Five Reasons why the Patriots beat the New York Jets next Sunday

[Metaphors]

While holding the Colts to 16 points at Indy is a nice result for the Jets defense, there are signs that don't bode well for them against the Pats. Ignoring the Colts TD and end-of-half possessions, here are the drives they had (not necessarily in order):

• 2nd-n-1, 3rd-n-1, punt
• 2nd-n-6, 3rd-n-1, punt
• 2nd-n-4, 3rd-n-1, punt
• 2nd-n-5, 3rd-n-1, FG

These drives ended because of the Colts complete inability to run the ball. They were on schedule picking on the Jets' safeties but couldn't get the YAC on 2nd down to move the chains...then were inept on 3rd and short. The Pats shouldn't have either of these problems.

• at Jets 43, deep pass, 2 yd run, WR screen, punt
• at Jets 18, 2nd-n-10 rush, 3rd-n-7 rush, FG

These drives should get an OC fired. Moving the ball well and then completely go off the rails. No rhythm or rational thinking. Again, the Pats may not convert these drives but they certainly won't flush them like the Colts did.

• at Jets 36 with 1:42 remaining:

...rush
...2nd-n-9 WR screen
...Jets 1st timeout
...3rd-n-6 incomplete pass
...FG

This drive should get the coach fired. The 1st two plays are fine and force the Jets to use a timeout. You are facing a 50 yard FG from Vinatieri in a dome in the playoffs. The next play has to keep the clock moving to force the Jets to burn another timeout. It should be a run, but we already know how suckish the Colts are there. So a pass is fine but it needs to be complete...even if it doesn't gain any yardage. While garbage play on ST killed the Colts soon after, leaving the Jets with 2 timeouts instead of 1 with under a minute left was inexcusable. The Pats will manage the end-of-game clock (and return coverage) much better than that.

So while the Jets got a nice 1 point road playoff win, the Colts players and coaches probably couldn't have done a worse job with situational football. That won't happen on Sunday. To win the Jets will have to force the Pats into difficult situations, keep them off schedule and control the end of game situations. They didn't do any of these things against the Colts but were let off the hook.

Think that was an aberration? I could do a similar analysis for Pittsburgh (the Jets only other meaningful win after Thanksgiving)...only substitute inept running for Roethlisberger's inane need to throw deep at the oddest times. In fact, it has been quite a while since the Jets won a road game where the opposition and/or officials haven't helped out significantly (Denver, Detroit, Cleveland). The Jets will need to show up huge (something they haven't done recently) or go home disappointed.

 

[Keegs]

we are very much due for a Tate kicked return TD