Lost Opportunities as The Offense Ran in Cement

10:23 AM----It's what I love about Sunday, football there in a few hours and no long wait for it.And this Sunday, it was a BIG game!
I was srill very nervous about the game; a nightmare of a big loss, a gloating Ryan. It's all very possible, but I also think this team has character and will not allow it to happen that way. Granted, Bruschi, Harrison an dother are gone, but this team will stand tall and make the big plays.
The Seymour saga will continue with a Marshall Faulk interview-what to expect. The one thing I felt was troubling was his excuse of family for being away for a week. It's not that family is unimportant, it is, but if it is so much, why didn't he talk to the Raiders, say he needed some time to get things in order and stop the drama. Was that all that there was or more a smokescreen of what was really going on. It smells of a prima donna and pretty low actions and not the real deal. I would feel a lot better if he had exired classy and not trashy with all the spotlight and drama on him.
But I want to see some football! I can't wait! It's going to be a tough hard fight and a really great game…or so I hope.
11:24 AM----Good news and bad news--Good news is that Seymour didn't take the bait and trash the Pats. A bit more respect for the big guy, even if he's hiding things and using his family as an excuse. He could have trashed the team and Faulk, I am sure, wanted that. The bad news is about ESPN. No surprise at all that the bunch all were pumping up the Jets. Tom Jackson and company hyping up how they will take down the Pats; no surpise at all. But what has Ryan ever won? A good defense in Baltimore and he had Lewis and other, he had the players. Now it's Big Bad Rex. They are crowing him king before he has taken a few steps in the big seat, all typical The anti-Patriot fever is still alive and kicking. Only Keshawn was on target with what he said. Very sad, but that is ESPN BS.
12:12 PM----Inactives--Simmons, Ohrenberger, Connolly, Mathews, Wheatley, Mayo, Slater, Welker- Welker??? I was driving my stepdaughter to work when I heard that piece of bad news. And that news hit me deep, my heart sunk; like a dart into me. Welker out? That was the last piece of news needed or expected. And as I imagined it, Patriot Nation would be in a panic and a downward spiral.Now it would be a lot harder-the nightmare scenario of a big time loss loomed larger. But all that thinking was the negative in me. And it will be a much sweeter victory when it happens. Maybe a bit of a letdown by the Jets with a big weapon out and a big player on D. But that is only hoping. I still think the Pats will take it.
12:38 PM----Stomach upset, heart pounding. Ready for a big game. Great to see Gastineau and Hasselbeck fighting and QB Canaaugh getting into the skirmish. I remember that well. That was on the field, now it's Rodney and Rhodes trash talking on Twitter. Time for the game!
12:49 PM----Adversity facing the Pats and they will step it up for the game. Only one team will be 2-0. If the Jets talk is all of that talk, they will go down in flames-not easy in NY with that much on the line.
Sad that this will be the last time the Pats will play in the Meadowlands at that stadium. I know CoachB has many many memories of that place and this could be one of the best memories of all. Tlak, talk, talk, I can not wait to see those loud mouths including Ryan looking like a wind bag.
1:08 PM----A nice drive but stalling at the Jet 36-not the best, but at least not a 3 an dout. The running game looks OK, but now the D must come to life. Just like two boxers warming up with some light punches before the slugfest.
1:12 PM----Sanchez fumbling and the ball loose. Too bad they didn't sprint after the ball and recover it. THAT would have been big, but a loss of 17 to the 3. And a penalty to boot after. A solid D starting big.
1:16 PM----Jones into the line after a False Start. The Jets look tense and the Pats have the ball near midfield. It's here that the offense needs to get the rust off and strike big and hard.
1:20 PM----A dropped Maroney pass and a Galloway catch for 5 and then one to his side. A great opportunity squandered and the Jets get the ball back with some space at the 15. The offense needs to explode an dget points on the board. Not the start that is all that good.
1:24 PM----Washington fumbled, but being reviewed. I do think this might be overturned, but it's really close. Wow, do the Jets look poor. It's going to be close, so close on this one and this could be BIG! I think it goes away as it seems like he's down but you can't see the knee and the ball being loose together. But I would love to see the ball in Brady's hands now. A quick score!
1:31 PM----NE 3 NY Jets 0----Holding penalties after the fumble recover. I mean it was just poor execution. But they did get the FG, but the Jets need to be happy with allowing ONLY 3. It'sgood to score, but 7 would have nailed it.
1:44 PM----End 1stQ----NE 3 NY Jets 0----A Keller pass was stopped way shy of the first down marker, but Revis made a big pick on a log bomb to Moss. And Moss made a big play in chasing him down in the open field and stopping a big run back. The Jets did nothing an dpunted again, but bad field position again.
1:54 PM----NE 6 NY Jets 0----Gostkowski with another field goal. The big play, a pass over the middle to Edelman of 29 yards. A big play, but another drive that ended with no TD. That's a few opportunities and only 6 points. The Jets need to be stopped. the D is playing big time and the Jets can't move the ball, but they need to continue.
1:56 PM----The Pats look good, but they need more points. 6-0 is nothing against this Jets team. The crowd is quiet-keep it that way.
2:04 PM----NE 6 NY Jets 3----The Jets drove with Jones and a screen left to Stuckey. Then, the D kicked in and stopped Jones and Wilhite tackled Stuckey for a 4 yard loss on a screen. Third down play was stopped by Wright and it was Feely that kicked the field goal and got them on the board. The D did the job again.
2:07 PM----A big return and an Aiken Holding call and the ball moved back and a real change in field position. They need a big score here, a TD not 3.
2:17 PM----The Pats started driving, slow and deliberate down the field. Galloway, Faulk and Moss, short passes. They ened to go to Moss and score. Really need to keep the Jets off the field. Meriwether injured-not what they need more injuries.
2:23 PM----NE 9 NY Jets 3---- Passes to Edelman and Morris and then, Watson, but then, a ball bobbled and another tipped at the line and another FG. Missed oppportunities and another drive for only 3. A good drive, but I am feeling more that they will look back in disgust and see these as missed chances and where a game could go south.
2:26 PM----End Half----NE 9 NY Jets 3----This is sort of what I expected, a real slugfest and a low scoring game. The problem is a big play could be large and take the game away with a snap. This Patriot offense continues to look rusty and penalties are killing drives and keeping them from the TDs. They make a few plays, but are out of synch as they go down the field. This has been a real struggle.
The Jets will get the ball to start the half and it is up the the D to really stop them. I am impressed with the D and how they have slowed the Jets attack. Galloway was open deep and it was Sheppard that made a big play coming up and knocking it away. If they can make a big play, get a big score, they can have a big win.
2:42 PM----NY Jets 10 NE 9----How things changed so fast. A Washington return that got out past the 40 yard line. And then immediately a pass over the middle to Cotchery on the run and after a missed tackle, sprinted far down the field to the 11 yard line. Two plays later, Keller is open in the endzone and the pass on the button. Bing bang, the Jets are ahead and the momentum shifted. The Pats more or less dominated that first half and that apple cart pushed over so fast. Not at all the way to start a second half. Very bad for the team.
2:48 PM----Edelman thrown down by Strickland and a loss of 4 and a 3rd down pass too long. And to make it all worse, Hansen then shanked a punt, giving the Jets good field position. It feels like the J-E-T-S are taking over as the crowd goes wild. It's here that the D must stand up and do something.
2:57 PM----There goes the Jets with short passes and then the big one over the middle to Cotchery. And the Pats are back on their heels again. Now, a challenge of a pass into the endzone. I think it's a definite that it's out, but we shall see what happens. The Jets will have another shot at it anyway. The review will help, but a Jet TD will put the Pats in a hole they can not get out of.
3:02 PM----NY Jets 13 NE 9----They overturned the catch, but I think on looking at it, it was quite obvious that two feet were not close to being in bounds. But a wide open receiver and the ball way far. Feely hit the FG. It's here the offense has to get points, a real must.
3:09 PM----Quick passes and a few good runs by Taylor and the Pats on the move again. They need to really strike and get points. A long drive can do it, it's all Brady and they need to move it downfield now. Time is running out, even though it's the 3rd. A really big one needed.
3:23 PM----End 3rdQ----NY Jets 13 NE 9----Back to back Dealy penalties and the Pats go backwards, but the Jets really blew a field position with a penalty on a punt. They lost yardage on that, but what was bad was a batted ball went through Thomas's arms on what could have been a big turnover. And of course, Wahsington cauaght a pass and quickly, the Jets were back upfield with momentum. Just like in the past, a small mishap and the Jets take advantage. A stop would have done wonders, but no.
3:32 PM----NY Jets 16 NE 9----They held the Jets to a field goal again. This time, it was Springs who caught Washington from tearing down for extra yardage. Wright, Banta-Cain playing strong D but it's again in the hands of the offense to score, make a big play and take over the game. Down by 7 and needing that TD. They haven't in the past and now with pressure they have to.
3:35 PM----The ball at the 15, not in great shape, but they have to make a drive and do it. It's Brady time and time to drive and tie the game up. It's now or curtains. While the moe is on the Jets, a big drive could make the change.
3:40 PM----A pass to Moss, an Encroachment call and a first down and they are moving upfield. Jenkins is injured, goes out, but they need a big drive here to score grab mometum. Still upset that they did not get a TD in the first half. It felt bad then and looks worse now.
4:01 PM----Not too good at all. They couldn't get a first down on a 3rd and 1 and the Jets got the ball back. But it was another drive, a Holding penalty and nothing. They called time outs, sacked Sanchez and another punt. Only problem is that there is only 2 minutes to go. I hope they can drive it, but asking for another miracle drive again is just too much. I would love to see it, but they haven't scored in 58 miutes, so why would they be able to now in 2? No reason to think that.
4:09 PM----End Game---NY Jets 16 NE 9----A penalty a first down, it was asking the impossible and with the Jets with tons of coverage back deep. And a last pass incomplete. It was not happening at all.
4:15 PM----It was sort of what I felt early in the game. Many opportunities and none capitolized on at all. A simple TD…but it was not happening for this New England team. A real defensive gem and they played some good D, but gave up that quick score in the third. That blew the game open and the Jets were high flying after that the rest of the game. More of the same, more running in cement. Slowly, slowly those oppportunities melted away to nothing and zilch. No points in the second half. I felt that was what happened as they controlled the game a bit only to have it overtaken and smashed. That was where the game was lost, not in the last moments, but early in the game.
The D played just fine and had a great half, but the offense was the unit that was not up to par at all. They stumbled and bumbled and did nothing once they had light of the endzone. They had opportunities but could do nothing. Field goals instead of touchdowns equals a loss.
(These notes were transcribed from my scribbles as I wrote them during commercials in between watching and keeping a play by play line score.)