Frank Mazzola

The contest was played in front of a handful of fans who braved a cold rain to watch Kellen Clemens outduel Brodie Croyle and lead the Jets to a 13-10 overtime victory in their season finale.  Here’s a breakdown of the Jets performance.

Offense:

Kellen Clemens didn’t blow the doors off, but he was sabotaged by several drops by his receivers.  He still needs to show more confidence in the pocket….The running game came through for the Jets.  Thomas Jones turned in a workman-line effort and Leon Washington had two dynamic runs in the fourth quarter.  If the line can be improved in the offseason, the Jets are in good shape at the position….Good game by Jerricho Cotchery (8 catches, 76 yards).  He made several key receptions and kept playing hard even after he absorbed a tremendous blow from cornerback Patrick Surtain. 

Defense:

Good pressure applied by the Jets.  They sacked Croyle three times and hurried him into several incompletions….Aided by an early injury to Chiefs RB Kolby Smith, they held KC’s running game to a paltry 53 yards….The Jets didn’t allow a first down until the second quarter….Hank Poteat and Kerry Rhodes did blow their coverage on Jeff Webb to allow the Chiefs to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Special Teams:

Mike Nugent kicked two field goals, including the 43 yarder that won the game….Ben Graham averaged 45.1 yards on his 8 punts….Jets were fooled by a fake punt by KC which resulted in a first down.

I’ll be doing a series of articles in the offseason that will address the areas the Jets need to improve in and whom they might target in April’s draft.  For now, I will sum up by saying that, though this season was a bitter disappointment after last year’s playoff appearance, there is reason to hope for the future.  I expect the Jets to be a much more competitive squad next September.

Tom Kuhman

First, I want to thank the Cleveland Browns organization for putting a great product on the field for us to enjoy.  It seems that management has handled this team properly so we can enjoy it again next year.

With that said, let’s get to the game.  I have to admit, I thought Derek Anderson would bounce back after his atrocious performance against the Bengals.  He didn’t.  DA finished with only 152 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.  He was off target most of the day and was lucky that at least one more wasn’t picked off.  He also left the game for a series with an injured pinky.

There was a huge cheer as Brady Quinn took the field.  Quinn’s numbers don’t show it, but he did well in his debut.  Had it not been for a few dropped balls, he would have scored his first NFL touchdown pass.  Winslow and Edwards both dropped balls in the endzone.  Winslow’s was right on the numbers.  Quinn finished 3 of 8 for 45 yards.

Joshua Cribbs had another huge day.  He returned a punt for a 76 yard touchdown in the first quarter.   This came after a 53 yard punt return.  After halftime, he returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown that was called back for holding.  That is sooooo typical!  Cribbs made some great tackles on special teams and had a 10 yard direct snap rush called back by a penalty in the second quarter.

Jamal Lewis owned this game as predicted.  He ran for 128 yards on 26 carries.  The Browns had better sign him to another contract for 2008.  His intensity, ability to keep drives going (keeping the Browns D off the field), blocking for DA, and making the opposing defense respect the ground game, has kept the Browns in games time and time again.

The offense, as a unit, did a great job overall.  The O allowed only 1 sack, rolled up 358 yards of total offense, kept the defense on their toes by mixing up the plays (28 passes, 36 rushes), and were 7 of 15 on 3^rd down conversions.

The defense played a good game against a horrible offense.  The key to the game was to stop Frank Gore.  Gore finished with 23 carries for 94 yards and 2 receptions for 21 yards.  Not fantastic, but they kept him out of the endzone.  They also found their pass rush.  Former Heisman Trophy winner, Chris Weinke, found himself on his butt five times.  Leon Washington and Willie McGinest had 2 sacks each!  The Browns did not get any turnovers, but had a couple of chances for interceptions.

The Browns were in control most of the game and the stats reflect that.  There are a couple of items that need to be addressed.  Both of them require concentration.  The receivers need to focus on catching the ball.  There are simply too many dropped balls to expect this team to compete with the likes of the New England or Indianapolis.  The second item is penalties.  Too many penalties are calling back huge plays.  When JC is up for a contract negotiation, he should bring his diary to show how many times his TD return was called back!

Did you notice that I haven’t told you the final score?  It didn’t matter.

What about the Colts, Tom?  What Colts?!  The Colts sucked in every form of the game.  I am keeping all of the donations that were received for Tony Dungy this week.  I think I will buy a brown paper bag with it.  I have plenty of dog “stuff” in the backyard to fill the bag.  Then, I’ll soak it in lighter fluid, sneak up to the Dungy porch, get my lighter…

The Colts pulled their starters halfway through the 2^nd quarter and proceeded to suck after that.  If it weren’t for a LenDale White fumble in Tennessee territory, the Colts would have finished the game with only a field goal. 

Jim Sorgi sucked!  You could create a drinking game with this article.  Every time I use the word or form of the word, “suck”, you have to drink.  Sorgi managed only 68 yards passing in two and a half quarters!!  They should consider bringing Paul McDonald out of retirement as a backup.  I don’t want to take anything away from the Tennessee defense, but 68 yards on 24 attempts!

Let’s not take out our frustration on Jim Sorgi…when we have Tony Dungy to beat on as well.  Before the game, he had said that they play every game to win, whether the backups are playing or the starters.  I’d like to call “you know what” on Tony Dungy.  He did not play that game to win.  Sorgi sucks (gulp, gulp, gulp), but Dungy set him up.  The Colts ran the ball 4 times in the last two and a half quarters.  Gee, do you think the Titans D could just pin their ears back and blitz the quarterback??!!!  In the 4^th quarter, the Colts high powered offense managed 16 yards, 1 first down, and two 3 and outs!

The very last play of the game proved that Dungy had no intentions of trying to win.  He finished the game with one timeout in his pocket that could have forced the Titans to at least run a 4^th down play.  You never know what can happen!!!  Dungy sucks (gulp, gulp, gulp).

To make a long story short, the Browns season is over.  There is some pain in knowing that the team won 10 games and did not make the playoffs.  I am a Browns fan which means I have thick skin.  I’m used to the coarseness that the sands of time bring.  It gives me a chance to repeat the old Cleveland mantra, “maybe next year.”

By the way, if I didn’t mention it, “Colts suck!”  (gulp, gulp, gulp)

Browns won 20-7.  Happy New Year!

Nich Hall

Saturday night in front of a TV audience estimated at 35 million fans the New England Patriots completed the regular season a perfect 16-0. But like so many of their games down the stretch the Giants put up a fight. From the get go it was clear the Giants didn’t want anything to do with being a trivia question twenty years from now. An impressive Eli Manning drive started the game off with a touchdown, the first time all season the Pats had given up an opening drive TD. It also ended the team’s defensive streak of nine consecutive red zone trips without more than three points given up. After an impressive defensive stand held the Patriots to a field goal on their ensuing drive the game was clearly on.

On the next Patriots possession Tom Brady methodically drove his team down the field and as he has so often this season found Randy Moss in the endzone for the go ahead score. With the TD pass and reception Brady and Moss tied the marks held by Peyton Manning and Jerry Rice in a season at 49 and 22. Their lead however would last all of eleven seconds as Domenik Hixon took the Patriots kickoff 74 yards to the house. It should be mentioned the short kickoff was setup by a very interesting excessive celebration penalty on Randy Moss. Throughout the game the refs use and lack their of on 15 yard penalty’s was again interesting. Before the half the Patriots responded with two more Steve Gostkowski field goals to again claim the lead 16-14. However the G-men once again fought back. Without a drive so much as three plays long since the opening Manning drove the field again to take an 21-16 lead into the half.

The third quarter would begin just as the first had. After a rare three and out for Tom Brady and co. Eli Manning again found the endzone with a 19 yard strike to Plexico Burress. Suddenly the Giants had the Patriots full attention almost mid way through the third quarter the Pats were facing their largest deficit of the season 12 points. But anyone who has watched this team this season knew what was coming. With a combination of suddenly stifling defense and Brady magic the Pats would rack up 22 straight points. The second touchdown was setup by Eli Manning’s first and only mistake of the game. In the second half the Patriots began zone-blitzing Manning at almost every opportunity. Under pressure Manning threw up a pass that was picked of by Ellis Hobbs along the sideline. Looking to capitalize on the turnover Brady went deep for Randy Moss along the sideline, wide open, but the under thrown ball if you ask Tom, was dropped. A sure TD pass to break both records, dropped. So naturally on the next play Brady again went deep looking for Moss, this time it was history. The 65-yard TD pass from Brady to Moss at 11:06 of the fourth quarter established new NFL marks for TD passes and receptions in a season. More importantly it gave the Pats a lead they wouldn’t relinquish for the remainder of the fourth quarter. The two teams swapped late touchdowns but a Mike Vrabel onside kick recovery sealed the win 38-35 for the Patriots.

The win left the Patriots a perfect 16-0 on the regular season. Now the Patriots who are off until Thursday will wait for their next opponent who will be Tennessee, Pittsburgh or Jacksonville. Their season to this point has no doubt been historic but this team still has its eye’s on the prize.

NFL Single Season Records Set by the 2007 New England Patriots
•    50 Touchdown passes- Tom Brady
•    23 Touchdown receptions- Randy Moss
•    23 TD Connections- Tom Brady to Randy Moss
•    589 Points
•    First 16-0 in regular season.
•    19 Consecutive regular season wins. (Dating back to 2006)
•    21 different Patriots with TD’s. (Tied with two other teams)
•    75 TD ‘s scored.
•    36.8 points per game. (2nd all time)