MVN - Most Valuable Network

Ravens - 20 Jets - 13: Game Slips Through McCariens Hands

The score was 20-13 with under 2 minutes to play. Kellen Clemens dropped back to pass from Baltimore’s 30 yard line and confidently fired a perfect strike down the middle of the field to a wide open Justin McCariens….20-20 and a comeback for the ages was in sight. Yet, the ball glanced right through #81’s hands, ripping the heart of Jets fans outs. However, Clemens and the Jets didn’t quit, after a pretty sideline grab by Laveraneus Coles the Jets were at the 8 yard line with four chances to tie the game. Unfortunately for the Jets, lightning struck twice as another pass bounced off McCariens hands and into the hands of Ray Lewis, ending the game.

The first three quarters of the game went the way most football analysts and negative Jet fans expected it to go. Clemens looked tentative in the pocket against Baltimore’s defense, as they struggled to move the ball with any consistency. The defense lacked a pass rush and wasn’t making any big plays, as the Jets fell into a 20-3 hole in a very uneventful and painful game for Jets fans to watch.

With the score 20-3 and about 14 minutes to play something clicked for the first time this season. The Jets offense showed signs of life, they mounted an impressive drive and kicked a field goal, making it a two possession game at 20-6. In the spot where the Jets defense usually allows a killer drive that runs the clock down, they actually got off the field. The offense took the field again and Jerricho Cotchery began to take over as he turned a simple curl route into a monster gain of 44 yards, for the second time of the game. Then on a crucial fourth down it was Cotchery again coming up with a big play, as he hauled in a 23 yard reception down to the 1 yard line. Clemens then found Chris Baker in the corner of the endzone for a pretty touchdown to make it a 20-13 game.

The defense answered the bell again, getting the ball back for the Jets offense with 2:38 to play. Jerricho Cotchery was at it again, slipping out of an Ed Reed tackle and turning a short pass into a 50 yard gain. It was at this point where the aformentionned Justin McCariens let the game slip through his fingers.

Overcoming a shaky first three quarters, Clemens flashed his potential when it mattered the most in the 4th quarter. I don’t think he played well enough to take Chad Pennington’s job, but certainly well enough to make Jets fans feel very good about the long term quarterback situation. Jerricho Cotchery was a beast today with 7 catches for 165 yards, nobody can argue that the Jets have a fine pair of starting wide receivers. The ultimate goat of the game was Justin McCariens, who will have a tough time getting over both his drops.

The defense still didn’t have any sacks, yet noticeably improved as the game went on and put some crucial pressure on Kyle Boller in the 4th quarter. Darrelle Revis looked good for the second week in a row, and David Barrett was much improved, albeit he wasn’t dealing with Randy Moss.

Thomas Jones had a hard earned 67 yards on 24 carries, while Leon Washington barely saw the field on offense, registering 0 carries and 0 catches.

Don’t hang your heads Jets fans, your team showed some character today and more importantly playoff-caliber talent by moving up and down the field on Baltimore’s defense in the 4th quarter. The Jets are better than their next 3 opponents, and need to take advantage of this fact by sweeping Miami, Buffalo, and the Giants.

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 16th, 2007 at 8:06 pm and is filed under Jets Sites, The Cockpit, Blogroll, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.