Worst. Monday night game. Ever.
Yes, the final score was 45-3. It wasn't remotely competitive, and Rex Ryan's ten days of yapping turned into one night of challenging the Patriots to a "do-over".
"It's the biggest butt whipping I've taken as a coach, in my career," said Ryan after the game. "But, I can promise you one thing. I'll be ready to play ‘em. I'll play them right now if they'll go out and do it again. You know, so that's the only way I know how to respond. I'll sit back out there and stick my chin out again."
(cue chin jokes)
Danny Woodhead took the passes that Kevin Faulk had in the first Jets/Pats match-up and went for 104 yards receiving. He's no Joe McKnight, obviously. (Oh and from NFL Network's Michael Lombardi: Moss has 18 rec, 236 yds and 2 TD's and a 1-7 record since he was traded. Woodhead has 27 rec, 323 yds, 3 TD's and a 7-1 record)
Deion Branch, who as ESPN's Cris Carter pointed out this week "disappears too much against regular corners", only had 3 catches for 64 yards, including a 25 yard yard touchdown pass on 4th down late in the first quarter to make it 17-0. Obviously Antonio Cromartie won that match-up.
Tom Brady, as Ron Jaworski said last week, isn't very good against this Jets defense.
“Tom Brady has not solved that Jets defense,” Jaworski said late last week. “You just watch the areas of the field where he attacks. He struggles to the outside, the middle of the field, missing blitz pressures. This Jets defense has Tom Brady’s number. And until Tom Brady can solve that defense, this offense is going to struggle.”
Amazing that he finished with a passer rating of 148.9 last night.
The defense, which has been maligned all season, and is last in so many categories they thought of renaming the unit the "St. Louis Browns", held the mighty, poised, Mark Sanchez to only 3 interceptions and held the dynamic Jets offense, which has made it's living tearing up monster defenses like the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions, to 3 points.
It's almost a miracle.
The Patriots are now 10-2. Without Randy Moss to stretch defenses. Without Laurence Maroney to run the ball. Without Adalius Thomas and Derrick Burgess to rush the passer.
Hats off to the Patriots organization for showing up to these games even though they have no chance of winning them.
Matt Boutwell is the publisher of the Maine Sports Network and co-host of the Weekend Warm-Up, which you can hear on 96.3 FM Saturday mornings in Portland, Maine. He used to be good enough to co-host the morning show, but he's now past his prime.
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