Lichtenstein: Jets Somehow Persevered, Despite Awful First 3 Quarters
By Steve Lichtenstein
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The Jets should have been on the naughty list.
Gang Green did so many bad things over the first three-plus quarters of Sunday's crucial contest against the Giants, they had no business expecting a present on the first night of Chanukah.
Excuse me for mixing religious metaphors, but my head is still spinning after the Jets' improbable comeback victory over their co-tenants.
This one clearly came out of the Big Blue. I know the Giants had been gifting out wins to opposing teams left and right all season as if every weekend has been Christmas Eve, but these were the Jets -- a team that hadn't had a fourth-quarter comeback all season.
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Throughout the franchise's tortured history, the Jets have typically been on the opposite end of these things. Big game, big lead, blown lead. You have to go back to the first game back in 2011 when the Jets roared back from 14 points down to beat the Cowboys to find the last time they erased a two-score, fourth-quarter deficit and won.
On Sunday, the Jets trailed by 10 with less than nine minutes remaining. The Giants were at the Jets' 4-yard line facing a fourth-and-2.
In other words, it was a Giants fan's worst nightmare.
Tom Coughlin eschewed an easy field goal and went for the dagger on fourth down, only to watch Jets safety Rontez Miles pick off Eli Manning's harried throw toward the end zone. The Jets drove for a field goal, forced a three-and-out, and then tied the game with 27 seconds remaining on a Ryan Fitzpatrick bullet to Brandon Marshall from nine yards out to force overtime.
The Jets opened the extra session with a field goal and then were granted one final item on their wish list when Giants kicker Josh Brown, who to that point had been a perfect 25-for-25 on field goals this season, hooked a 48-yarder that could have extended the game.
What did the Jets do to deserve such largesse?
Beats me.
When I heard that Jets head coach Todd Bowles benched stud defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson for the first quarter for an alleged violation of team rules, I thought, "Good, this team needs a healthy dose of discipline."
Then the Jets went out and played one of their most undisciplined games of the season.
On special teams alone, the Jets allowed a punt to be returned for a touchdown for the second time this season, jumped offside while the Giants were in punt formation on a fourth-and-4, and with less than three minutes remaining Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland rolled into the punter to allow the Giants to re-kick, which ended up costing Fitzpatrick 17 yards as he was about to embark on the game-tying drive.
The Jets spent a good chunk of the game as if they had the ghost of former coach Rex Ryan in their heads -- all yapping and shoving without accomplishing very much. For Pete's sake, offensive lineman Willie Colon, who is on injured reserve, was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct while standing on the sideline in street clothes during the second quarter.
Once again, the Jets looked ill-prepared in the first half. The Giants, the worst pass-rushing team in the NFL, were in Fitzpatrick's face throughout the first 30 minutes, recording two of their three sacks. On Dwayne Harris' punt return touchdown, the Jets were confused by the Giants' addition of Odell Beckham Jr. as a dual deep safety and lost their containment lanes in coverage. Near the end of the half, Beckham Jr. took advantage of a botched assignment by Jets cornerback Buster Skrine and took a short cross 72 yards for a touchdown that put the Giants up, 17-10.
It didn't get much better after intermission. The Jets' sole possession of the third quarter ended when Marshall ran a three-yard pattern on third-and-4. The Giants then mounted the fateful 11-plus minute drive that should have ended the Jets' misery -- only they failed to produce a single point when Coughlin gambled and lost.
Though I find it ironic that Bowles allegedly benched Wilkerson for reporting late to a team meeting when he clearly has his own clock-management issues to work on, give the rookie head coach and his staff some credit for taking advantage of their open window of opportunity.
Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey got backup running back Bilal Powell involved on screens and flares to slow down the Giants' pass rush. With the exception of one big fourth-down conversion in overtime, the defense, which missed injured cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Marcus Williams, did a good job minimizing Beckham Jr.'s damage after halftime.
Fitzpatrick cemented his place in Jets' lore with a sizzling performance: 36-for-50 for 390 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. In the fourth quarter and overtime, he went 18-for-27 for 194 yards. Two plays prior to the Marshall touchdown, Fitzpatrick scrambled for 15 yards on a fourth-and-6 from the Giants' 36 to save the game.
And by extension the season.
A defeat would have been devastating beyond losing the fictional title of Football Kings of New York. The Jets now have more worthy aspirations in sight.
At 7-5, the Jets find themselves in a playoff position for the first time in about a month, with the cellar-dwelling Titans on tap next Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Realistically, the Jets need to win three out of their final four games to cement their invitation to the postseason.
If by some holiday miracle that should happen, the Jets should surely send the Giants a thank you card.
For a FAN's perspective of the Nets, Jets and the NHL, follow Steve on Twitter @SteveLichtenst1
