So, the Jets, who I picked to earn the first pick in next year’s draft, picked up a victory in week one over a team I predicted would be much improved, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New York achieved this feat in notable fashion, winning dramatically 18-17 via a late 48 yard field goal, in rookie QB Geno Smith’s first NFL start. These Jets might be better than I thought. They might be able to give the banged-up Patriots a game on Thursday night.
Whoa. Not so fast.
That the Jets even had the opportunity to attempt the winning 48 field goal was only due to the Bucs’ Lavonte David hitting Geno Smith out of bounds and incurring a 15-yard penalty. Tampa Bay played horribly, particularly QB Josh Freeman, and for the past couple of days, I’ve been reading stories coming out of Tampa that the Buccaneers are a team in turmoil. I don’t know how much is true, but most of the talk seems to centre on Freeman and Tampa Bay head coach Greg Schiano: the players don’t like Schiano; Freeman has been late for team functions; Freeman missed the team picture; the players voted for their team captains, and Freeman was not chosen, as he had been the past three seasons; Schiano has it in for Freeman; Schiano rigged the captaincy vote… and on and on.
Kind of makes the Jets’ win seem somewhat less impressive.
In my season preview, I wrote about the challenges facing New England on offence this season. Tonight, the Pats face a few extra ripples, as they will be without 100-yard rusher Shane Vereen, who had surgery on his injured hand, and will likely be without WR Danny Amendola as well. Still, New England should have enough healthy bodies on offence to get the job done. Meanwhile, the Pats’ defensive depth in the front seven will ensure that they have enough fresh players to handle the Jets on a short week. I’m hoping for a decisive Jets defeat. As anyone who reads me regularly knows, I can’t stand the Jets, and I especially despise Jets fans. Like the ones who would allow their child to behave like this in public.
Whoa. Not so fast.
That the Jets even had the opportunity to attempt the winning 48 field goal was only due to the Bucs’ Lavonte David hitting Geno Smith out of bounds and incurring a 15-yard penalty. Tampa Bay played horribly, particularly QB Josh Freeman, and for the past couple of days, I’ve been reading stories coming out of Tampa that the Buccaneers are a team in turmoil. I don’t know how much is true, but most of the talk seems to centre on Freeman and Tampa Bay head coach Greg Schiano: the players don’t like Schiano; Freeman has been late for team functions; Freeman missed the team picture; the players voted for their team captains, and Freeman was not chosen, as he had been the past three seasons; Schiano has it in for Freeman; Schiano rigged the captaincy vote… and on and on.
Kind of makes the Jets’ win seem somewhat less impressive.
In my season preview, I wrote about the challenges facing New England on offence this season. Tonight, the Pats face a few extra ripples, as they will be without 100-yard rusher Shane Vereen, who had surgery on his injured hand, and will likely be without WR Danny Amendola as well. Still, New England should have enough healthy bodies on offence to get the job done. Meanwhile, the Pats’ defensive depth in the front seven will ensure that they have enough fresh players to handle the Jets on a short week. I’m hoping for a decisive Jets defeat. As anyone who reads me regularly knows, I can’t stand the Jets, and I especially despise Jets fans. Like the ones who would allow their child to behave like this in public.
People like this should be disappointed, often, and in the worst possible way.
Go Pats!
Go Pats!
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