NFL Week 3 Wrap-up

Lots of interesting stuff from this past week.

We've seen this before...

1. Michael Vick
I know people are touting Vick's return and saying he's better than he was while he was a Falcon. It's only 10 quarters of play, so let's curb that a bit. There are noticeable and encouraging differences from his days in the ATL. He's is more patient in the pocket. The fact that Vick is the most sacked QB in the NFL gives you a slight indication that he's more willing to stay in the pocket. He has regained most, if not all, of his explosiveness. And he's got the backing of his whole team. Long way he's come in a short time.

2. Cincinnati Bengals offense
Weren't a lot of experts predicting an outburst from the Bengals offense? Hasn't even materialized in the season's first three games. The Bengals have scored five, count 'em, five TDs. Kicker Mike Nugent, who has been perfect in the kicking department, has more field goals with eight. Nugent is the Bengals offense at this point. Carson Palmer has looked ordinary. Cedric Benson has yet to crack 100 yards in a game. Ochocinco and T.O. have 1 TD between them.

Jets deserve our admiration

So another weekend of playoff football has passed.

I sat down Saturday and Sunday thinking to myself that the games this weekend had to be better than last weekend. I was so wrong. Again, we has to wait until the last game between the Jets and the Chargers to watch any game that had any type of intensity. Speaking of the Jets...

If you didn't have any type of admiration of the team, you should now. Head coach Rex Ryan proclaimed his team the favorite, and I'm starting to buy into it, too. How can you not? Ryan's team has consistantly backed up his words.

A lot was made about the Jets "backing in". They have proven that they belong. We'll have to see if they can carry on their trek to Miami as they visit Lucas Oil Field to clash with the Indianapolis Colts. Ironic that New York is getting another game with the Colts. The last time these teams met, the roar of fanbases wanting their team (Pittsburgh and Houston just to name a couple) to make the postseason began to scream "foul". We all know what transpired that game, so I'm not going to revisit it.

Ryan and his staff have built a team around a potent running game and relentless defense. Run the ball to keep your oppoennt's offense off the field. When the other team got the ball, stuff 'em, blitz 'em, disrupt their flow. And the Jets have worked it to perfection thus far. The defense gets all the praise, but there are a few on offense that have performed well.

Many experts state the Jets have the best offensive line in the NFL. I can't disagree. Two Pro-Bowl starters (C Nick Mangold and G Alan Faneca) provide the best anchors any O line could have. First round picks Ts Damien Woody and D'Brickashaw Ferguson keep the edges safe. And we don't hear a whole lot about undrafted G Brandon Moore. Make no mistake, Moore has more than earned his position.

Doesn't it seem that the rookie QB has been lost in the shuffle? Mark Sanchez is supposed to be an afterthought in the Jets grand scheme of things. We've seen this plan work by teams in the past. Baltimore (Trent Dilfer), Tampa Bay (Brad Johnson) and Pittsburgh (Ben Roethlisberger) have used the same template for winning the Super Bowl over the last decade. We've also heard of the wristband that's color coded to remind Sanchez of how aggresive he can be with his play.

That running game? Thomas Jones had yet another 1,000 yard season, but he's been nicked up in the playoffs. Enter, yet another rookie, Shonn Greene. Greene has picked up in the postseason where Jones left off during the regular season. Two games, two 100+ yard efforts, 2 TD. Greene's contribution has been more incredible that Sanchez'.

Leon Washington, a multiple threat out of the backfield and in the return game, went on IR after the week 7 game against the Oakland Raiders. Greene was thrust to #2 on the depth chart. And he has yet to disappoint the Jets faithful especially in the playoffs. Greene's 2 TD matches his season output, and New York has needed both of those scampers. Both of Greene's long TD runs have pretty much sealed the Jets' opponents fate.

Remember last season when this rookie TE from Purdue came to be Brett Favre's favorite receiver? That would be Dustin Keller. With Ryan determining that the Jets would be a running team, it appeared that Keller would get lost in the shuffle. During the regular season, Keller only scored twice. He's matched that in the postseason. His 2 TD in the playoffs are the only TD receptions on the Jets roster. Keller's 118 receiving yards also leads the Jets. Just yet another stat that shows how much confidence that Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has in the running game.

And Schottenheimer deserves some pats on the back here, too. His whole staff does. They are rarely in a situation where they have to put Sanchez "at risk" due to the inexperience. They also trust in the running game and it's obvious that eveyone in a Jets uniform has bought into this.

It's worked so far and there's no reason to change. Just one more step to reach Miami.

After all, didn't Rex say that was the goal?

NFL Monday Night Recap/Jets & Dolphins

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I'll say this. ESPN has pretty much received a ton of luck on its Monday Night games so far. There hasn't been a real stinker. The closest would be the week 3 game between the Panthers and Cowboys. Even if the game wasn't quite that good, at least we caught a glimpse inside of the Cowboys palace.

When I first saw this game on the schedule, I thought it might be a yawner. It would most likely be the Jets defense dominating the Dolphins offene and final being something like 14-3. Was I ever wrong! Here's a few observations from the tilt.

1. Despite having rather pedestrian numbers, Jets QB Mark Sanchez performed well (12-24, 172 yards, 1 TD). His new "toy", WR Braylon Edwards, also had an impact of the game (5 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD). That could be a lethal combination down the road.

2. I referred to the Jets defense above. It didn't show up in the 4th quarter. Who could have imagined that the Dolphins would have accumulated 262 passing yards and 151 rushng yards? No one. The famous Wildcat of the Dolphns had the Jets D off balance the majority of the evening. Head coach Rex Ryan even said it was embarrassing. But that was all set up on the Dolphins first drive. RB Ronine Brown took a direct snap, faked a handoff to RB Ricky Williams, rolled to his left, and hit TE Anthony Fasano with a pass. It was on from there. In the eventual winning TD drive in the 4th, Dolphis offensiver coordinator Dan Henning send QB Pat White in to run the Wildcat. White was thrust into the game with a little over four minutes remaining...his first action of the game. Now, Ryan's D had to be concerned about White. Gutsy move.

3. I know it was only his second start, but have the Dolphins already discover their future QB in Chad Henne? His stats don't lie: 20-26, 241, 2 TD. Rayn himslef stated the Jets D made Henne look like Dan Marino. Don't go overboard there, Rex. He's not Marino, but Henne did show some extreme poise for a guy who was starting oly his second NFL game.

4. What's with the 5 TDs in the 4th quarter? It was almost like observing 7-on-7 drills. No pass rush from either team.

5. In his postgame press conference, Ryan referred to not calling any timeouts when the Dolphins were driving to their game winning TD. He didn't think the Fins would score on his vaunted defense. So he left his timeouts in his pocket and on the scoreboard. After Miami scored, there was not anywhere near enough time left to mount a potential game winning TD drive. Only a Hail Mary.

6. One last thing about last night. Once again, Jon Gruden couldn't resist a Brett Favre reference (or should I actually say reverence). Enough already, Coach! Do you think you might be able to get him when you're possibly in Washington or something?

Bonehead of the Week!
Could it be anyone else but San Francisco 49ers CB Dre' Bly? Click the link and watch the video.

Dre' Bly's "pick"

I know you agree with me on this. Shades of Deion? Not quite, but Bly has since apologized for his actions and remarks following the 49ers drubbing at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons, 45-10. If you were wondering if Mike Singletary had control of this team, don't even doubt it for a second.