Jets Left it on the Field

Jets left it on the field By TJ Rosenthal for Football Reporters Online

The Jets invented yet another way to blow a game Sunday. This, coming in the form of a clumsy tight end. Not even the legendary Bret Favre, who has been pedestrian for much of this season, or shall we say has turned into a Jet, could rescue them. Favre's brilliant last minute heroics, highlighted by his patented escape from a game ending sack in his own end zone, set the Jet's up for a last second FG. The first 52-yard attempt by Jay Feely (former 2nd round pick Mike Nugent's injury replacement. Second round? Thanks a lot Terry Bradway, for wasting an early round pick on a kicker in '05, then stepping down as GM) hit the left upright. Yet, thanks to a Raider time out, you know the one where the coach calls it RIGHT before the kicker lets loose? That ploy is starting to backfire a lot now throughout the league, giving the kicker a chance at redemption. Yesterday, the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets got a second chance. Moments later..Bang!! Right through. Game tied. Heading for Overtime.

Thus setting Jet fans up for yet another head between the seats crash landing destined for oblivion. A heartbreaking loss was sure to be on the way. The question was, how? The moment came halfway through OT. Favre, avoiding the determined yet tiring Raider rush, stepped up in the pocket to find a wide-open Chris Baker at the Raider 35. With a catch Baker may have found five to ten yards of running room thus leaving the Jets with a first down and within 45-yard FG range. Instead, Baker seemingly tripped on a yard line. All by himself. Didn't need anyone's help to do it. Falling helplessly to the ground, the ball and the Jets chance at stealing the win sailed past him. Soon a punt ended the drive. You can't fault Baker. He's a career Jet. For six years the Gang Green disease has built up around him. Rearing its ugly head yesterday as the opportunity to keep pace with the 5-1 Bills came and went in a flash.

Minutes later, Sebastian Janikowski brought his monster leg onto the field to bury a monster field goal that was kicked from Mars and had enough to make it to Mercury. In the end, it was the Same Old Jets. The faces change; the final chapter is the same. A winnable game against a beatable team followed by a gut wrenching loss. Now 3-3, the Jets find themselves in a familiar place. Desperate for a win before Halloween even gets here.