Archives for January 3, 2011

‘Despite showing some signs of life under first-year coach Chan Gailey, the finish was a reminder of how many holes they have to fill. That rebuilding process will take place in an offseason in which Buffalo has the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft.’

‘Byrd spoke all year long of how he wanted to become a better tackler in the open field and he proved how hard he has worked in that phase of the game in 2010. He finished the season with 89 tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles and the lone interception.’

‘"That’s the worst possible way we could have ended the season, let’s be honest," Poz said. "But that’s the difference between a playoff team with a lot of confidence, and us and where we’re at right now. That was disappointing on all fronts."’

‘If Brian Brohm gets to start, can he top 100 yards passing? He made it past the century mark, but was awfully inept in doing so. Brohm appears to be nothing more than a backup quarterback in the NFL. Of course, he had no help from his patch-work offensive line, which couldn’t figure out how to stop the Jets blitzes.’

‘…Brohm looked completely incapable of anything.’

‘Four straight drives in the second half for the Bills ended in a turnover.’

‘”It’s almost like you take two steps forward and take two more back,” said safety Jairus Byrd. “That’s kind of where we are right now. We just have to keep fighting because those two teams [the Jets and Patriots] aren’t going anywhere. They’re at the top of our division, so we’ve got to figure out how to beat them and go from there. If we can’t beat teams in our own division we’re not going to be a winning team or a playoff team.”‘

‘ Still, cut through all the happy talk and it comes out to 4-12, their worst finish since the 2001 season. They were 1-5 in the division. They finished in the bottom quarter of the NFL in total offense for the eighth straight year. They didn’t score more than 17 points in any of their last six games. The run defense finished dead last in the league. They gave up 34 or more points in half of their games.’

‘The Jets in particular have enjoyed a lot of success running on the Bills. The Jets rushed for 276 yards during Sunday’s 38-7 victory, just three yards more than they posted in a Week Four, 38-14 win in Buffalo. In their last four games against the Bills, the Jets have run for a whopping 1,116 yards, an average of 279 per game.’

‘Buffalo’s turnover margin for the season was minus-17. That’s the worst figure for the Bills in 13 years and tied for the fourth worst total in team history. The negative record is minus-26 set in 1970.’

‘Brutal performance for second week in a row. Jets had virtually nothing to play for, but Ryan’s crew seemed like the more emotionally involved squad.’

Rested Jets End Regular Season in a Preseason Atmosphere (New York Times)

Jets’ Ryan Regains Bluster and Reaches Crossroads (New York Times)

Colts next, but coach eyes ring (New York Post)

Gang’s defense steps up in finale (New York Post)

Big day for McKnight (New York Post)

QB play Mark-ed by unevenness (New York Post)

Boastful Rex could wind up with foot in his mouth (New York Post)

Sanchez still feeling ‘pretty sore’ (New York Post)

Jets blitz (New York Post)

Jets report card (New York Post)

Rex Ryan begins Super Bowl talk after Jets rout Bills 38-7, playoffs begin Saturday against Colts (New York Daily News)

Mark Sanchez won’t rule out potential need for offseason shoulder surgery following Jets victory (New York Daily News)

Jets backup running back Joe McKnight impresses against Bills in Week 17 in first career NFL start (New York Daily News)

Rex Ryan again talks Super Bowl, but Jets may need to beat Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Big Ben (New York Daily News)

Photo gallery (New York Daily News)

Jets have plenty in reserve; Colts up next (New York Newsday)

Jets’ Sanchez starts but doesn’t try to pass (New York Newsday)

Jets rookie McKnight rushes for 158 yards (New York Newsday)

Jets undaunted for rematch with Peyton (New York Newsday)

Ultra-confident Ryan hasn’t lost a step (New York Newsday)

Jason Taylor ties another Taylor (New York Newsday)

Photo gallery (New York Newsday)

Set for the playoffs (White Plains Journal News)

Sanchez ready to shoulder the playoff burden (White Plains Journal News)

Jets flatten Bills, 38-7, in regular-season finale (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets running back Joe McKnight “earned his way out of” doghouse with performance against Buffalo Bills (Newark Star Ledger)

Difficult slate greets Rex Ryan’s Jets as they bluster into playoffs (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez keeps mum about shoulder difficulties (Newark Star Ledger)

Headed back to Indianapolis, Jets will test 2010 playoff formula (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets opening-round playoff game against Colts slated for Saturday night (Newark Star Ledger)

Photo gallery (Newark Star Ledger)

Jets coast to 38-7 win over Buffalo; Indianapolis up next (Bergen Record)

Time is now for Jets to decide who they are (Bergen Record)

Day for the backups (Bergen Record)

Jets replay: Week 17 (Bergen Record)

Jets gain momentum heading into playoffs (Asbury Park Press)

Jets get another shot at Colts (ESPN)

Mark Sanchez: Shoulder ‘pretty sore’ (ESPN)

Rex Ryan’s sixth sense defies logic (ESPN)

Gang Green thinking, talking big again (ESPN)

McKnight makes most of opportunity (ESPN)

Sanchez plays 1 series for Jets with no passes (AP)

Jets to be without top corners and running backs Sunday (The Sports Network)

Jets Crush Bills, 38-7, Playoffs Begin in Indy (NewYorkJets.com)

Photo gallery (NewYorkJets.com)

Photo gallery (AP)

Photo gallery (Buffalo News)

Photo gallery (Rochester D&C)

‘Mark Brunell threw two touchdown passes in relief of a resting Mark Sanchez, Joe McKnight ran for a career-high 158 yards and the Jets’ defense was dominant in a playoff tuneup, a 38-7 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.’

‘Buffalo wide receivers Donald Jones (head) and David Nelson (ribs) were also inactive, as were defensive tackle Kellen Heard, tight end Mike Caussin, defensive end John McCargo and offensive linemen Ed Wang and Colin Brown.’