Earlier in the week I wrote about how the Jets’ offensive success in their 34-31 overtime win over the Patriots demonstrated the hard-nosed, ball control attack that the team envisioned when they made their offseason additions. In their final scoring drive of regulation which resulted in a one-yard touchdown run by Thomas Jones and in their game-winning drive in overtime which ended in Jay Feely’s 43-yard field goal, the Jets held the ball for 7:06 and 7:50 respectively. With Jones leading the AFC in rushing with 854 yards on 190 carries (4.5 avg), the newly revamped offensive line gelling and Brett Favre finally mastering the playbook, the Jets had finally found their identity.   

Today I found a statistic validating the Jets’ ball control offense, which leads the NFL in five-minute drives.

Five-Minute Drives:

1. Jets 24 total (13 touchdowns, 97 total points)

2t. Ravens 20 total (four touchdowns, 52 total points)

2t. Texans 20 total (12 touchdowns, 95 total points)

*Much of this success can be attributed to the offensive line, which has allowed 19 sacks (15th in NFL) through the first ten games. Last season at this point, the Jets had already allowed 26 sacks. Also contributing to the lengthy drives is the offense’s consistency in limiting “self-inflicted wounds.” The Jets have only been whistled for 48 penalties (8th best in NFL) for 354 yards.

It’s easy to point toward Favre and credit him for the offensive rivival, but the Jets are doing the little things correctly. Sacks and penalties on drives have the same effect as throwing gasoline into a fire. The Jets have avoided self-inflicted wounds from ruining their drives.

Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse was added to the Titans’ injury report after he did not practice today due to a knee injury. After playing just 16 total games over the last two seasons with the Eagles in which he recorded seven sacks, Kearse has enjoyed a rebound in his second tenure with Tennessee. Kearse has appeared in all ten games, in which he has recorded 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Titans center Kevin Mawae spent eight seasons with the Jets (1998-2005) and in all but one of them, he paved the way for a 1,000 yard rusher. Mawae’s arrival with the Jets coincided with running back Curtis Martin’s trade to the Big Apple, in which the running back proceeded to rush for 10,302 yards and 58 touchdowns before playing his last snaps in the NFL in 2005. In Mawae’s first season with the Jets, the offensive improvements were stark. The team averaged 357 total yards per game (295 yards/game in 1997) and 117 rushing yards per game (92 rushing yards/game in 1997) en route to the AFC East championship and a spot in the AFC Championship game. Mawae followed up the memorable 1998 season with six consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl before signing a contract with Tennessee prior to the 2006 season.

On Sunday, Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins will have the tough task of lining up across the line of scrimmage from Mawae, who has opened holes for a ground attack that ranks seventh in the league in yards per game (132.7 yards/game).

“He’s a good center, real solid, very crafty,” Jenkins said of Mawae. ”He knows how to play the game and he knows how to do little tricks to become more effective. I know that a lot of people look at it like he’s starting to get towards the end of his career, but he’s really not playing like it.”

Jenkins likewise heard whispers of doubt toward the end of his seven-year tenure with the Panthers, but his presence in the middle of the Jets’ defense has carried the team’s rushing defense to new heights. After two failed seasons of experimenting with Dewayne Robertson at nose tackle and watching opposing running backs thread the defense, Jenkins has transformed the run defense into the fourth-best in the NFL (81.3 yards allowed/game). To find the last running back to post a 100 yard outing against the Jets’ defense, you have to turn back to Dec. 23, 2007, when the Jets and Titans last met. Lendale White carried the ball 23 times for 104 yards in a 10-6 Tennessee win.

On Sunday, Mawae will hope to repeat history once again. However this time around, Tennessee has another weapon to throw at the Jets. Rookie running back Chris Johnson has been everything the Titans hoped for when they drafted him 24th overall back in April, as he currently ranks second in the AFC in rushing with 787 yards.

“He’s fast,” Jets head coach Eric Mangini said of Johnson. “You saw the speed in college and you see the speed now where he can get to the edge and go.”

Even though Sunday will mark the first time in Kerry Rhodes’ four-year career in which he will attempt to tackle Johnson, the Jets’ safety doesn’t have to be reminded about Johnson’s greatest threat.

“He’s the type that can take the ball the distance every time. He is one of the fastest guys in the NFL,” Rhodes proclaimed. “You give him one carry, you give him a seam and he can go the distance.”

Johnson rose up the draft charts back in April after he ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in a lightning-quick 4.24 seconds. He’s used that speed to compliment White, who’s 6-foot-1, 235-pound frame gives the Titans a thunder and lightning style attack. Along with 470 rushing yards, White has scored 11 touchdowns, tying him for the league-lead with the Giants running back Brandon Jacobs.

However, if Johnson and White hope to thread the Jets’ defense and send the Titans to 11-0, they must do so against the vaunted Jets’ 3-4 defense. Or better served, Mawae against Jenkins will have a lot to say about the outcome. Today Jenkins mentioned that he’s played against Mawae in the 4-3 defense with Carolina and he had a “tough time” dealing with the Pro Bowl center (four tackles in 20-7 loss on Nov. 4, 2007). Will Jenkins fare better against Mawae now that he’s in the Jets’ 3-4 system?

“It’s kind of hard to deal with somebody sometimes when they get to tip you and they’re as good in the season as he is,” Jenkins said. “I don’t know. I can’t really predict what is going to happen, but we will see.”

The kickoff of the Broncos-Jets game on Nov. 30 has been moved from a 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. The Week 13 schedule was finalized by the NFL today and the originally scheduled matchup between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings will remain in the 8:15 p.m. slot on NBC.

In the NFL, most teams go as their quarterback goes. Through the first three weeks of the 2008 season, it was apparent that neither the New York Jets nor Brett Favre were struggling to find their niche. As the Jets sputtered to a 1-2 start, Favre was stuck in neutral. He tossed six touchdown passes over the first games, but the Jets were still anxiously waiting for the future Hall of Famer to get in-sync with his receivers. But while Favre enjoyed his breakout performance on Sept. 28 when he threw six touchdown passes in a 56-35 win over the Cardinals, the offense still remained in search of an identity.

Now as the Jets enter their big matchup with the 10-0 Titans, the Jets seem to know what type of offense they are. In the last two weeks, Favre has thrown for 167 yards and 258 yards respectively, with three combined touchdown passes. The Jets haven’t relied on the 18-year veteran to carry them as he did during the overtime against New England, but he’s been more than simply a game manager. Head coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer have convinced Favre to shed his reckless, gunslinging ways and instead focus on being efficient. Meanwhile, the Jets have finally the tough, ball control offense that Mangini envisioned as Thomas Jones now leads the AFC in rushing (190 carries, 854 yards, nine touchdowns).

What’s most impressive about the Jets’ recent run on offense are the enlongated drives they’re molding together. Rather than just be a ’fun and gun’ offense and fire the ball 40 yards downfield on each possession, the Jets are mixing a managable passing attack with a steady running game. Such drives are especially effective because they tire out defenses and eat up precious time on the clock. The Giants were a prime example of that as they made their run to a Super Bowl championship last season. Quarterback Eli Manning wasn’t asked to gun the ball downfield on each throw. Instead he threw 10-15 yard routes and mixed those with a pounding run attack. Now you may suggest that the Jets possessed a similar offense with Chad Pennington, but the difference between the nimble-armed Pennington and the rocket-armed Favre is that Favre always serves as a threat. Defenses never had to worry about Pennington firing the ball downfield, but with Favre, the frightening thought always has to sit in the mind of the defense.

The Jets’ last two scoring drives against the Patriots Thursday were a model of the aforementioned style:

Time of Possession: 7:06, 14 plays, 67 yards (Result: One-yard touchdown run by Jones, 31-24 Jets)

Time of Possession: 7:50,  14 plays, 64 yards (Result: 34-yard field goal by Jay Feely, 34-31 Jets)

*Two of the Jets’ longest drives in the last three seasons have occurred within the last three weeks:

11/9/08 v. STL  11:09 min (Result: End of game)

10/28/07 v. BUF  9:25 min (Result: FG)

11/12/06 v. NE  9:12 min (Result: TD)

10/21/07 v. CIN  9:09 min (Resut: FG)

11/2/08 v. BUF  8:41 min (Result: FG

10/1/06 v. IND  8:40 min (Result: INT)

Back in July, before Kris Jenkins was dominating offensive linemen and carrying the Jets’ run defense to new levels, he was busy titling his playing style.

“I never did the pretty position. I’ve always been a grunt. I take pride in being a grunt,” Jenkins said of his new role as a nose tackle.

Ten games into his first season with the Jets, the self-proclaimed “grunt” can add a subtitle that reads “star.” After a failed experiment which began two seasons ago saw Dwayne Robertson switched to nose tackle, the 6-foot-4, 349-pound Jenkins has transformed the Jets’ defense from inadequate to elite. The statistics are hard to ignore…

2006: 130.3 rushing yards allowed/game (24th in NFL)

2007: 134.8 (29th in NFL)

2008: 81.3 (6th in NFL)

Not only has Jenkins provided an immovable cog in the middle of the Jets’ run defense, he’s also provided a consistent push in the pass rush. Jenkins has recorded 3.5 sacks, but his contribution also often goes unnoticed. While the mammoth nose tackle continually drives back the offense’s center and guard, blitzing linebackers such as Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas have been provided open holes to attack the quarter. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that the Jets have recorded 34 sacks, already five more than they had all of last season. In the Jets’ 56-35 win over the Cardinals on Sept. 28, Jenkins also made his mark on special teams by blocking a field goal.

For opposing offenses, devising a gameplan to penetrate the Jets’ defense line has seemed more like a quantum psychics exam than a football test. But while the Patriots weren’t able to consistently run with their backs through the Jets’ defense (17 carries, 63 yards) they discovered a way to contain Jenkins. With the Patriots trailing 24-6 late in the second quarter, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels turned to a hurry-up offense with the hope of reviving a bumbling New England offense. In essence, the move worked to perfection as Jabar Gaffney hauled in a 19-yard touchdown grab to cut the Jets’ lead to 24-13 at halftime. During the second half, the Patriots’ offense awakened for 18 points in what was nearly a colossal meltdown for the Jets. However, more impressive than the Patriots’ sudden efficiency was their success in eliminating Jenkins. In containing the Jets’ massive star, the Patriots may have opened a door for other opponents to pursue.

In a copycat league that is the NFL, could opposing teams examine the Patriots’ success and attack the Jets with a no-huddle offense? Surely no offense ever would or could run the no-huddle for a full 60 minutes, but seeing offensive coordinators dial up a method to contain Jenkins would be a delicious thought. In changing the pace of the offense, the Patriots were able to tire Jenkins and his mammoth frame. In the coming weeks, it would not be a surprise to see more offenses turn no-huddle against the Jets to try to minimize the impact the nose tackle can have on a game.

*As Jenkins reminded his peers, nose tackle is not a “glory position.” It’s more like a “grunt” position and the impact one has cannot be seen on the stat sheet. His 30 tackles and 3.5 sacks look like a modest season; that is until you watch him in the trenches day after day. But ten games into this season, it’s hard to pinpoint another nose tackle who’s had a bigger impact than the man in the middle for the Jets. I’d have to rank him with the Steelers’ Casey Hampton, the Ravens’ Haloti Ngata and the Patriots’ Vince Wilfork as the league’s best nose tackle.

What a night for Brett Favre and the first-place New York Jets. When the Jets traded for Favre back in August, the Hall of Fame-bound quarterback was welcomed for games like these. If the Jets had any aspirations of putting the Patriots’ dominance to rest and grapple AFC East supremacy, last night was a game the Jets needed to take. While the Jets grabbed their hated rivals by the throat in the first half by jumping out to a 24-6 lead, they ultimately turned to their legendary quarterback to help them escape from what would have been a monumental defeat. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the resilient Patriots regroup from this defeat and make a playoff push, but a loss for the Jets last night would have haunted them for quite some time. But after all, such cringing thoughts don’t need to be explored because Favre was magical. Favre completed 26 of 33 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns, making several outstanding throws. While Favre is bound for the Hall of Fame once he finally decides to end his legendary career, the one knock on him has always been his penchant for making costly decisions in big games. Last night there were none to be made, as each of Favre’s throws seemed to fit exactly where only his receivers could catch the ball. Favre not only displayed the talent, but he demonstrated the smarts that can carry teams a long way.

*Enough can’t be said about Favre’s performance, especially during the final scoring drive in the fourth quarter and the game-winning drive in overtime. With the game tied in a hostile environment, after the Jets had already surrendered 18 unanswered points, Favre engineered a 14-play, 67-yard drive which resulted in a one yard touchdown run by Thomas Jones. Favre completed 4-of-5 passes for 29 yards on the drive which ate up 11:50 off the clock. However, after the Patriots grabbed the momentum back with Randy Moss’ amazing touchdown catch, Favre orchestrated his finest drive as a Jet in overtime. The offense easily could have folded after the first two plays resulted in a sack and an incomplete pass, but Favre connected with tight end Dustin Keller for 16 yards on a 3rd-and-15. Overall, the legendary gunslinger was flawless on the drive completing 5-of-6 passes for 56 yards. If the season ends with a division title, that will be the drive the team can look back on as a turning point in the season. It’s been a long time since the Jets had a drive as memorable as that.

*Keller is quickly turning into a force within the Jets’ offense and a go-to guy for Favre in clutch situations. The rookie tight end showed solid poise for four quarters after dropping a touchdown pass in the first quarter. However, just like Favre, Keller shined when it mattered most. He caught three passes for 32 yards on the game-winning drive, two of which came on third down. Overall he recorded a career-high eight receptions for 87 yards. While he still has ways to go before the Jets can call him a reliable blocker, he impact in the passing game is noticeable. With Keller producing, Mike Tannenbaum’s decision to trade up into the first round is looking smarter by the minute.

*Jones doesn’t receive the glory such as the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson, but he just continues to produce. Jones carried the football 30 times for 104 yards last night and punched in the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He recorded his fourth 100-yard game of the season and added to his league-leading rushing total of 854 yards. Even though Jones may not be the most flashy of runners, he’s the type of runner who will take a pounding on one carry and demand the ball on the very next play. Those runners are called “workhorses” around these ranks and the Jets should enjoy the fact that they have one.

*The stage wasn’t nearly as high, but Jerricho Cotchery’s acrobatic grab in the second quarter reminded me of David Tyree. Even though Favre’s pass was thrown to the inside of the route, Cotchery bounced around the defensive back and made a diving grab while pinning the football against his head. He also showed impressive elusiveness on his 15-yard touchdown grab, by breaking two tackles and barely streching the football into the endzone. Luckily for the Jets, Cotchery’s third-quarter fumble didn’t appear as costly as it first might have. The Patriots were only able to turn the mistake into a field goal. Overall, five catches for 87 yards and one touchdown will surely bring a smile to the Jets’ offense.

*Mike Nugent better continue to keep that seat on the bench nice and toasty. While it appears that Nugent’s right thigh injured is healed and he’s ready to return, Jay Feely continues to step up for the Jets. First it was his 52-yard field goal in Oakland, last week it was his 4-for-4 afternoon on field goals and yesterday he delivered the game-winning 34-yard field goal in overtime. Feely has been nothing but clutch for the Jets since joining them back in Week Two, as he’s 18-for-22 on field goal attempts. Surprisingly, Feely’s 32-year old leg has displayed some impressive power on kickoffs. His success makes you wonder why the Dolphins released him after he connected on a franchise record (21-23 FG) 91 percent of his kicks last season.

*After watching Leon Washington repeatedly torch the Patriots’ kick coverage last night, Patriots kicker Stephen Gostowski can be handed an award for his performance in the Patriots’ 19-10 victory over the Jets back in Week Two. Gostowski nailed five touchbacks on that afternoon, basically eliminating Washington from returning any kicks. Last night, Washington burned the Patriots with a 92-yard kick return for a touchdown. Overall he averaged 44.3 yards on his four returns. On second thought, have you ever seen a better executed return than Washington’s touchdown? Other than Gostowski who whiffed on his chance to tackle Washington, no New England player came within ten yards of touching him.

*Patriots’ linebacker Jerrod Mayo’s performance last night makes you wonder why the Jets passed on him back in April’s draft. Mayo, who was selected tenth overall by the Patriots, was an absolute machine on the defensive side of the football. He recorded 20 tackles (16 solo) and stuffed Jones on multiple 3rd-and-short runs. Perhaps Mayo’s performance wouldn’t be so painful for the Jets if Vernon Gholston had done more than record three special teams tackles.

*Jets linebacker Eric Barton recorded 17 tackles…need I say more? The ten-year veteran doesn’t receive the accolades, but he just continues to produce. Barton leads the defense this season with 73 total tackles.

*Nose tackle Kris Jenkins delivered another dominating performance and you have to place him among the top defensive players in football. He likely won’t be recognized near the ranks of the Defensive Player of the Year voting because he plays a self-described “grunt” position and thus he doesn’t record the sexy statistics, but Jenkins is playing as well as any defensive lineman in football. He single-handedly drove center Dan Koppen back into running back Heath Evans on 3rd-and-1, stuffing Evans for a loss of two yards. Jenkins’ presence was so intimidating that New England decided to pass the ball on 4th-and-1 rather than run. His forth quarter sack of Matt Cassel was simpy a matter of him overpowering the left tackle.

*The Ty Law signing was questioned earlier this week, but Law delivered for the Jets. He was physical with Randy Moss at the line and limited the All-Pro wide reciever to just three catches for 26 yards. Of course Moss also caught the game-tying touchdown on which Law had him blanketed. Cassel delivered the perfect pass and Moss responded by recording the perfect catch.

*Call it luck or call it smarts, but safety Kerry Rhodes delivered for the Jets….in the coin flip. The Patriots gained 511 total yards on the Jets and Cassel was threading the Jets’ secondary, so keeping the ball heading into overtime surely helped.

*He’s not Tom Brady, but Cassel delivered a career-performance for New England last night. He still has to be smacking himself for overthrowing a wide open Moss in the third quarter, but completing 30-of-51 passes for 400 yards and three touchdows is nothing to be ashamed about. Not to mention, he led New England in rushing with 62 yards on eight carries. Cassel’s touchdown passes to Moss and Jabar Gaffney were perfectly thrown and he surely has to give New England confidence heading into the final strech of the season. Keep your head up Matt, you played one hell of a football game.

*I’m in the same school of thought that believes that prevent defense “prevents” you from winning the game. Mangini should be applauded for his decision to challenge Laveranues Coles’ first-quarter catch which was ultimately overturned, but he played not to lose in the fourth quarter. The Jets pressured Cassel repeatedly on the drive prior, so it doesn’t make sense to give him the middle of the field to pick apart the Jets’ secondary.

As if Gillete Stadium won’t be electric enough, the Patriots will be honoring one of their unheralded players from their three-time Super Bowl championship teams. Tonight will be “Troy Brown Night,” as the Patriots will honor Brown with a halftime ceremony.

Brown played 15 seasons with the Patriots after he was drafted in the eighth round (198th overall) in the 1993 NFL Draft. He stands as the franchise’s all-time leading receiver with 557 career receptions and ranks second with 6,366 receiving yards. Aside from serving as a top receiver, Brown is the Patriots’ all-time leading punt returner, with franchise highs in returns (246) and yardage (2,570). Brown also served as a nickel back during the final nine games of the 2004 season and he recorded three interceptions.

It’s now or never for the Jets. The Patriots have defeated their AFC East rival in 11 of the last 12 matchups, which includes a 19-10 loss with quarterback Brett Favre in September. This time both teams sit in first place with 6-3 records, but it’s the Jets who enter tonight’s battle in Foxborough with more momentum. The Jets have won five of their last six games, which includes a key 26-17 road victory at Buffalo two weeks ago. However, more impressive than the Jets’ improved play is the way they have reached that point. The path to victory has been carved by running back Thomas Jones and a stout run defense, with a little help from their future Hall of Fame quarterback.

Excluding the 56-35 win over the Cardinals in which Favre tossed six touchdown passes, he has thrown just four touchdowns and eight interceptions dating back to a 26-14 win over the Bengals on Oct. 12. Obviously Favre’s recent struggles have not hurt the Jets. The Jets are turning all the right cylinders and have played their best football all season. On the New England side, the Patriots may be standing right next to the Jets in the division with a 6-3 record, but concern again has to be pointed toward the injury front. While Matt Cassel has shown improved poise and confidence since replacing Tom Brady at quarterback in the season opener, you still have to worry how the youthful quarterback will respond to the Jets’ pass rush. Running back Laurence Maroney  is on Injured Reserve with a shoulder injury and Sammy Morris is questionable for tonight’s matchup with a knee injury. Former Jet running back LaMont Jordan, who gained 62 yards on 11 carries (5.6 avg) against New York in a Week Two victory is doubtful with a calf injury. On the defensive side of the ball, Pro-Bowl linebacker Adalius Thomas is expected to miss the rest of the season after breaking his forearm in last week’s win over the Bills. Somehow with all these injuries to key players, mastermind head coach Bill Belichick continues to lead his team to victories. It’s now the Jets’ time to capitalize on these banged-up Patriots and send the rivalry in a different direction. If the Jets are going to win the AFC East and return to the playoffs, their run will start tonight.

Key Matchups:

Patriots WR Wes Welker v. Jets CB’s Ty Law/Hank Poteat: While the Patriots’ offense hasn’t come close to matching it’s record-setting 2007 season with Brady sidelined, Wes Welker hasn’t lost a beat. Welker ranks second in the NFL in with 66 receptions, again proving why he’s the most dangerous slot receiver in the league. Cassel cannot match Brady’s downfield arm strength, so Welker has been targeted on quick slants and underneath routes. His prowess on third-down is hard to ignore, as he ranks tenth in the NFL with 15 catches on third-down. It is unclear how much Law will play, but if he’s lined up as a nickel corner, he will be relied upon to slow down Welker. Having such a responsibility is tough for even the elite corners, but it will be interesting to watch if Law, who hasn’t played all season, can control Welker. While Law said that he’s been working out nearly every day, nothing compares to playing on Sunday from an endurance standpoint. Poteat is a savvy veteran, but that may not help him cover one of the NFL’s top receivers. If the weather remains rainy and windy, Cassel will likely rely on a short passing game.

Patriots QB Matt Cassel v. Jets’ Pass Rush: In the Patriots’ 19-10 victory over the Jets in September, Cassel was sacked four times, but was rarely pressured otherwise. Cassel, who was making his first start at quarterback since high school, neutralized the Jets’ rush with short passes to Welker and running back Kevin Faulk. Cassel has shown his smarts with only seven interceptions, but he has also been sacked 30 times (27th in NFL). Belichick won’t be asking Cassel to do too much, but if the Jets can pressure the youthful quarterback they can force a few turnovers. The Jets’ run defense ranks fifth in the NFL, so Cassel will surely need to make a big play or two if the Patriots are to extend their success against the Jets.

Patriots RB Kevin Faulk v. Jets LB David Bowens: Patriots rookie BenJarvus Ellis will likely handle most of the carries, but Faulk will have a significant role in the offense. Faulk’s 26 receptions rank sixth among AFC running backs and the Jets are well aware of how dangerous Faulk can be. In the Week Two victory over the Jets, he caught four passes for 50 yards. Bowens is a solid run defender, but his coverage skills could be exposed. As New England does with Welker, the Patriots pinpoint Faulk to help neutralize the opponent’s pass rush and Cassel’s lack of downfield arm strength.

Brett Favre v. Patriots’ Pass Defense: Through nine games, the New England pass defense ranks middle of the pack in the NFL. The Patriots are allowing 223 passing yards per game (15th in NFL), but they neutralized Favre back in September. Favre threw for only 181 yards in the loss and rarely had open targets downfield. After subpar performances in recent weeks, it’s time for Favre to carry the Jets on his back.

Patriots K Stephen Gostowski/P Chris Hanson v. Jets KR/PR Leon Washington: The Jets were reminded how critical special teams can be when the teams last met, as Washington was limited to only one kick return. Usually that’s a positive statistic because it means the opponent doesn’t score, but a closer look shows that Gostowski had five touchbacks. Washington is one of the Jets’ most explosive threats, but if he doesn’t touch the football, his impact is limited.

Yes tonight’s game is in unfriendly Foxborough, but this is a season-changing game for the Jets. Even though it’s only Week 11, a win tonight would do the Jets wonders in the ultra-competitive AFC East. The Jets have hit their stride at the right time this season and I expect it to continue tonight….Jets 16, Patriots 13

If you want to question Thomas Jones’ importance to the Jets this season, think again.

As the start of the 2008 NFL season crept closer, Brett Favre and his legendary throwing cannon was certain to determine the fate of the New York Jets. In a league where most franchises only go as far as their quarterbacks can take them, the Jets would be riding on the future Hall of Famer’s back whether they liked it or not. For years they watched how an injury-prone quarterback with a nimble throwing arm could debilitate an offense but Favre entered to wipe away those painful images. While the Jets beefed up their talent pool by adding seven-time Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca, three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and a breakout star at linebacker in Calvin Pace, the Jets learned that one of their strongest keys to their transformation already sat right in their lap. Jones joined the Jets in March 2007, traded from the Chicago Bears in exchange for the 37th overall pick in that year’s draft. After two breakout seasons with the Bears which in which Jones rushed for 1,335 yards and 1,210 yards respectively, the addition of Jones was certain to bolster a Jets’ running back core that was left empty after the departure of Curtis Martin. Jones delivered 1,119 rushing yards (10th in NFL) but only two total touchdowns. His numbers shouted success, but he had perhaps as quiet a 1,000 yard season as a running back could have.

However, now as the Jets sit a victory over the rival Patriots shy of first-place in the AFC East, Jones can take credit for the Jets’ soaring success. Through ten weeks, Jones currently leads the AFC and sits fifth in the NFL in rushing with 750 yards on 160 carries (4.7 avg.), more than the likes of heralded stars LaDainian Tomlinson (629 yards) and Marshawn Lynch (512 yards). His eight touchdowns ranks fourth out of AFC running backs, behind Lendale White (11 touchdowns), Ronnie Brown (nine) and Maurice Jones-Drew (nine). While Jones’ standout season may not serve as a surprise, the fashion in which he has reached such numbers has.

After Jones opened the season with 101 yards and one touchdown in a win over the Dolphins, the Jets’ running back hit a mini-slump. In losses to the Patriots and Chargers and a victory over the Cardinals, Jones’ totals read 70 yards, 37, 46 respectively. He did not reach the endzone over the three-game strech and was limited to only ten carries against the Chargers after losing a fumble early in the first half. With the addition of three-time Pro Bowl fullback Tony Richardson and a revamped offensive line, it became time to why Jones seemed so harnassed to provide consistent efforts. However Jones luck changed in an Oct. 12 win over the Bengals, in which he rushed for only 65 yards but added three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving). In the four weeks following that breakout Sunday, Jones has totaled 431 yards and five touchdowns. Not surprisingly, the Jets are 3-1 in those four games.

It’s easy to credit Favre’s presence for the Jets’ turnaround, but Jones’ efforts cannot be ignored. In recent weeks, the Jets are winning not on Favre’s arm, but on a consistent running game, a stout run defense and some gamebreaking plays from the defense. In surveying the league this season, that appears to be the groundwork for success. The NFL’s top two teams, the Titans (9-0) and Giants (8-1) aren’t winning on a weekly air assault but with a pounding running game and a consistent defense. The league often moves in streaks and this season’s playoff contenders have carried the same approach. It was the same smashmouth style that brought the Giants home the Super Bowl last year. While quarterback Eli Manning made few mistakes (one interception) throughout the postseason run, it was the trio of running backs Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw that wore down defenses for 60 minutes. I’m not saying the Jets need to turn Favre into a game manager, but the Jets’ fate this season will rest heavily on Jones and their run defense. The Jets’ running game ranks ninth in the NFL (123.4 yards/game) while their run defense ranks fifth overall (76.4 yards allowed/game). Interestingly, but not coincidentally, nine out of the top ten running teams in the NFL hold winning records, while all ten of the top run defenses hold winning records.

Top Run Offenses in 2008:

1. Giants (8-1) (168.9 yards)

2. Falcons (6-3) (157.8)

3. Ravens (6-3) (150.2)

4. Redskins (6-3) (144.7)

5. Vikings (5-4) (144.0)

6. Titans (9-0) (134.8)

7. Patriots (6-3) (133.0)

8. Raiders (2-7) (124.3) (This team really sticks out like a sore thumb, doesn’t it?)

9. Jets (6-3) (123.4)

10. Panthers (7-2) (119.2)

Top Run Defenses in 2008

1. Ravens (6-3) (65.4 yards allowed/game)

2. Steelers (6-3) (69.2)

3. Bears (5-4) (74.9)

4. Vikings (5-4) (70.1)

5. Jets (6-3) (76.4)

6. Redskins (6-3) (80.7)

7. Giants (8-1) (87.7)

8. Titans (9-0) (90.1)

9. Cardinals (6-3) (92.0)

10. Dolphins (5-4) (93.7)