The Jets gave up 21 first half points and trailed 21-13 at the half. The malaise attributed to perhaps the two week layoff coming off of their bye week. Both S Jim Leonard and FS Kerry Rhodes were  quoted saying he team was flat defensively in the first half. That’s a hard pill to swallow for Jet fans, especially since reports had coach Rex Ryan chewing out his team this week to stop the excuses, imploring them to play like a playoff team he was quoted as claiming they are.

Star RB, the little bulldozer, Maurice Jones Drew torched the Jets early and often , with 78 first quarter yards. He finished with 123 on the day. The biggest play of the game however, came on a TD that Jones Drew chose NOT to score on.  With the score 22-21 Jets with 1:48 left, the Jets called for “Free Way”  a play that allows the opposing team to score in order to get the ball back and have a chance to win. On the first try the Jets mistakenly tackled Drew. “We couldn’t even get that right,” Ryan, never at a loss for words, admitted afterwards. The second time, Drew shrewdly stopped at the one yard line. With no time outs left thanks to wasting two earlier ( to prevent a  twelve men on defense flag and the other by Sanchez on the Jags goal line), the Jets were forced to watch the clock wither away. Josh Scobee added the virtual extra point at the gun for the 24-22 Jags win.

This erased the comeback that left the Jets up 22-21 with 5:04 left thanks to a Thomas Jones (21-77 yds) one yard TD plunge. WR Braylon Edwards (3-79 yds) had a key two point conversion knocked out of his hands by the Jags FS Reggie Nelson. The throw was behind Edwards but still catchable. “Nelson is paid to make plays and he made a godd play on that one.” Edwards said. The former Browns WR, known for the dropsies is now 1-8 combined in games played this year with Cleveland and the Jets. His fault? No, but the frustrations is apparent. “It stinks..its not my fault per se but I don’t want to fell like the black sheep.” he added lamenting what so many Jets who’ve come and gone in this franchise’s consistent  losing history must feel upon exiting the stadium.

The Jets are not dead yet. They ARE however, on life support. The defense has still yet to create points off of turnovers. The Sanchez to TE Dustin Keller combo, so poised to break out and open up the passing game outside the numbers, is just missing the mark on too many occasions. All parts, including game management by the coaches, need to start clicking fast or this season will be gone by Turkey day.

As for Sunday, has a player ever taken a knee over scoring a touchdown in order to keep the clock moving like Jones-Drew did? Probably not. Only the Jets franchise would be involved in a play like that.

Nonetheless , the Jets need to go to Foxboro and try to begin to erase the ghosts of their Gang Green past that have somehow crept back into the equation. Worse, they need to do it against  the furious Pats, their hated rivals, who want revenge from their week two loss at the Meadowlands. Bill Belicheck’s first place crew also will be stinging from the loss at Indy Sunday night that saw them go for a strange fourth and two on their own 28 yard line in order to prevent Peyton Manning one last shot. It backfired.

The 4-5 Jets remain just two games  back of the 6-3 Pats. A  win would inch them closer to the top of the AFC East and  give them the tie breaker over New England. When the dust settles this week, that will be how Rex Ryan must frame this next test. As a game that, with a win, restores hope. To do that, Ryan will have to stop Brady and put the “Same Old Jets” talk to bed again. It’s funny how these negative Green ghosts somehow rear their ugly heads every season.

A LOOK BACK ON THE THREE KEYS TO THE JAGS GAME:

Turnovers: The Jets defense, built off pressure and chaos, again, didn’t get any. End of story.

Thomas Jones vs Maurice Jones Drew. Jones-Drew won the battle in yardage 123 to 77. He also made the play of the day by not scoring on the final drive.

Mike Sims-Walker vs Darrelle Revis: Sims Walker managed a TD catch but didn’t dominate the field. Revis is a big play guy the Jets desperately need

going forward. An interception taken back by a ball hawk shut down corner like Revis, would aid the Jets offense in a huge way.

Follow TJ Rosenthal on twitter@ thejetreport

It wouldn’t be New York if its fans and media didn’t often overreact to each game that any professional team plays in New York. That response just comes with the territory when rooting for or discussing teams in the New York City area.

Sure enough, to the degree that the Giants were being discussed as part of the National Football League elite after a dominant 5-0 start, was the extent to which many in the New York area were asking what was wrong with the Giants and how New York could let its entire season slip away after a subsequent four-game slide.

No doubt, the questions surrounding the problems that the Giants still need to fix this season were, and still are, legitimate. And, if the Giants don’t soon rectify a lot of the issues that were exposed during their aforementioned four-game losing streak, it’s true, Big Blue’s goal of reaching the playoffs could be in serious jeopardy.

But, for those who were spewing all of the doom and gloom talk about the Giants’ playoff possibilities, many going so far as to say that the Giants’ fourth straight loss ended their season, take a look at the current NFC standings after what happened on Sunday, as the Giants tried to regroup during their bye week.

Sure, New York had slipped from 5-0 to 5-4, and from first place to third place in the NFC East.

Yet, simply by not playing, the Giants moved back into a tie for second place with the 5-4 Philadelphia Eagles (who were beaten in San Diego on Sunday), and are now just one game behind the 6-3 Dallas Cowboys, the NFC East leaders, who lost at Green Bay this week.

As for the NFC wild-card race, the Giants and Eagles are not only tied for the wild-card lead with each other, but also with the 5-4 Atlanta Falcons (losers at Carolina on Sunday) and the 5-4 Green Bay Packers. Carolina, San Francisco, and Chicago are each a game back, at 4-5.

For all of this past week’s chatter about the Giants’ season being over, New York still very much controls its own destiny as long as it can pull everything together and play better.

The Giants host Atlanta next week, while having other home dates with Dallas, Philadelphia, and Carolina in December. And, the Giants are done with both the Cowboys and Eagles on the road.

The bottom line is that while the Giants have to correct a lot of what plagued them while losing four games in a row, and they still have much work to do in order to reach the playoffs this year, they’re very far from the fate many had prematurely predicted for them (if any Giants are Mark Twain fans, they can certainly relate).

As evidenced while the Giants rested this week, no one else in the NFC East seems to be running away with their division, and even less so in the NFC wild-card picture.

So, at least for now Giant fans, view the remaining Giant games in this season the same way your team plans on approaching them. It may sound clichéd, but forget about the recent past and take the rest of the season one game at a time.

Because it doesn’t appear that anything regarding where the Giants are headed this season, one way or the other, will be determined any time soon.

The Jets arrived at  4-4 by falling from the top of the mountain. Once 3-0, two losses to the hated Dolphins combined with an expected loss to the undefeated Saints and an unexpected loss to the then woeful Bills, have changed the mood in Florham Park.  This stretch has, for the time being, grounded Gang Green’s early season dreams of a magical run through 2009. The Jets trail the first place Patriots (6-2) by two full games and are just 1-3 in the division.

For the Jags, 4-4 is a welcome place considering the club’s 1-3 start.

Coach Jack Del Rio’s club will look to make it four out of five on Sunday while the Jets, coming off of their week nine bye week, hope to avoid a slide that has sunk them into the quagmire that envelops a host of other AFC clubs fighting for those precious few post season invitations.

If the Jets hope to be playing playoff football in 2009, they’ll need two things to happen. First, rookie QB  Mark Sanchez will have to protect the ball as he has done over the past two games, unlike the previous three prior, that included a dismal five interception performance. Secondly, the Jet defense, a unit that was poised to become one of the top units in the NFL before the season ending injury  to NG Kris Jenkins during the OT loss to Buffalo, has to create turnovers, field position, and points.

Running back and Special teams All Pro Leon Washington is also gone for the year, thanks to a broken foot suffered out in Oakland. Rookie RB Shonn Greene filled in beautifully against the hapless Raiders with two TDs and 149 yards, but fumbled on a play  that Dolphins DE Jason Taylor took back for a key TD in the 30-25 loss to Miami two weeks back. A game that still leaves a bad taste in the mouths of Jet players and fans thanks to Ted Ginn Jr’s improbable two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the third quarter. Greene will need to be a factor if the Jets want to continue their place atop the NFLs best rushing teams.

Jacksonville’s pass defense is ranked 23rd in the NFL. Sanchez and prized acquisition, former Browns star WR Braylon Edwards may be able to get loose on Sunday. Second year TE Dustin Keller had 76 yards and a TD in the 30-25 loss to the Fish. Provided that WR Jerricho Cotchery, hampered by hamstring issues over the past month is healthy,  this may be the first time that this current WR corps is working on all cylinders in ‘09. Add speedster David Clowney into the mix after the departure of slot WR Chansi Stuckey to the Browns ,and perhaps the Jets, a team that possesses the league’s number eight  rusher in the NFL in Thomas Jones, can provide some quick strikes and scores via the air at the Meadowlands

Sunday.

To beat the Jaguars you have to stop Maurice Jones Drew, the quick bulldozing running back who leads all NFL rushers with eleven TD’s. WR Mike Sims-Walker is blossoming into one of the leagues best at 16 yards per catch. Jets CB Darrelle Revis will have his hands full as the Jets aim to pressure QB David Garrard with their new rotation at nose guard of Mike Devito, Howard Green and Sione Pouha. Drew is also sixth in the NFL in rushing yards so attention must be kept on him at all times.

On paper, the blueprint week in and week out these final eight games for the Jets will be simple.  A ball controlled ground and pound game plan on offense that strikes when the opportunities are there, combined with an attacking defense looking to create the turnovers and drive ending sacks that have eluded them so far. This despite the constant pressure on quarterbacks, and a physical aggressive presence that has helped  redefine the unit’s personality since the departure of former mundane head coach Eric Mangini.

This week’s challenge against the Jags kickstarts that blueprint, as the Jets look to become a  consistent mistake free, opportunistic club, that backs up the tough talk it has come to be known for.

THREE KEYS TO THE JAGUARS GAME:

TURNOVERS: The Jets must keep them to a minimum and start to create some themselves. The offense, which may led by two rookies in Sancez and Greene from here on out, will undoubtedly  be aided by big plays made by special teams and defense. An element that LB Bart Scott, a former Raven, admitted was key to both Baltimore and then rookie QB Joe Flacco’s success in 2008.

THOMAS JONES VS MAURICE JONES DREW: The team with the lead running downhill in the fourth will be in the driver’s seat. Thats because Drew is sixth and Jones is eight in the NFL in rushing this year. The back with more yards on Sunday will be the back on the winning team.

MIKE SIMS-WALKER vs DARRELLE REVIS: Again the Jets will call on “Revis Island ” to slow down a top flight wideout. Keep Walker quiet and the Jags quick strike ability becomes seriously hampered.

No, they haven’t been well-behaved at all over the past four weeks.

They’ve been undisciplined and careless, mistake-prone and unfocused.

They’ve been so bad, that in the span of just one month, they’ve gone from a 5-0 member of the NFL elite to a mediocre, middle-of-the-pack, 5-4.

And, now they’re being punished for their actions.

A very tough schedule lies ahead for them, and they’ll have to work extra hard and do nearly everything the right way, just to get back to being what most had previously expected of them.

But, they’re on their bye week, so they have plenty of time to think about what they’ve done, and how to do much better going forward.

When you’re away from home, sometimes you forget certain lessons, and it’s easy to go astray.

That’s why, if you’re a Giants fan, you’ll have to excuse the two bad road losses, by 21 points to the Saints, and by 23 points to the Eagles.

After all, the Giants weren’t going to win those games anyway. So, why fret about them? It’s the NFL, it happens, especially in tough places to play, like New Orleans and Philadelphia.

Even with those two defeats, New York still has a winning 3-2 road record, which included at one point, three straight road wins and a victory over now first-place Dallas.

However, at home, we should all know better. At home, it’s easier to remember and follow valuable lessons of how we’re supposed to act.

Yes, at home, we should all definitely be on our best behavior.

And, so should the Giants.

But, during their current four-game losing streak, they certainly haven’t.

It’s the home losses aided by some very sloppy play, and misguided moves by the Giants’ coaching staff, which have really hurt the Giants more than anything so far this season.

The Giants let two very winnable games, each very much there for the taking in the fourth quarter, against teams visiting all the way from the west, slip away all because they acted poorly at home.

Against Arizona, the Giants outgained the Cardinals at home by 39 yards. Okay, not much, but they did win the battle both through the air (albeit by just four yards) and a little more significantly on the ground (by 35 yards). And, they controlled the time of possession, again not by a lot (by a mere 32 seconds), but it was still in their favor. When a football team does those things at home, it should win.

But, not when they’re not careful. Not sticking with the running game when they should have at times, and at others, poor execution early in several different series which repeatedly set up third-and-longs. Add seven penalties, two fumbles (one lost), and three interceptions, including a final one fairly deep in Arizona territory, trailing by just a touchdown with 68 seconds left, and it all cost the Giants a home win they should have had.

In their latest loss, the Giants outgained San Diego 304-226 yards (116-34 rushing), while holding the ball for over fifteen minutes more (37:47 to 22:13) than the Chargers. And, the Giants were even a little more disciplined at least when it came to hanging on to the ball, winning the turnover battle, 2-1. Again, when you accomplish all of those things in a game, particularly on your home field, you should come away with a victory.

Again though, a lack of focus and attention to detail led to another heartbreaking home loss. Nine penalties totaling 104 yards, 84 more yards than the 20 yards the Chargers (who committed only three penalties) were penalized more than wiped out the 82-yard rushing advantage the Giants held. And, no penalty was worse than the 10-yard holding call on right guard Chris Snee immediately after the Giants took over after an interception at the San Diego 4-yard line with a three-point lead and just 3:14 left in the game. Include the coaching staff in the blame for the bonehead miscues as well, for not going for the win and playing things much too conservatively, settling for a field goal after Snee drew the flag, only to lose on a Charger touchdown in the final half-minute.

If the Giants would have taken care of business in those two home games, their whole season would look drastically different today.

In lieu of their current four-game slide, the Giants would have simply split their past four games.

Rather than an uninspiring 2-2 home record in 2009, the Giants would be a perfect 4-0 at the Meadowlands.

Instead of third place in the NFC East, the Giants would be in first place.

And, in place of a 5-4 record and great playoff uncertainty, the Giants would be 7-2 and thinking about making a push for a home playoff game.

Perhaps it was to be expected given the Giants’ recent history. This is nevertheless, virtually the same team that went only 3-5 at home while winning eleven straight games away from Giants Stadium during their Super Bowl winning year just two seasons ago, and it’s the same team that earned the top seed and home field throughout last year’s playoffs, only to lose their lone postseason game — where else — at home last year.

As bleak as things seem right now for the Giants, knowing that no team which has gone through a four-game losing streak in a season has ever made a Super Bowl, it could be much worse.

The current wild-card picture reveals that Atlanta and Philadelphia, each 5-3 and just one-half game ahead of the Giants, are the only other non-division leaders besides New York with winning records in the NFC. And, the Giants play both of those teams at home, in addition to getting a home date with Dallas, which the Giants trail by 1½ games for the NFC East division lead.

Righting themselves at home can still solve a lot of problems for the Giants’ season even if they falter badly once or twice more on the road.

As tough as the overall remaining schedule is for New York in its final seven regular season games of 2009, even if the Giants have a road game or two as bad they had in New Orleans and Philadelphia, they can still achieve the goals they set out with when they were 5-0.

If the Giants can finally play a lot more crisp and sound football at home, as they should, with a bad Washington team left on the road, Big Blue could still realistically achieve a 10-6, or perhaps an 11-5 record, if they could also steal just one of the tougher games left on the road. There’s also the possibility that a normally tough road game at Minnesota may mean nothing to the Vikings in the final week of the season, which would make that road game a lot more winnable than it looks today. Those types of scenarios could very much have the Giants acting as the dangerous playoff team in January which most expected to see a lot more before New York’s current four-game losing streak.

To do that though, the Giants have to refrain from the types of costly mistakes which they should never make on a consistent basis, especially at Giants Stadium.

Thus, for the rest of their season, the Giants must remember that good behavior always starts at home.

“The Collector”

(courtesy of the Fantasy Football Gang)

Once again “The Collector” is back this week to let all of you fantasy owners know about those not-so-highly known fantasy gems that continue to score big points. While these diamonds in the rough make noise, we also have some of your weekly Studs that looking more like Duds.

When you need a big week, sometimes you can count on your regular sources of scratch to pay-off, “The Collector” will tell you who is dropping the most coin and who you should maybe just drop.

Here were the Studs (Earners) and Duds (bums) for Week 8;

The Earners (Studs)

(Min 15 fantasy points)

Another week of what could have been and maybe what should be (for next week). Here are this past weekend’s top fantasy point getters and those players that maybe need another bye week or just a good-bye.

Is it really that much of a surprise to everyone to see the 40-year old kid still playing at the highest level. The Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was one of week eight’s biggest “earners” torching the Packer’s secondary on Sunday for the second time in the past five weeks. Favre completed 17 of 28 passes for 244 yards and threw four touchdowns on the afternoon. (33 fantasy points)

When one player is dropping all of the loot, sometimes you have to make a change which is what the Texans did on Sunday. With running back Steve Slaton (7 fumbles in 2009) fumbling away the game, the Texans turned to running back Ryan Moats. The backup runner was brilliant cashing in big with 126 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. (32 fantasy points)

The Jet’s rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez did his best impression of a green scoring machine on Sunday. Sanchez completed 20 of 35 passes for 265 yards passing and three touchdowns (including one rushing). (28 fantasy points)

If Tony Romo isn’t your weekly starting quarterback you could missing out on some serious coin. The Cowboys quarterback knows green, especially the kind you find in the end-zone. Romo passed his way to 256 yards on Sunday and threw three touchdowns. (27 fantasy points)

The Saints have their own two-headed monster in the backfield that they can now boast and on Monday night, one of them got loose. Running back Pierre Thomas was cash money rushing for 91 yards and scoring twice; one rushing and one receiving. (21 fantasy points)

The Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck did his best on Sunday to earn his keep for every fantasy lineup he was Sunday. Hasselbeck completed 22 of 39 passes for 249 yards and threw two touchdowns. (21 fantasy points)

The Panthers used their two headed rushing attack out of the backfield to ground the Cardinals. Running back number two, Jonathan Stewart was a Sunday cash cow hitting paydirt twice and rambling his way to 87 yards on 17 carries. (20 fantasy points)

The Eagles rookie running back LeSean McCoy made the most of his opportunity with a rare start. The rookie feasted on the spotlight gaining 82 yards on the ground including a dynamite 66-yard scamper to pay-dirt. (15 fantasy points)

Players not quite earning their way to this honor roll, but drawing some attention include;

TE-Spencer Havner……….(21-yards, 2-touchdowns)

WR-Percy Harvin………….(86-yards, 1-touchdown)

RB-Justin Fargas…………..(79-yards, 1-touchdown)

TE-Dustin Keller……………(76-yards, 1-touchdown)

FB-Leonard Weaver……….(75-yards, 1-touchdown)

WR-Braylon Edwards…….(74-yards, 1-touchdown)

TE-Kevin Boss……………….(70-yards, 1-touchdown)

The Bums (Duds)

(Less than 5 fantasy points)

And of course where you find the “haves” you will find the “have-nots.” Here are your week 8 fantasy studs that left their “A” game for another day and brought their “D” for “Dud” game instead.

There is word that Trent Edwards could return to the lineup; after Ryan Fitzpatrick’s 117 yard passing day with two interceptions and no touchdowns, the sooner the better. (zero fantasy points).

After scoring in three straight games, the Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown only totaled 29 yards on Sunday. That won’t pay the rent. (two fantasy points)

The Jet’s rookie running back Shonn Greene goes from the penthouse one week, to the outhouse the next. Greene rushed for only 18 yards on eight carries with a fumble. (minus one fantasy point)

The Jaguar’s top receiver Mike Sims-Walker scored twice in their first meeting, but on Sunday he was a huge disappointment against the Titans. Sims-Walker finished with just nine receiving yards. (zero fantasy points)

There was no bigger disappointment on Sunday than the one for all of the Steve Slaton fantasy owners. Slaton was expected to be a player this season, but on Sunday he hardly played after a costly fumble (his seventh this season). Slaton finished the day with 11 total yards. (minus one fantasy point)

Fantasy owners that are waiting on wide receiver Eddie Royal to get going in 2009 are only becoming more frustrated. The Broncos speedy wideout finished Sunday with just 10 receiving yards. (one fantasy point)

For all the money the team paid to wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, they are just not seeing any returns this season; 24 receiving yards on Sunday. (two fantasy points)

The Bronco’s wide receiver Brandon Marshall may be saying all the right things now off the field, but he’s still yet to do all the big things he did a season ago; 24 receiving yards on Sunday. (two fantasy points)

The Rams second year receiver Donnie Avery is just not having that breakout season some fantasy owners had hoped he would have; 15 receiving yards on Sunday. (one fantasy points)

Injuries played a huge part in putting these two duds on our list this week; Anquan Boldin caught just three passes for 23 yards and Owen Daniels had just one catch for 22 yards.

The heated rivalry  turned into an old fashioned Jets Miami classic shootout. In the end though, a 4th down Sanchez prayer with just under two minutes left, raced high and over the head over of a double covered Dustin Keller in the back of the end zone. The loss left the Jets at 4-4, 1-3 in the AFC East, and heading into their bye week light years away from a team that started out 3-0, struck fear in opposing quarterbacks as they rode the magic of the rookie signal caller.

The rivalry heated up in the third quarter with the Jets leading 6-3. Ginn returned the first of two third quarter TDs. The first return of 100 yards was trumped by the second, for 101 yards. A Shonn Greene fumble was also returned by Jason Taylor for a TD. In all, three MIami TDs came in the third quarter while the offense was on the sidelines. The Jets answered both scores though as the snails pace that embodied the game’s  first half,  began to remind us of those old Ken O BrienDan Marino shootouts from the 80’s, when both clubs would trade scores all day. The first Jet score of the day, a  Mark Sanchez TD scamper answered the Taylor return. The second, a great 20 yard  catch by WR Braylon Edwards covered like glue, answered the second Ginn Jr return. 24-19 MIAMI. The Jets, though tried to go for two and didn’t make it. It would haunt them the rest of the way. Was it too early to go for two in the late third, to cut the deficit to 3? Many including this reporter thought so.

The Dolphins then  went up 30-19 in the start of the fourth on a Chad Nenne rollout toss to Joey Haynos but the Jets answered again. This time a 16 yard Dustin Keller TD. Keller re emerged from a month long slump to the tune of 73 yards and a TD. At 30-25 the Jets, because of the failed first try , were forced to go for two again and failed to convert.

Down 30-25, Gang Green got the ball back with three minutes left and were soon knocking on the door. A brilliant Sanchez to Keller 4th down completion that saw Sanchez first  backpeddle then lob a beautiful strike over the Miami defender, left the Jets on the Miami 12 with 2:00 left. Dreams of a comback against their hated rivals ended there however for Gang Green. A third down Dolphin sack left the Jets on the 20, fourth and goal. Sanchez then tried to work the back line of the end zone but Keller was triple teamed as the ball sailed helplessly through the end zone.

“This stings, going into the bye with a loss like this,” said Sanchez after the game. The Jets QB was 20 for 35 for 265 yards and two touchdowns. “As a competitor and as an offense, we thought we were winning that game, no doubt.”

The loss was hard for many Jet faithful to swallow. Holding the vaunted Wildcat formation down to a pedestrian performance couldn’t prevent the Fish from finding other ways to score.  For Miami, now 3-4 and headed for a clash with first place 5-2 New England, the win was sweet. Bad feelings have clouded these two teams since the offseason when Dolphins Channing Crowder and Jets coach Rex Ryan exchanged verbal attacks. Before the game Sunday, Jets FS Kerry Rhodes got into a shoving match with some Dolphin players during warmups. Sunday, the Fish got the last laugh, sweeping the season series between the two as a result.

“When you have two teams that really hate each other, that’s going to be your best football,” Miami linebacker Joey Porter admitted. “I wish you could hate every team like you hate your rivals. They brought out our best football.”

The 4-4 Jets get two weeks to think about what has happened to their magical 3-0 start befor etaking on the Jacksonville Jaguars in a must win Nov 15.

Follow TJ Rosenthal on twitter @ thejetreport

Week 7

THE ELITE

#1  NEW ORLEANS          6-0              –       Week 7: Won at Miami, 46-34

Not even deficits of 24-3 in the first half or 34-24 in the fourth quarter in Miami could lead to a New Orleans loss. The NFL’s best came back to beat the Dolphins with a 22-0 fourth quarter to stay unbeaten. The Saints haven’t scored fewer than 24 point this season and has lit up the scoreboard for at least 45 points in four of their six games.

#2  INDIANAPOLIS           6-0              –       Week 7: Won at St. Louis, 42-6

Peyton Manning was finally “held” under 300 yards for the first time this season, but 235 passing yards was enough for an easy 36-point win in St. Louis. The Colts have allowed 12 or fewer points in four of their six contests.

#3  DENVER                    6-0              –       Week 7: Bye

At 6-0, allowing an NFL-low 66 points on the season, the Broncos enjoyed a well-deserved bye week to ready themselves for a trip to Baltimore, which has been reeling of late, but which will be desperate and dangerous.

#4  PITTSBURGH             5-2              +3      Week 7: Beat Minnesota, 27-17

After a 1-2 start, letting two winnable games get away, the Steelers are back looking like the defending champions they are after four straight wins.

#5  MINNESOTA              6-1              -1       Week 7: Lost at Pittsburgh, 27-17

There were no late heroics this time for the Vikings, who could easily be 4-3, and who finally lost for the first time this season, in Pittsburgh. The big Favre homecoming to Lambeau is up next.

SECOND-TIER CONTENDERS

#6  NEW ENGLAND          5-2              +2      Week 7: Beat Tampa Bay, 35-7 (in London)

After raising some early questions by getting outplayed in a home win over Buffalo and starting a mediocre 3-2, the Patriots and Tom Brady have both answered those questions by beating up on a couple of awful teams (Tennessee and Tampa Bay), first in the snow, and then in London, by a combined score of 94-7 in the past two weeks.

#7  NY GIANTS                5-2              -2       Week 7: Lost to Arizona, 24-17

The Giants went from looking like legitimate Super Bowl contenders during a 5-0 start, to a sloppy, mistake-prone team with several eye-opening flaws in a couple of losses since. That said, beat Philly on the road next, and 6-2 at the halfway point is still on course to achieve what the Giants hope they can this season.

#8  CINCINNATI               5-2              +1      Week 7: Beat Chicago, 45-10

After pulling four wins out of the fire, the Bengals finally has a laugher, and a surprising one at that, as Carson Palmer and the Bengals’ offense were unstoppable in a dismantling of the visiting Bears.

#9  ARIZONA                            4-2              +1      Week 7: Won at NY GIants, 24-17

When most think of the Cardinals, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and a high-powered passing game come to mind first. But, the Cards have actually for the most part, won with a defense which has been the best in the league at stopping the run, while being opportunistic in getting a lot of key takeaways.

#10  ATLANTA                  4-2              -4       Week 7: Lost at Dallas, 37-21

The Falcons looked great at 4-1, crushing the 49ers on the road, and getting a solid home win over he Bears on Sunday Night Football, but a head-scratching 16-point loss to Dallas after leading 7-0 early in the second quarter has Atlanta dropping a few spots this week.

#11  DALLAS                    4-2              +5      Week 7: Beat Atlanta, 37-21

Tony Romo finally found some consistency against the Falcons and he seemed to have found a replacement for the departed T.O. in Monmouth College product Miles Austin, who has receiving games of 250 and 171 yards this season.

#12  GREEN BAY               4-2              +3      Week 7: Won at Cleveland, 31-3

After a loss in the big Favre showdown in Minnesota, the Packers beat up on hapless Detroit and Cleveland by a combined 57-3 to tune up for an even bigger Favre showdown, as the former Packer legend returns this week to the place that started it all.

#13  PHILADELPHIA           4-2              –       Week 7: Won at Washington, 27-17

The Eagles shook off their nightmare embarrassment in Oakland with a win on Monday Night Football in the nation’s capital. With all four wins against bad losing teams (Carolina, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, and Washington), how good the Eagles are, is an uncertainty. The upcoming schedule (hosting the Giants and Cowboys before heading to San Diego and Chicago) should clear up that picture, however. It gets tougher, too. After those four, a break with Washington, but the Eagles finish at Atlanta, at the Giants, and then home for San Francisco and Denver, before closing at Dallas.

MIRED IN MEDIOCRITY

#14  NY JETS                             4-3              +3      Week 7: Won at Oakland, 38-0

The Jets became the first NFL team in over 34 years to rush for consecutive 300-yard games, and they lead the league with 184.9 rushing yards per game. A big rout in Oakland was just what they needed to stop a 3-game losing streak to get back on track for a revenge game at home with Miami.

#15  HOUSTON                 4-3              +3      Week 7: Beat San Francisco, 24-21

Matt Schaub has developed into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, and he was on fire the past two weeks while leading the Texans to consecutive wins, breaking an alternating loss-win pattern at the start.

#16  BALTIMORE               3-3              -2       Week 7: Bye

The Ravens had the bye week to figure out what went wrong after, like the Jets, a 3-game losing streak followed a great 3-0 start. They will try to get back to their winning ways at home while trying to hand 6-0 Denver it first loss.

#17  SAN FRANCISCO                  3-3              -5       Week 7: Lost at Houston, 24-21

The Niners are another team that started strong but which has faded recently, to fall back to the pack as a .500 team, as they search for some consistency on offense. They’ll see if Alex Smith returning to the starting lineup in Indianapolis will make the difference.

#18  SAN DIEGO                3-3              +2      Week 7: Won at Kansas City, 37-7

The Chargers dominated the Chiefs in KC to get back to .500. Now that they’re there, the schedule gives them plenty of opportunities to challenge Denver for the AFC West title. They have very winnable games left against Oakland, another against Kansas City, Cleveland, Tennessee, and Washington.

#19  CHICAGO                  3-3              -8       Week 7: Lost at Cincinnati, 45-10

The Bears had one of the more surprisingly poor performances of the season last week. Even in their two previous losses, they played Green Bay and Atlanta tough on the road, and all of the Bengals wins were at the wire. Yet, the Bears were thoroughly embarrassed in Cincinnati. The alarming thing for them is that it wasn’t a result of losing the turnover battle 4-0. Their defense, thought to be much stronger, allowed scores on seven straight drives over the first three quarters, five of which were over 60 yards.

#20  JACKSONVILLE          3-3              -1       Week 7: Bye

The Jags haven’t really played like a playoff team, but with Tennessee and Kansas City up next, they can be on pace for 10 wins at the halfway point.

#21  BUFFALO                  3-4              +3      Week 7: Won at Carolina, 20-9

The same Bills team which lost a horrid 6-3 affair at home to Cleveland, to fall to 1-4, saved its season for the time being with road wins at the Meadowlands against the Jets, and in Carolina (despite being outgained by the Panthers by 258 yards). Interesting stat from last week: the Panthers had 20 first downs to the Bills’ 9, but Buffalo flipped those numbers for the only ones that really matter, winning by a score of the same 20-9, thanks largely in part to taking the turnover battle, 4-0.

LOOKING TOWARD THE 2010 DRAFT

#22  MIAMI                       2-4              -1       Week 7: Lost to New Orleans, 46-34

The may be 2-4, but don’t take them lightly when you play them. The Dolphins have looked better than most 2-4 teams would usually. They lost their first three games, but nearly won three straight after that, crushing Buffalo, gutting out a great win late against the Jets, and hanging a three-touchdown lead on the NFL-best Saints before finally succumbing to New Orleans to fall back to two games under .500.

#23  CAROLINA                 2-4              –       Week 7: Lost to Buffalo, 20-9

Jake Delhomme was cruising along last year. Then, he threw a bunch of picks in a divisional playoff game against Arizona, and he hasn’t been able to stop doing that, ever since. After an 0-3 start, the Panthers missed a golden opportunity to get to .500, losing a game at home to the Bills which Carolina statistically dominated. Delhomme has thrown 13 INT’s and just 4 TD’s in 6 games this year.

#24  SEATTLE                            2-4              -2       Week 7: Bye

The Seahawks went 2-0, outscoring St. Louis and Jacksonville by a combined 69-0. In their other four games against stiffer competition, Seattle is 0-4, having been outscored 109-49.

#25  OAKLAND                 2-5              –       Week 7: Lost to NY Jets, 38-0

The Raiders had one of those wins by a bottom-feeder over a playoff contender that makes everyone take notice, playing some good defense in an upset win over the Eagles. So, did they build off of that for an encore? Nope. They did what truly bad teams do. They went right back to their awful selves in a 38-0 embarrassment to the Jets at home.

#26  WASHINGTON            2-5              -1       Week 7: Lost to Philadelphia, 27-17

The Redskins’ only wins are against a pair of 0-7 teams (the Rams and Bucs), and by a combined five points, at that. The defense has been okay, as Washington has allowed no more than 27 points in any game while giving up under 20 in four games this season. However, offensively, they have caused John Riggins to speak out against the leadership and direction of the team online, and have been offensively challenged enough to make the old Fun Bunch and John Theismann cringe, while failing to score more than 17 points in a any contest this year.

#27  KANSAS CITY             1-6              -1       Week 7: Lost to San Diego, 37-7

The Chiefs have shown some respectability in half of their losses, hanging in with Baltimore, taking Dallas to overtime, and dominating Oakland everywhere but on the scoreboard. Still, they’re down here because 1-6 is still 1-6 no matter how you slice it.

#28  CLEVELAND               1-6              –       Week 7: Lost to Green Bay, 31-3

The Browns have also hung in at times against Minnesota and Pittsburgh, and they had Cincinnati beat until they gave that one away. On the flip side, losses to Denver (27-6), Baltimore (34-3), and Green Bay (31-3) have shown the Browns at their futile worst.

#29  DETROIT                            1-5              –       Week 7: Bye

The Lions can’t stop anyone… other than Washington, that is. But, a 19-14 win over the Redskins after the above documentation of Washington’s offensive woes isn’t saying much. Other than that lone victory, the Lions, in their five losses, have allowed 45, 27, 48, 28, and 26.

#30  TENNESSEE               0-6              –       Week 7: Bye

The Titans have just become a sad case as they still seek their first win after a 13-win season last year. Their best week over the past month was last week, during their bye week. That says it all. They’ve been outscored 59-0 in their last game, 90-9 in their past two, and 127-26 over their past three games. They’re only above the Rams and Bucs because at least they did play three close games to start the season. But, it’s all fallen apart since then.

#31  ST.LOUS                            0-7              –       Week 7: Lost to Indianapolis, 42-6

The Rams have lost 17 straight games and now, they head to Detroit, to play the Lions, who are 1-21 in their past 22. And, they black out games in Jacksonville?!?! Detroit viewers might need special glasses or something to keep from going blind, if they stare directly at the screen for that one. The Rams have been outscored by an NFL-worst 211-60. They’ve been shut out twice, and have scored just 7, 10, and 6 in three other losses. But, they stay away from the last spot since they at least took the Redskins and the Jaguars to the wire.

#32  TAMPA BAY               0-7              –       Week 7: Lost to New England, 35-7 (in London)

It’s bad enough that Tampa Bay is winless and just awful, but did the NFL have to make them go all the way to London just to get humiliated by the Patriots? They could have done that on their home field, in Tampa. Other than a couple of close losses (by 3 in Washington and by 7 to Carolina), the Bucs have lost by 13 twice, 24, 19, and 28. At least they can enjoy a week without losing yet again, as they rest up from their London trip with a bye this week.

Coming completely out of left field, I will promote Tennessee Titans RB LenDale White. Surprised? Look at these scenarios that home come together for White this week. The Titans are at home after two weeks preparing for an opponent, after they were embarrassed by a pitiful performance in a blow out loss. Additionally, they are winless against an opponent they usually dominate, who beat them handily earlier this season. Lastly the Titans are starting a new QB this week and they should be leaning even heavier on the running game. As another alternative both Raiders backs could show up as long as the rest of the team can keep it close.

Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears is my WR this week.  For some teams he may be an every week start but for some he is not. Hester is at home against a Cleveland Browns defense that is struggling on all levels. Hester participates on all those levels at least some in every game. Whether it be with a reception, a run, a wildcat pass, or even a return I have a feeling Hester will score at least one touchdown.  The other WR I want to throw out there was almost my main guy this wee but I could not bring myself to do it, Terrell Owens.  Owens has been a secondary option since Fitzpatrick took over for Edwards, but I got a feeling he shows up in a big way this weekend.

Since I’m going on instinct as much as, if not more than, stats this week I’ll throw Dustin Keller’s name into the mix.  Keller started hot, but has dropped off almost completely these last few games.  This weekend Keller’s NY Jets will play a Miami Dolphins team that they have already faced once this season in a tight game. The Dolphins run a ¾ defensive front. As I have stated before most ¾ teams can be hurt by tight ends down the middle of the field.  For my second TE option I leave you with GB’s Donald Lee, If he doesn’t have to sit back and help pass protect, he could be effective.

I will go back to the Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams game to get my Defense for this week.  One of these two defenses should have a nice game, and because of the extra week of prep time I’ll go with the Lions.  St. Louis’s O-line has struggled, their WRs are consistently hurt, and their QB seems to end up that way. Jim Swartz would like to use this game to give a glimpse into how his defense of the future will play.  The Jaguars Titans game is another game where one of the defenses will show up, I’m picking the Titans but who knows.

Last Weeks Favorite Five

Matt Cassel – 1 TD 97 yards and 3 INTs, Not what I expected

Donald Brown – Injured, but his replacement scored.

Sam Aiken – 1 TD 66 yards, I love it when a plan comes together!

Heath Miller – 38 yards, Sorry.

Indianapolis Colts – 1 TD, 3 Sacks and 2 INTS, also only give up 6 points. Not bad.

The win moves the Jets to 4-3, a game behind the Pats with a rematch against the Dolphins at home next week in the final game before the club’s bye week. Oakland has been a place of heartache for Jet fans over the years. Miserable dramatic regular season losses coming at inopportune times coupled with a bunch of playoff defeats had Jet fans chomping at the bit for revenge. They certainly got it on Sunday, and some.

The Jets took control from the opening kickoff and didn’t let go all afternoon. JaMarcus Russell who was awful and later benched, was his usual clueless self in the pocket . A penalty on the Silver and Black’s kickoff return team on the game’s first play, left the Raiders pinned inside the 5 on their first series. The Jets defense, humbled and bottled up after 3 straight defeats, were chomping at the bit for a chance to break out. On first down, unaware of Calvin Pace blitzing into his sights somehow, Russell held the ball too long and was stripped by the Jets dangerous game changing LB. From there the Jets rammed it in on a 4th down Thomas Jones TD. 7-0 Jets. That would turn out to be all they needed.

Russell then threw the first of 2 interceptions, the first one, to safety Jim Leonard who returned the pick into the red zone. From there Mark Sanchez (9-15 143 yds. 2 TD), trying to rebound from a dismal 5 int performance against Buffalo, ran it in for the 14-0 lead. The plan for Sanchez was clearly pared down by Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, in an attempt to lessen the rookie’s turnovers that have become the primary cause for the teams three game skid. “Ground and pound,” a term Ryan likes to refer to regarding running downhill with the lead late In games, may now become the sensible game plan motto for the NFLs #1 rushing offense.

The Jets 3rd fake punt of the season at the end of the first quarter kept a drive alive that led to a Shonn Greene TD, his first in the NFL.  That made It 21-0 Jets. Greene (19-144 yds) impressed many in his first extended time. Playmaker Leon Washington’s season ending broken leg during the first half yesterday led to the unplanned arrival of Greene onto the scene. Washington who was carted off the field, was in a contract year. The likeable Washington chose to be a team player and not cause waves by holding out In the final year of his contract during training camp so lets hope the organization will be classy enough to return the favor. The potential emergence of Greene ( a 3rd round pick as Washington was 4 years ago) from here on in though may make for tough decision making between GM Mike Tannenbaum and owner Woody Johnson during the offseason. For now however, Greene looks ready to take on the carries. As for  replacing Washington , a special teams pro bowler in 2008, kick returns, that’s another story.

Maybe speedy WR David Clowney  could be a candidate. Clowney’s 35 yard TD grab put the Jets up 31-0 in the 3rd quarter. His 4 catches for 79 yards in the absence of WR Jerricho Cotchery due to a hamstring injury that has now kept the starting WR out for 2 games, showed off some of Clowney’s exciting big play potential. He’s a speed demon, a  threat to score at any time like Washington, who will be sorely missed on offense for his versatility in the kickoff, run and short passing game.

The defense meanwhile was embarking on their first week without star NG Kris Jenkins, out for the season after suffering a torn ACL during the OT loss to Buffalo in week 6.  The three man  rotation of  Mike Devito, Sione Pouha and the recently re-signed Howard Green, filled In somewhat admirably as the Jets for the second straight week forced the opposition to go to the bullpen at QB. Raider RB Justin Fargas was able to break off a few nice runs in the first half, but the Raiders trailed by so much so early, throwing became the emphasis for head coach Tom Cable’s club. The true test for this new revamped Jet front will come next week against the vicious Wildcat combo of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown.

Raider backup Bruce Gradkowski replaced Russell (6-11 2int 1 fumble 61 yards) when It was 21-0, in order  to provide a spark. The Jet defensive engines however, were already humming. Greene later added insult to injury with his second rushing TD, a 33 yard explosion against a downtrodden Raiders defensive unit, to make It 38-0. The win gives the Jets that much needed good feeling again. A feeling that got lost during a losing streak that dropped Gang Green from the NFL’s new darlings, into second place.  A win against the hated Raiders was essential for a club that can now as a result of the thrashing,  still entertain division title hopes.

A Look Back on the Three Keys against Oakland:

Sanchez Ball Control: Excellent game plan that worked to perfection thanks to the ground and pound combo of Jones and Greene. Sanchez was left to simply have to manage the game, make a few throws and be smart with the ball in the pocket. 0 int’s looks a lot better than 5 doesn’t it?

Jet run game controlling the ball: We asked for more Shonn Greene in the Oakland preview piece. However, we didn’t want it coming on the heels of a Leon Washington season ending injury. Regardless, the #1 rushing team in the NFL gave Sanchez the day off essentially. We’ll take more of those any day.

Jet D Rallying: With Jenkins gone for 2009, It was clear that the Raiders would try their luck keeping It  on the ground. They tried. 21-0 Jets threw that plan out the window. We asked Pace to step up and change the game. He did so on the first play and the team never looked back We also noted that TE Zach Miller was the key player to stop in the Raider passing game. Miller caught 2 passes for 15 yards.

So once again grab a cold one (better make it two) and tae a lot of notes, and just remember Wayne is working hard, so you don’t have to and because he’s got nothing better to do!

Week Seven
After spending the first five weeks of the season dormant, the Saints wide receiver Lance Moore has awaken from his slumber. Slowed by injuries, Moore has played very little in 2009 missing a few games and being limited, but on Sunday it was a different story. Finally looking healthy Moore resembled more of his 2008 self catching six passes for 78 yards, including a 12-yard score. With the Saints flying high and Brees getting the ball to everyone, Moore looked very good on Sunday and could be one of those options down the road with a big game here and there. He’s definitely going to figure into the Saints passing attack and if available needs to be on someone’s roster.

With the Panther’s return to doing what they do best, run the ball running back Jonathan Stewart will figure into this equation. Last week against the Buccaneers Stewart saw his fair share of carries with 17. He gained 110 yards on the ground and scored a rushing touchdown. With the inconsistent play from the passing game it's safe to expect the Panthers to run the ball. As long as Carolina is committed to the run, expect Stewart to have good value always with plenty of chances to score. Coming off the injury bug Stewart should be available and would be a good bye week fill-in.

The Raiders have had more than their share of offensive woes in this young season, but just last Sunday there was a ray of some hope. With injuries sidelining Darren McFadden, running back Justin Fargas has had opportunity this season. This past week Fargas earned 23 carries and totaled 98 yards. In one game Fargas doubled his carries for the season and with the Raiders in search of any kind of offense, expect head coach Tom Cable to start with Fargas. The former SC Trojan running back is not going to blow up, but he's a solid runner and a decent fill-in to cover a bye or injury.

When Fred Taylor went down, the Patriots turned to Sammy Morris, now that Morris is down they'll look to running back Laurence Maroney. In his first extended action of the season or the past decade (injured in 2008) or so Maroney jumped all over the chance and made the most of his time in the spotlight. As the team’s featured snowplowing machine this past Sunday Maroney touched the ball 19 times and totaled 133 yards of offense. With numbers like this the Patriots will more than likely stay with the hot hand and keep feeding the horse. With the schedule sitting right in the middle of the byes, Maroney becomes an appealing fill-in option with the Bucs up next.

“Wayne’s Word”

Enough with the running back theme, looking for a hot tip or just some helpful advice, either way Wayne has the latest insight for this week. Another worthy spot where you can find some good help is the tight end position and with this week’s hottest pickup Wayne offers you these words;

Over the past several weeks the Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe has quickly become quarterback Brett Favre’s most reliable target. Shiancoe is not being heavily targeted, but he’s not dropping many of Favre’s rockets. In the past three weeks the tight end has seen 11 passes thrown his direction and he’s managed to snag everyone; more importantly he’s making the most of his opportunities. Shiancoe has four touchdown receptions in his last three games and has five for the season. With Favre spreading the ball so well, expect him to keep looking for Shiancoe in the critical moments and in scoring position. As long as Shiancoe remains a favorite of Favre’s his numbers figure to improve. His fantasy scoring for the past three games is 7-points, 10-points, and 16-points.