Mark Sanchez, Rex Ryan and New York Jets: Quiet in New York, Who's Bragging Now?

In 2008, the New York Jets were the team to beat in the AFC East. They had a grizzled old veteran at quarterback coming off one of the best seasons of his career out to prove he still had what it took to win the big one.

They had a young, cocksure coach called the Man-Genius, disciple of the much touted Bill Belichick machine, determined to bring his team back to prominence. They didn’t have winning combinations, they had the winning combination.

Though they started the season 2-2, they managed to go 6-1 in their next seven games. People were losing it. The other team that resided in the Meadowlands was doing pretty well too and folks were buzzing: could it be? Might there be an all-New York Superbowl?

Well. Not so much.

As we all know, the Jets proceeded to lose four of their last five games and miss the playoffs. Both the Old Gunslinger and the Man-Genius were sent packing to other parts of the NFL and no one really knew what to expect.

But then, out of the ashes of a lost season rose a bulbous, braggart from Baltimore; a defensive guru who had proven himself time and time again in one of the toughest divisions in all of football.

Sexy Rexy Ryan, son of the legendary Bob Ryan, became the man in New York. He knew how to handle the vicious urban media and its equally blood-thirsty fans. He promised, much like Broadway Joe had promised, to bring the Lombardi trophy back to New York, with green not blue.

All the pieces were set. A few guys who followed him from Baltimore, a young stud at QB, support from Woody Johnson, Mike Tannenbaum and the New York Fans. This man, this team, could not be stopped.

Right?

Fast forward to 2010, more specifically, Dec. 7, Foxboro, Mass., Gillette Stadium. The Braggart stood speechless. Before his very eyes, his team, poised to take the AFC East and boast one of the best records in the league, had fallen. Hard. 45-3 hard. The reviled Tom Brady, direct extension of the coach whose butt Ryan came to kick, torched them for 326 yards and 4 touchdowns, while the young stud in green threw three interceptions and finished with a 27.8 passer rating.

The beating left a sour taste in the mouths of many. What happened? Wasn’t this supposed to be one of, if not, the best team in the NFL? Wasn’t this the team with the elite young quarterback who knew how to win? Wasn’t this one of the best defenses in the league? The team that would be meeting President Obama? Wasn’t this THE team?

To answer your questions: no.

One needs only to look at the Jet’s season in review to realize that they are mostly smoke and mirrors.

Yes, they beat New England the first time, but as it turns out that was the only win they recorded against a team with a record above .500. Their defense was able to stifle the Packers and hold them to only nine points, but Sanchez threw two interceptions and no touchdowns for the loss. In fact, Sanchez played poorly in each of the Jets loses: he completed 10 of 21 passes for 74 yards and no TDs against the Ravens.

The Jets haven’t had a truly big game all season. They beat all the teams they were supposed to beat but just barely in some cases. They were taken the distance by the likes of Detroit, Cleveland and Houston, all decent teams who, however, combine for a record of 12-24.

But the Jets did win.

To this extent, many say that the sign of a good team is their ability to win in tight situations. This is certainly true. Good teams, like a good salesman, find a way to seal the deal at the end of the day. However, good teams also play well in big games.

The fact that Sanchez and company couldn’t score a single touchdown against a 31st ranked defense, the youngest in the league, is sad to say the least. The fact that a team known for its defense was shredded up and down the field on nearly every possession by nearly every position player is a downright travesty. Granted, this is Tom Brady and he is pretty good. But still. Nothing?

Where does one point the finger? Mark Sanchez’s poor play is certainly one direction. He was confused and rattled throughout the entirety of the game. At points it looked as though he couldn’t even see his receivers, as he threw picks into what was clearly double coverage.

Rex Ryan’s play calling perhaps? How many times are you going to try an all-out blitz against Tom Brady before realizing that he’s going to gouge you?

It seemed the defense could not pick up the pass. Brady sliced them for 326 yards. And who was his most prolific target? Well, that would be a man by the name of Danny Woodhead, former Jet who caught 4 passes for 104 yards.

Let’s not forget about Ryan throwing the challenge flag early in the first quarter, convinced Sanchez converted, then going for it anyway.

The new New York Jets were exposed and embarrassed on Monday night and looked a lot like the old New York Jets. Worse, actually, since this was their biggest beat down in some 25 years.

They showed who they really were: a team who has ridden the wave of luck through the headlines of the back page. Barring a total collapse in the next few weeks, which is possible (see, again, 2008 season), the Jets will make the playoffs this year as a Wild Card team, but against the likes of Baltimore, Pittsburgh and New England, it’s not looking very good.

The truth of the matter is the Jets are just not that good, at least not as good as people have given them credit for. They are a team with extraordinary talent and a few lucky wins. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s better to be good than lucky as they learned the hard way on Monday.