Archives for November 25, 2002

‘The Jets won their fourth game in a row yesterday – a game they absolutely had to win – dismantling the Bills 31-13 at Giants Stadium. And they did it in such a calculated, crisp manner that it truly stamps them as a team that, if it can make it there, has potential to be a terror in the playoffs.’

‘”They were ready,” Rueben Brown said of the Jets. “They were determined. They are on the rise. They are a well-coached team. They know what they are doing.”‘

‘”It was a tough day for us,” Bledsoe said.’

‘What ensued might have been the highlight play of the Jets’ season to date – a Pennington naked bootleg run around left end that included a stop-and-go move that wrong-footed Bills’ LB Eddie Robinson so badly it left him staggered on the ground.’

‘”Whatever it takes to get the job done, pretty, ugly, it doesn’t matter, we have to get wins,” Pennington said.’

‘”I know what a team player Wayne is,” said Pennington. “He’s blocking and doing whatever it takes. He wants the ball and I’m going to get him the ball.” Unlikely often enough to satisfy Chrebet, as he has made selfishly obvious.’

‘The Jets are now 9-1 against Bledsoe, dating back to his days with New England and including 2-0 this season.’

‘The Jets gave the Bills a case of heartburn on both sides of the ball.’

‘Moulds and Price combined for only eight catches and 73 yards – 57 yards below their average.’

‘”I got nothing to say, so don’t waste your time,” was all Chrebet said yesterday, however, after having only one pass thrown in his direction during yesterday’s 31-13 win against Buffalo at the Meadowlands.’

‘The Jets did a fantastic job of attacking the Bills’ weaknesses on defense. Defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell did a nice job of disguising coverages, befuddling Bledsoe.’

‘The Jets turned two first-half interceptions into 14 points and got a sensational game from Martin (21 carries, season-high 120 yards, one TD), who ran harder and looked healthier than he has in at least a year. It was Martin’s third 100-yard game this season and the first time he’s hit the century mark in consecutive games since Games 14 and 15 last season.’

‘Beasley’s second interception of the season came when he timed his break perfectly on a slant pass intended for Peerless Price and grabbed a bullet from Bledsoe. “That ball just about knocked me over,” said Beasley, who returned the ball five yards to the Jets’ 42. “Your eyes get so big when the ball is coming at you like that. I just concentrated on catching the ball.”‘

‘If Martin felt any pain yesterday, he inflicted a good deal more of it by looking like the Martin of old for much of the Jets’ fourth straight win, darting up the middle on handoffs, skirting the end on pitchouts and dancing around defenders.’

‘When you need a crucial play, you go to your money player. Even if he has largely been written out of the playbook for much of this season. When it’s third down, it’s time for Wayne Chrebet.’