create many turnovers and if they continue to be a one dimensional team on offense, they will not be able to win the division.

Standout Players: Tony Romo, Miles Austin, DeMarcus Ware

Prediction: The Giants defense and improved play from Eli Manning earns New York the division title in what will likely be the closest divisional race in the NFC.

AFC East – One of the strongest divisions in the NFL

By Keith McGonigle

New York Jets (3-1)

After a tough season opening loss to the Ravens, everyone criticized Jets and the arrogance they displayed in Hard Knocks. Since then, however, they have looked like the super bowl contenders they talked about. Mark Sanchez has really come on, throwing 8 touchdowns 0 interceptions in the last three games. Rex Ryan’s defense has had some injuries, but they have not lost a step. With WR Santonio Holmes coming back from his suspension and CB Darrelle Revis and LB Calvin Pace both coming back from injury, it is scary to think how good the Jets could be.

Surprise players: LaDainian Tomlinson, Mark Sanchez, Dustin Keller

New England Patriots (3-1)

The Patriots first three games were a roller coaster ride, but they are coming off a huge road game against the Miami Dolphins, a team they have struggled against in the past. Bill Belichick’s teams are usually defined by veteran players and high IQ guys. This year the Patriots team is filled with a lot of young fast players that are still trying to grasp all the concepts. Six rookies have started and contributed so far this year. The offense has been very efficient; they haven’t put up great stats, but lead the NFL in points per game. The big question will be can the young defensive players mature and play like a Belichick coached team.

Surprise Players: Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski, Brandon Tate, Patrick Chung

Miami Dolphins (2-2)

Many people picked the Dolphins to win the AFC East this year so the 2-2 start is somewhat disappointing. Overall, the Dolphins have played pretty well except a few phases of the game. They just fired their special teams coach after two poor performances against the Jets and Patriots. They have also had too many turnovers and some questionable play calling. The talent is still there though; individually a lot of players have done well. They have a very tough stretch of games coming up; we will see what the Dolphins are made of in the coming weeks.

Surprise Players: Davone Bess, Cameron Wake, Jason Allen

Buffalo Bills (0-4)

There really is not a lot to say about the Buffalo Bills. They are the worst team in the NFL. You have to think that this season they are just playing for the first overall pick in next year’s draft, so they can finally get a franchise QB. The only problem is the Bills are so bad at drafting I don’t know if they will even select a QB.

Surprise Players: CJ Spiller. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Steve Johnson

Prediction: It will come down to the Patriots and Jets. The Jets are a very streaky team so I am nervous to just give them the AFC East. I think the Patriots will end up taking it and the Jets will get in with the Wild Card.

New York Jets 2010 Analysis and Preview

Last Years Record 9-7

Wins: Texans, Patriots, Titans, Raiders, Panthers, Bills, Bucs, Colts, Bengals

Losses: Saints, Dolphins (2x), Bills, Jaguars, Patriots, Falcolns

Biggest Playmaker Darrelle Revis

CB, Pittsburg, Drafted #14, 4^th year
Revis established himself as one of the top 3 corner backs in the NFL last year. He helped shut down countless big time players. With the addition of Antonio Cromartie, the Jets defense may be unstoppable this year.

Impact Player Nick Mangold

C, Ohio State, Drafted #29, 5^th year

In a 5 year span, Mangold has become the best center in football. He paved the way for the best rushing attack last year, and he is the signal caller for the best offensive line in the NFL.

Biggest Free Agent Addition Antonio Cromartie

CB, Florida St., Drafted #19, 5^th year

They actually acquired Cromartie via trade, but this had to be their biggest off-season transaction. The addition of Antonio Cromartie to the Jets secondary is just scary. In his first year as a starter in San Diego, Cromartie was a playmaker who racked up 10 interceptions and 19 pass deflections. Since then his production has fallen off, but if the 6’2”, 26 year old corner could return to his form all NFL QB’s should be pretty nervous. Revis and Cromartie could be the best cornerback tandem in the NFL this year.

Biggest Offseason Loss Thomas Jones

RB, Virginia, Drafted #7, 11^th year

The biggest loss for the Jets is Thomas Jones. They lost a guy who had 1300+ yards and 13+ touchdowns the last two seasons. They are replacing him with LaDainian Tomlinson who has been on the decline since his great year in 2006. It simply does not make sense from any standpoint. Losing a dependable back like Jones, and bringing in a wild card like LT and for some reason paying him more money is not a very smart move.

Biggest Draft Steal Joe McKnight

RB, USC, Drafted #112, Rookie

McKnight was supposed to be the next Reggie Bush at USC but never ended up having the same production. He has great speed, quickness and hands and at worst will be a good 3^rd down back that can help replace Leon Washington. Had Joe stayed in college one more year and not entered the draft after his junior season he would have had a good chance of being drafted in the first two rounds, so this is definitely a steal for the Jets.

Biggest Draft Reach None

Offseason Grade A-

Losing Thomas Jones could be a big loss, but they had a great offseason. Trading for Antonio Cromartie and Santonio Holmes for low draft picks were great moves because they are low risk, high reward guys. They also had a very solid draft adding depth in the secondary, offensive line and running game. Adding a veteran like Jason Taylor can’t hurt either. If you are a Jets fan you have to be happy with how the offseason played out.

X-Factor Mark Sanchez

QB, USC, Drafted #5, 2^nd year

The Jets boasted the best defense and rushing attack in the NFL last year, the one piece they were missing, however, was a great passing attack. If Sanchez can put it all together the Jets could be the total package and a tough team to beat.

Name You Should Know Jimmy Leonhard

SS, Wisconsin, Undrafted, 6^th year

A former walk-on in college and was undrafted rookie, Leonhard got his first chance as a full time starter last year. He ended up playing all 16 games and racking up 76 tackles. At 5’8” Leonard is not afraid to deliver a blow and help out blitzing the QB. He is a fun player to watch and should only get better.

Rising Star David Harris

ILB, Michigan, Drafted #47, 4^th year

In only his 3^rd season as a pro Harris led the team in tackles with 127 tackles, and racked up 5.5 sacks, 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles, some impressive numbers for an inside linebacker. Look for him to continue his success this year.

Offensive Outlook B+

The only thing that held the Jets back last year was their inability to pass the ball effectively every game. Sanchez has shown flashes of brilliance and if he could play consistently well the offense will be hard to stop. Look for RB Shonn Greene to have a possible break out season.

Defensive Outlook A

Somehow the Jets have been able to improve on last year’s number one rated defense. With the addition of some new key players and Rex Ryan blitzing scheme it would be surprising to see their defense not ranked in the top 5.

Special Teams Outlook C-

Losing Leon Washington, one of the best return men in the game will be a big blow for their special teams. K Nick Folk and P Steve Wheatherford are both guys that you are not going to write home about.

Projected 2010 Record 11-5

The Jets have a chance of being a very good team this year. Unfortunately they have a very tough schedule ahead of them. Playing in the AFC east is never easy but they also have the Ravens, Vikings, Green Bay and Steelers as out of conference opponents. The biggest thing for them really is Mark Sanchez, if he has a great year they could easily win 14+ games.