Jets-Broncos: New York Was Due, Humbled By Denver

Did you really think the Jets were going to head into the playoffs on a 10-game winning streak? You didn't think there would be an ugly misstep along the way in this final stretch of games? Trust me, yesterday's loss will prove to be one of the best things that happens to this team in 2008.

This past week, the Jets were the hot topic of the NFL. Leon Washington, Kerry Rhodes, and Kris Jenkins were all over ESPN. The New York papers constantly discussed the prospect of a Subway Super Bowl.

For the past seven days, the Jets were recognized as an elite team in the NFL. Not anymore, the Jets have fallen back into the pack of the muddled AFC, where any team who ends up playing in January has a good shot of ending up in the Super Bowl.

Leon Washington said after the game the Jets were served a nice dish of humble pie, and honestly, that is probably what this team needed. This is good team but a team with some definite flaws that keeps them a clear level below a team like the New York Giants.

They can't afford to overlook any teams, especially a solid team like Denver, that they don't matchup well with.

It simply wasn't the Jets' day on Sunday. You knew that as soon as Chris Baker and Dustin Keller both dropped a pass on the first series. You knew that as soon as the Jets were on the wrong end of a terrible call that allowed the Broncos to score their first touchdown.

You knew that when Brett Favre threw a ball 10 yards over Laveranues Coles' head and right into the arms of Dr'e Bly. It wasn't happening on Sunday.

A few more observations...

1. Abram Elam had a rough day at the office. The Jets need to scheme something up that allows them to find a better matchup for team's tight ends and No. 3 wide receivers. They can't keep allowing Elam, Hank Poteat, and David Barrett to get exposed in coverage.

When the Jets play a team with a big time tight end, like Denver, they need to have Kerry Rhodes matchedup on him. The Jets also shouldn't be having so many issues with a No. 3 receiver now, since they have three starting-caliber corners in Revis, Ty Law, and Dwight Lowery, who is now playing better in a more limited role.

2. Favre was just off on Sunday, although he wasn't helped by his receivers. He missed a potential big play down the seam to Dustin Keller and then had Jerricho Cotchery drop one down the sideline early in the fourth quarter on fourth down. When is the last time the Jets hit a big downfield throw? Is it time to activate David Clowney?

3. I hate the calls to throw the ball on 3rd-and-1 and 4th-and-1. Give the ball to Thomas Jones, period. It has worked once this year, against Arizona, where the Jets have hit a big pass play in that situation, beyond that, they have had no success. Run the ball.

4. Where is the pass rush? I saw the Jets send Ty Law a few times off the edge, but he poorly timed his blitzes. They need to send Rhodes at the quarterback more often. By the way, Vernon Gholston is the only player I know who can play as much as he did on Sunday and not make a single impact play. He is like Victor Hobson all over again.

Anyway, the Jets now enter the final quarter of their schedule. They need a big time bounceback performance against the 49ers on the road this week. It is a must-win game.

Personally, I think the Jets will come out on fire after being embarrassed in front of their fans but who knows with this team? However, the bottom line is that they need this game because divisional games in December are never easy, and if you think winning in Seattle is a gimme, you are wrong.

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