Upon the Jets Game

Vinny Testaverde points out his new position on the Jets QB depth chart.

Yesterday my father and I joined the fine folks of Section 215 in the Meadowlands for the Jets-Bucs game. The game was a birthday present from me to my father, as well as my first visit to an NFL contest. I have now been to see a NY team come out on top in all four major professional sports.

The game itself was not spectacularly well played, but still proved to be exciting. The Jets won 14-12, and got 2 rushing TD from Curtis Martin. Coles had some big catches, and even Doug Jolley contirbuted in the passing game. Vinny was feeling the love from the home crowd, and played an effective but not dazzling game. The defense again looked strong, creating turnovers, getting after Greise, and stopping the Bucs on a late-game march to attempt the GW FG. This was the good news.

On the down side, penalties, miscues and turnovers still made this team look shaky. Cotchery bungled the first punt-return after the Jets D held on the opening possession of the game, giving the ball back to Tampa and allowing their first score of the day. The Jets also muffed an end of the half squib kickoff which also gave the ball back to the Bucs. Mike Nugent, whom the Jets used a high draft pick to select, missed 2 field goals. The Jets went to the Ohio State kicker early in the draft to help avoid misses like the ones in the playoffs which cost Doug Brien his job. While Curtis Martin did find paydirt twice, he only ran for 50-odd yards, and the Green running game is certainly not the corps that drove 28 to the rushing title last year.

I'll stick with the positives. We avoided the rain that threatened all day, the Jets won, and I am a big 1-0 at NY NFL games. (plus we only got lost 3 times on the way there and once on the way back).