Jets Win Fantasy Super Bowl 45

Here we sit in our NFL free world thanks to the lockout.  As I sit thinking about what to talk about this week, I was reading my colleague Chris’s article about how hard it is to be a Jets fan.  He mentioned in there, and I agree with him, that we would have beaten Green Bay had we gotten past Pittsburgh.  So I thought, what would have happened if we had played them in the Super Bowl?

So, I decided to find out.  There is a website, www.whatifsports.com, and if you haven’t been there, it is really a fun site.  Here, you can simulate historical teams playing against each other, in any of the four major sports.  It is fun to have dream match ups this way, so I set it up just like the Super Bowl, except with Gang Green instead of Pittsburgh.  I pitted the 2010 Jets as the road team, and the 2010 Packers as the home team, with the game taking place at Cowboys Stadium.  All just like Super Bowl 45, and guess what?  We won!  31-24.

Here is a recap, again courtesy of www.whatifsports.com.  I would have attached a link to the box score but it didn’t work.

Green Bay marched down the field on the opening drive for 10  plays, 74 yards over 5:08 for the opening touchdown, capped by a 20 yard run by James Starks.  After a Nick Folk missed 40 yard field goal, Green Bay appeared to be running away with this one when Aaron Rodgers hit James Jones with a 4 yard TD pass with 3:58 remaining in the first quarter, putting the Packers up 14-0.

But as Rex says, “Here come the Jets.”

On the ensuing drive that started from the Jets’ own 24, Sanchez hit LT with a quick pass that Tomlinson took down the field for 73 yards to the Packers’ 3.  Shonn Greene scored on the next play to make the score 14-7.

The Jets started a drive that carried over into the second quarter, and ended with the Jets tying it up.  LT scored on an off-tackle run from 14 yards out to make it 14-14.  The scoring drive took 9 plays, covered 48 yards, and took 4:54 off the clock.  After exchanging punts, and holding the Packers to a three and out after that, the Jets took over on their own 47.  8 plays and 32 yards later, Nick Folk split the uprights from 38 yards out to take a 17-14 lead into halftime.

The Jets then take over in the second half, right from the opening drive.  From their own 35, Sanchez hit Shonn Greene with a screen pass in the flat and he took it to the Green Bay 30.  After a short gain to Santonio, LT took the handoff from Mark on a draw play and scored from 27 yards out to make the score 24-14.  Green Bay started from their own 5 after the ensuing kickoff, and only was able to muster one first down before punting, setting the Jets up with great field position at their own 49.  It took only 2 plays to break the game open. Shonn Greene took a draw play down to the Green Bay 11.  Sanchez hit Dustin Keller in the end zone on the next play.  31-14.  J E T S JETS JETS JETS!

Green Bay made a game of it in the fourth quarter, though.  After a Jets punt early in the quarter, the Packers went on a 10 play, 95 yard scoring drive that took only 4:34, highlighted by 2 catches by Greg Jennings, one for 34 yards to get out of the shadow of their end zone, and one for 32 yards for the touchdown.  The Jets led 31-21 at this point.  On the next drive, Sanchez is picked off by Nick Collins, setting Aaron Rodgers and company up at the Jets’ 45.  4 plays later, Nick Crosby hit from 39 yards out to make the score 31-24 with 5:54 remaining.

Jets fans were nervous at this point.  One defensive stop by the Packers and this game would be in doubt.  But the Packers couldn’t get it.  Braylon Edwards makes 2 key first down catches, one for 13 yards, and one for 9.  The Packers run out of timeouts, and Mark takes a couple of knees, and the Jets win.  Rex delivers, in the fantasy world anyway.

Player of the game was Ladanian Tomlinson, rushing 14 times, for 93 yards and 2 TDs.  Shonn Greene added 11 carries for 61 yards and one score.  Sanchez was 16-23 for 270 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT.  Dustin led the way for Gang Green receiving with 4 catches for 76 yards and the 1 TD.  LDT added 2 catches for 75 yards.

In a losing effort, Aaron Rodgers went 21-28 for 299 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT.  James Starks led the way in rushing with 18 carries for 52 yards and 1 TD.  Greg Jennings led all receivers with 6 catches for 121 yards and 1 TD.

Fun?  I hope so, and maybe a sign for the future.