I'd Rather Get Beat Up in an Alley- The Bye Week Brings Withdrawal

I’ll admit it.  I miss Brett Favre.  Heaven forbid he take one week off and I’m lost.  Sunday rolls around, I wake up, eat some bacon, read the paper, and look at my Jerricho Cotchery jersey with longing.  It will not be on display today.  It will remain in the closet  The Jets bye week is here.  I am sad but I should rejoice for Eric Mangini loves the bye.  He’s undefeated in games following a weekend off (ok, so it’s only 2 but still…).

Last season the Jets bye came in week 10.  We were parked at an incredible 1-8 and the Steelers (with a 7-3 record)  rolled into the Meadowlands along with a seeming 70,000 Pittsburgh fans.  The Jets had looked like pure dog crap all season and Ben Rothlisberger was expected to rip us apart in a game the Steelers needed to help secure playoff position.  In most people’s minds the Jets had already lost.  Thomas Jones ended up rushing for 117 yards and Mike Nugent kicked the game winner in overtime.  Jones was the first player in 35 games to record 100 yards on the ground against Pittsburgh.

The year before was Mangini’s inaugural season.  The 4-4 Jets were coming off the bye against the 6-3 Patriots in New England.  People expected the handshake at the end of the game to be more competitive than the play on the field.  This might be the very game where the “Man-genius” tag came from.  My fondest memory was Brady, after getting sacked on the last play, sitting on the ground with mud stuck in his facemask.  He was surrounded by Jets in full-on celebration.  Hootin’, hollerin’, high-five’n; the guys in green were going crazy around a visibly battered Brady.  I almost felt sorry for him.  Almost.  Not really.

If the past bears any indication as to what to expect from the Jets week off, we should blow out the Bengals on Sunday.  These are the Jets though and this will be the first time Mangini is favored coming into a post-bye game.  The Bengals are 0-5 it’s true.  It’s worth noting though that the Bengals were in Giant Stadium just two weeks ago and it took the defending Super Bowl Champs extra time to beat them.  I’m sure the Bengals are looking at that game as “one that got away.”  Expect them to rally around their recievers and Carson Palmer.  You think Houshmandzadeh’s looking forward to his return to the Meadowlands?  He put up 146 yards receiving and a touchdown last time he was in town.

My guess is that Mangini’s gameplan revolves around stopping the recieving tandem of Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh much the same as the one he implemented against the Cardinals.  With Kris Jenkins in the middle, running on the Jets hasn’t been the cakewalk it used to be.  Plus I know from my fantasy league that the Bengals’ running back situation looks like musical chairs.

Can you tell me which one of the following Running Backs has not played for the Bengals this season?

• Kenny Watson
• Rudi Johnson
• Cedric Benson
• William Perry
• Ryan Fitzpatrick
• Dede Dorsey
• Chris Perry

The Bengal’s Defense is allowing 171 yards rushing a game.  There are only three teams worse than that (the Chiefs are allowing 182- we’ll see them in a few weeks).  Could this be the week Thomas Jones erupts for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns?  We shall see…

I spent my Sunday off from the Jets mostly watching football.  Surprise!  Thank God for my fantasy league.  It kept the Giants game entertaining to watch.  Brandon 25-points Jacobs has given me the early lead but a tough Monday Night looms.  If anyone knows what happened to Santana Moss please share with a comment.  Did the Eagles break his fingers?  0 catches.  That’s a zero people.  He also scored that many points.  If anybody has any roster suggestions I’d love them actually.  Mine’s below if you care to peruse.  I can’t figure out which quarterback to trade and what I should trade them for.  A top ten running back.  Favre for Clinton Portis is on the table… thoughts?  Oh yeah, welcome to my Sunday.

by the way, William Perry hasn’t rushed for the Bengals this season… yet.