That’s of course referring to the way the Jets approached their Week 2 game against the Patriots, and the team showed no hangover effect in a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. In doing so, they made a very clear statement that the AFC East is their division to lose.
The Jets have done seemingly everything right the last three weeks as Mark Sanchez became the first rookie quarterback to ever start his career 3-0. Rex Ryan‘s influence has been evident in just about every facet of the Jets’ game, and Sanchez’s fearless dive into the end zone on Sunday was just the latest example.
“Guys rallied around that,’’ Jets safety Kerry Rhodes told The New York Post. “When your leader is diving in headfirst to make a play, that permeates down through the rest of the team.’’
It was also fitting that the Jets were wearing their throwback jerseys from when the team was known as the Titans, as they bettered their modern-day Titans counterpart in New Jersey. Newcomer Bart Scott was convinced of that after the game.
“This team is built on tough, gritty players who can adjust to any style of football,” Scott told the Post. “We played basketball the first couple of weeks. This week was smash mouth. We’re built for that. Any way they want to play, we’ll play.’’
The Jets were coming off a solid 16-9 win over the Patriots, who badly needed a win in Foxborough on Sunday. They got their win, and perhaps even more importantly, they played solid defense against a potent Atlanta offense, even without Vince Wilfork for half the game and Jerod Mayo for its entirety.
“Total team effort, we just have to go out there on defense and execute and we did that,” Patriots cornerback Terrence Wheatley said after the game. “We didn’t blow any coverages, we played physical, we played hard and just did our assignments, and that’s what you get when you play smart football.”
Smart football has become the calling card of the Patriots during the Bill Belichick–Tom Brady era, and though the Patriots are clearly still working through a number of minor issues, Sunday’s win was indicative of what anyone who’s watched football this decade has come to expect out of New England.
Meanwhile, the division’s other two teams have left more than a little to be desired through the season’s first three weeks.
The 0-3 Dolphins lost in San Diego in a game that was more than winnable. With LaDainian Tomlinson inactive for the Bolts, the Dolphins lost Chad Pennington in the third quarter and were forced to insert Chad Henne at quarterback. That move left football fans around the nation to beg the question, “Chad … Henne?”
Couldn’t Pat White have taken some snaps? Or maybe let Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams take turns? Or maybe just keep punting and hope to at least win the battle of field position?
The answer was no, and instead the Dolphins’ offense — which has looked to be their only strength — was completely neutralized (except for a spectacular scoring play engineered by Henne, who threw a pass from about three yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Whoops!).
In short, it was a game that last year’s Dolphins would have won. But through three weeks and three losses, it’s pretty clear that these aren’t last year’s Dolphins.
Then there are the Bills. An impressive performance on the season’s first Monday night didn’t result in a win for Buffalo, but it looked to be a sign that these Bills were different. That thought was reinforced in Week 2, when the Bills gained 438 yards in a 33-20 win over the Buccaneers. As it turns out, the Bucs are the leaders in the clubhouse for being the league’s worst team this year (though the Rams and the Browns may have something to say about that by season’s end).
This week, quarterback Trent Edwards seemed to be unaware that lining up for his team was Terrell Owens, one of the best receivers in the history of football. Owens’ final stats? Zero catches, zero yards, zero touchdowns, zero celebrations.
He was targeted just five times, which was bad for him but good for anyone who enjoys a little entertainment. After the game, The T.O. Show was in full effect.
Q: What did you think of the offense overall?
Terrell Owens: Didn’t execute.
Q: Why do you think the offense didn’t execute?
T.O.: We lost the game, what do you think?
Q: On the deep ball at the tunnel end, did you pull up on that?
T.O.: No.
Q: Trent couldn’t get the ball downfield and it seemed like everything was short and checkdowns.
T.O.: I was just going with the plays that were called.
Q: Was it something their defense was doing out there?
T.O.: Didn’t you just watch the game? What do you think?
Q: You tell me, you’re out there.
T.O.: I’m just going with the plays that are called.
Q: Your frustration level right now?
T.O.: I’m good. Just got to get ready for next week.
Q: Do you feel you and Lee [Evans] are being wasted in this offense?
T.O.: We’re just going with the plays that are called.
Q: You could say “no” right there.
T.O.: I’m just going with the plays that are called.
Q: Do you like the plays that are called?
T.O.: Whether I like them or don’t, I’m just going with the plays that are called.
Q: How about the decisions that are made after the plays are called? The quarterback’s decisions after the play is called?
T.O.: You’d have to ask him.
Q: I’m asking what you think.
T.O.: I don’t want to answer that because whatever I say you guys are [going to] turn it into however you want to say it.
Q: We’ll print whatever you say word for word.
T.O.: I just answered you, sir.
The T.O. Show didn’t end there, however, as his Twitter updates on his way home went from happy and hungry to annoyed and angry in an upstate New York minute.
7:54 p.m.: “N traffic hungry as a hostage!! Who’s playing the sun nite game 2nite? Cn’t wait 2 get hm & kick my feet up!”
9:29 p.m., after being informed that Rodney Harrison called him a clown on NBC’s pregame show: I could less about Rodney Harrison! Anybody tht using steroids, yes STEROIDS rodney, is a cheater & cheated the game!
9:31 p.m.: “Is tht Y u used steroids b/c u were worried about ur stats or ws it b/c u were losing it? Lol! U’re a loser & a cheater? Got any steroid …”
9:32 p.m.: “Hey rodney! Send me sum steroids 2 the Bills facility next week!”
What does this have to do with football? Well, nothing of course. But the Bills brought the T.O. circus upon themselves, and that will remain the focus as long as Owens is in Buffalo.
Fortunately, though, the Bills play in Miami next week before hosting Cleveland in Week 5. If the Bills can win those two games, they can get their season back on track before losing to the Jets in Week 6.
So while it’s still awfully early in the season to say anything with certainty, it looks like the AFC East will be a two-team race.
