Maybe we've forgotten that the beginning of the Patriots' dynasty did not at all resemble the brash, overconfident, devil-may-care Patriots that ran up scores league-wide last year. Really, they looked a lot like the team that beat the Jets today.That's not to say that these Patriots are legitimate Super Bowl threats; circumstances and contexts change all the time. But it's a reminder that the Patriots don't have to set records on offense to be good (no matter what I've previously said); you can make up for an inexperienced quarterback with the right pieces elsewhere. So the Patriots certainly can continue to win, if they do remains to be seen.
But they won today. They did it by running the ball with a lot of different legs, relying on defense, and capitalizing on mistakes. Matt Cassel, in his first start since 1970, was certainly reliable yet unspectacular. The first half wasn't exactly the prettiest football you've ever seen, but the Pats did enough to walk into the locker room with a 6-3 lead. And though the second half wasn't much better-looking, Brett Favre showed why you have to curb your enthusiasm when he hits on a desperation hail mary throw in the end zone, because he'll follow that up a week later with a poor, poor decision that leads to an interception (this one by Brandon Merriweather), an interception that essentially loses the game.
Favre's interception led to the Patriots' best drive of the game, resulting in a Sammy Morris touchdown, and the rejuvenated Pats immediately followed by forcing a three-and-out and kicking a field goal. Though the Jets countered with a touchdown of their own, it wasn't enough.
Truthfully, there was no excuse for the Jets to lose this game. Favre was acquired to make a difference, and he simply didn't do that, especially against a team with a makeshift secondary. While the Jets' defense did a good job for the most part of making the Patriots chip for yards and settle for field goals, the offense should have been able to perform better against an aging, humanized defense, and whether it's fair or not it's on Favre to make that happen.
It's bad enough that Favre threw the interception, it's worse that he didn't do anything today, in a game that would have been huge for the Jets to win from a mental standpoint, to push the team over the top.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-14-2008 @ 10:00PM
knidsrok said...
Favre was acquired to make a difference, and he simply didn't do that, especially against a team with a makeshift secondary. While the Jets' defense did a good job for the most part of making the Patriots chip for yards and settle for field goals, the offense should have been able to perform better against an aging, humanized defense, and whether it's fair or not it's on Favre to make that happen.
You seem to have a lot of strange misconceptions about the Patriots' defense. For one, how do you call the Pats' secondary "makeshift" when it hasn't lost anyone significant since training camp? You may not be sold on their talent level, but it's the unit that the coaching team planned on having out there.
As for the "aging" comment -- the Pats have three starters who can be considered "old," Harrison, Bruschi and Vrabel, the latter of whom is coming off the best two years of his career. The defensive line is made up of players in their prime, there are some talented young players in the 2ndary -- Hobbs, in his third year, James Sanders, in his 4th year, and Meriweather, in his 2nd. They've also got a rookie starting at ILB.
There are many questions that can be raised about this defense, so the fact that you choose to highlight two that don't really match reality suggests to me that you must not be paying enough attention.
Reply
9-15-2008 @ 2:05PM
angryguy77 said...
Can't place all the blam on favre. He is still new to this system and it looked like the jets had to struggle for most of their gains. Was it a dumb INT? Of course. But the jets d should have never allowed NE offense get up and down the field even if they were settling for field goals. As the season progresses, the jets O will improve
Reply
9-16-2008 @ 3:23PM
billharkins said...
Yeh, Favre threw a stupid interception, but you can't blame him for the loss. The first week they were lucky to survive 13 penalties. This week wasn't much better, and they paid the price. He was just trying to make something happen. The Jets have to eliminate the boneheaded mistakes they are making if they want to win, no matter who is playing QB. Their play calling reminds me of Mike Sherman at his worst. They have the talent - they just have to get stronger mentally, and that starts with the coaches. Hang in there Brett - it will get better!
Reply
9-16-2008 @ 4:55PM
joseph said...
C Mon.this Jet coach and offence,mangini, manginieis,needs to wake up and Brian Shotty.bad play calling.number 1,you bring BRETT FAVRE in here to get that up beat team like Brett is alway's up and ready.it's not Chad there no more at the helm.you got Brett Favre,tougher then tough and the best ever qb.your stacked up inside the 5 yrd line the run with Jones fails again then again then again.ok,why did the coaching staff try to pound the ball in like that.i can see trying it once and if it don't work,you do what Brett did on the only TD To Stucky.are around the end.Favre did not come to the Jet's to just hand the ball off.in order for Brett to make things happen,the coaching needs to wake up,and play with all you got and on deffence.like Favre play's 254 or more straight games because of Brett's toughness.so mangini and shotty,wake up.and for Tom,the writer here.it's not not Brett's falt dude,wake up.
Reply
9-16-2008 @ 4:58PM
joseph said...
C Mon.this Jet coach and offence,mangini, manginieis,needs to wake up and Brian Shotty.bad play calling.number 1,you bring BRETT FAVRE in here to get that up beat team like Brett is alway's up and ready.it's not Chad there no more at the helm.you got Brett Favre,tougher then tough and the best ever qb.your stacked up inside the 5 yrd line the run with Jones fails again then again then again.ok,why did the coaching staff try to pound the ball in like that.i can see trying it once and if it don't work,you do what Brett did on the only TD To Stucky.are around the end.Favre did not come to the Jet's to just hand the ball off.in order for Brett to make things happen,the coaching needs to wake up,and play with all you got and on deffence.like Favre play's 254 or more straight games because of Brett's toughness.so mangini and shotty,wake up.and for Tom,the writer here.it's not not Brett's falt dude,wake up.
Reply
9-18-2008 @ 6:55PM
Perry said...
Hmm...it was Matt Cassel's first start since 1970?
Reply
9-19-2008 @ 12:44AM
pete hager said...
The reason why the patriots win so consistently is their system design. This system is designed for smart players to be plugged in when necessary to do their jobs. In this system, even Matt Cassel will be successful. In my opinion Tom Brady would not be what he is today without this system
Reply