New York Jets Making the Doubters Doubt Themselves

Coming into this season many people expected the Jets to make the Super Bowl. The Jets had everything a great team needed. A tremendous defense (ranked First in the NFL last season), a terrific run game (also ranked first in the NFL), and a coach who the players loved. Some of the Jets moves in the offseason made people question what they were doing.  

The Jets made many big splashes during the offseason, including trading for former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes. The trade for Holmes was a steal for the Jets. Not only do they get a potential No. 1 receiver, but they got him for next to nothing. Holmes still has not played a down in the regular season for the Jets, but I expect him to quickly become a favorite target of young Quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Not only did the Jets upgrade their receiving corp, but they also changed their running back system. Last year Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, and Shonn Greene combined to form the No. 1 rushing attack in the NFL. This year, it looks slightly different. Thomas Jones is now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Leon Washington went to Seattle in a trade. Greene is still a member of Gang Green, but he is being overshadowed by another Jets offseason acquisition, LaDainian Tomlinson.

Many NFL experts wrote off LT after his last few seasons with San Diego. That alone put a chip on Tomlinson's shoulders. He is playing like a man on a mission. On 37 carries LT has gained 208 yards, averaging 5.6 yards a carry. LT wants to show that he has something left in the tank, and after 3 weeks, I am starting to believe he does.

The Jets seem to like taking San Diego's rejects and revitalizing their careers. Antonio Cromartie was a good cornerback when he was in San Diego, but people were starting to say he had lost a step. He comes into New York to play along side arguably the best corner in the NFL in Darrelle Revis.

Revis is great, but Cromartie has shown that he has something left. Revis went out against New England after a play in which Randy Moss beat him for a touchdown. Cromartie stepped in and surprisingly looked better on Moss than Revis did.  

Week 1 against the Ravens was a sloppy game for the Jets. Many people were quick to write them off after how terrible they looked. The Jets had 14 penalties for 125 yards and three fumbles, one of which was lost. The Jets Defense looked good, but the offense struggled to get the ball moving. Sanchez ended the day 10 for 21 for 76 yards.

Week 2 looked like a completely different Jets team. The offense was very solid and Sanchez looked tremendous throwing for 220 yards and three touchdowns. The team looked more disciplined but still had 6 penalties for 58 yards.  

In Week 3 the Jets went to Miami and many people expected Miami to beat them again. The Jets came out strong, having Sanchez throw another three touchdowns and for 256 yards. Tomlinson looked strong too, rushing for 70 yards and a touchdown averaging 4.7 yards a carry.

After the first three weeks of the season, the Jets look like the real deal and I think the rest of the NFL is taking notice to it. The Jets are a team that are going to play their game, and do it their own way. It may not be the prettiest, but the Jets only have to do one thing, don't turn the ball over.

The Jets are a team that is going to rely on a strong defense and a good run game, very similar to the 2000 Ravens. I expect the Jets to make a run in the NFL this season and I would not be surprised if they make a deep playoff run or even a Super Bowl run.