Earlier in the week, I began my soliloquy on my “love” for the Jets, as Hokie put it.  I want to be clear that I’m still a die-hard Pats fan.  The Pats organization was the team I grew up on and with the Kraft family in charge, I won’t be driven to hawk my fandom to the highest bidding team.  With that out of the way, here’s the Jets offense.

Mark Sanchez is a rookie that has learned the most valuable lesson that a successful college QB needs to grasp to become a professional QB.  He has realized that you need to become a part of a system…very few quarterbacks can carry a team to victory without playing within their squad’s system.  He is the epitome of a game manager.  He hasn’t made mistakes, throws efficient passes, and he complements the Jets stellar run attack with being able to throw on the move and sell the play action.

Speaking of the Jets’ running game, Shonn Greene is an absolute monster.  He runs with authority and isn’t afraid to punish would-be tacklers.  He runs both inside the tackles and out on the edge.  He has speed, power, and smarts which he uses in every situation.  To watch him bust up the middle against the Chargers after changing direction in the backfield and then gallop to the end zone with his disconcerting speed was breathtaking.  He will need to have a great game on Sunday.

Greene wouldn’t be a factor without the Jets unheralded offensive line, anchored by the greatest center in all the NFL, Nick Mangold.  This group has played together for 32 straight games.  Damien Woody, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Alan Faneca, Brandon Moore, and Mangold are a well oiled machine.  They can all pull to the outside to block or run down the field on a screen or long rushing play.  Linemen are the secret heroes of every football game and the Jets o-line is the best in a long time while either protecting Mark Sanchez or opening up running lanes for Shonn Greene.

Even though they feature a splendid running attack, the Jets have a more talented receiving corps than most fans would expect.  Jerricho Cotchery is a dangerous man down the sideline, across the middle or in the return game.  Braylon Edwards has played better in New York than his entire career in Cleveland.  Dustin Keller blocks well and also has great hands.  Keller is Sanchez’s favorite target and has quickly joined the elite TEs in the NFL.

The Jets offense relies heavily on the run while still keeping defenses honest by passing.  Mark Sanchez has become an efficient passer that makes defenses pay with his quick feet and strong throwing arm.  Rex Ryan backed his rookie QB all season and Sanchez responded by becoming a leader on this football team.  The other rookie, Shonn Greene, has the full support of his coach as well and has taken over primary rushing duties.  This offense is much more dangerous than teams realize.

I cannot wait for Sunday and the two championship games.  The NFC game and the AFC game will both be stellar contests.  But you won’t be getting my picks until Saturday, constant reader.  So be ready for my picks and plenty of discussion on both games.  Until then, adieu.

Wow, what a terrible weekend I would have had if I’d put up picks.  I’m allowing you, Constant Reader, to ridicule me because I would have been 0-4.  This was my worse weekend ever.  Unlike those goddamn Jets…actually, I hate to admit it but I like Rex Ryan.  Only a man that egocentric could coach and succeed in New York.  Unless you pick your nose like Joe Torre.

Speaking of the Jets, they absolutely demolished the Bengals.  I don’t think Cincinnati even showed up for this game.  The score makes the game look much closer than it was.  Mark Sanchez looked like a grizzled veteran instead of a rookie in his first playoff game and Shonn Greene ran like a man possessed.  Their defense came to play and kept the highly rated Bengals offense quiet all game.  Carson Palmer looked uncomfortable all game and even Cedric Benson, the single highlight of the game for Cincinnati, couldn’t keep them in the game.  And don’t get me going on started on the two missed field goals in the second half for the Bengals…not the first time in the weekend that a “franchised” kicker choked.

Then in the second game of Saturday, the Eagles forgot to fly to Dallas.  Only Michael Vick looked good passing the ball but couldn’t remember how to make a simple handoff.  Donovan McNabb was helpless in the backfield all game and couldn’t get anything going with the Boys D in his face all day.  Dallas came to play on defense and just pushed the Eagles around.  Tony Romo finally shook the ghosts of yesteryear and joined the ranks of Cowboy QBs that have won playoff games.  Good luck this weekend in Minnesota, Tony.

I tried to shake my two poor picks on Saturday and be positive on Sunday.  I had my boys, the Pats, over the Ravens on Sunday and I thought for sure the Cards wouldn’t show up again.  Boy, was I an idiot.

The Ravens set the tone on their very first possession.  Ray Rice scored on a 83 yard rumble that put Baltimore on top for good.  The entire Pats team looked out of sync on defense and offense.  No one could get anything done except for Julian Endelmann and Kevin Faulk.  They both played well and tried to keep it close but they couldn’t halt the passage of time.  This team isn’t the dynasty…we’re past that, at least in the short term.  But we have the building blocks for that to come back.  And I have this to say to the many Brady haters out there, HE HAS THREE BROKEN RIBS, BROKEN FINGER ON THE THROWING HAND, AND AN INJURED THROWING SHOULDER! As I’ve said before on this blog, his injuries have been ignored by the media.  I’m amazed he’s played all the games he has.  Most QBs would be on the sideline nursing their wounds.  After Sunday, I’m not sure I would disagree with them but I think people to need to be aware of the physical limitations that Brady has been fighting through all season.  The Pats were a team without an identity all season and Sunday showed their flaws in glaring relief.  They will be back next season.

Lastly, the late game on Sunday was entertaining to say the least.  Could we have seen a more ludicrous game on the part of the Packers? Dom Capers got so much credit at the end of the season for his defense schemes and Aaron Rodgers and the offense were playing second fiddle.  Watching them play on Sunday made me realize why the Pack was happy to let Brett Favre go.  Rodgers lead that team back into the game after the Cards tried to steal the show early.  That game was a 21st century shoot out…lots of throwing and no defense.

I wrote the Packers off the moment they failed to even attempt for points after Neil Rackers missed field goal.  They had nine seconds and two timeouts on their 44 yard line and they just kneeled it down.  To not go for a pass play down the sideline to try to kick a field goal was a terrible decision.  The Cards hadn’t been able to stop Green Bay since the first quarter and Aaron Rodgers had been shredding their defense with long passes all game.  Also, they hadn’t been able to stop the Cards all game so throwing their oppurtunity to win to chance was stupid…absolutely stupid.

The fact that it ended on a defense play makes this an even more ironic collapse for the Packers.  I bellowed “Game Over” when they knelt it down and stuck with my guns even when they won the toss and future Miss Jake belittled me for my pessimism.  However, this was one of the best football games of this young century and shame on you who shut it off early.

I cannot wait for this weekend’s matchups.  On Saturday we got Arizona at New Orleans early and then Baltimore at Indianapolis in the late game.  Sunday, we get to watch Dallas at Minnesota early and then the Jets at San Diego.  It will be a great weekend of playoff matchups…check back here Saturday morning for my picks on this weekend.