NY Jets: Team received a Giant gift on Sunday

The NY Jets got a great holiday gift from the NY Giants on Sunday, much to the rejoice of Jet fans everywhere.

The Jets won the “Battle of New York” on Sunday, beating the Giants 23 -20 in overtime in front of a packed MetLife Stadium. The victory set the Jet record to 7-5 and put them in the driver’s seat in the wild card race. The Jets will need to continue to win if they want to make it to the NFL Playoffs, but for now, Gang Green got the win and helped their positioning for the final stretch.

It was great to get this win and if you weren’t on the edge of your seat at the end of the fourth quarter, or on your feet in overtime, you might have to question whether you’re a Jet fan or not. This was a nail biter and the atmosphere in MetLife Stadium only added to the excitement with both fan bases cheering and jeering at every turn! It was an awesome finish and everyone in attendance and at home watching got their money’s worth!

It was undoubtedly a great fourth quarter comeback and an exciting end of the game to watch as it was an awesome victory for the Jets to bring down. That being said, this wasn’t a pretty game by any means and one perhaps the Jets should have lost. Playoff quality teams have to be able to play four full quarters of football and the Jets have done that rarely this year, plus they certainly didn’t do it Sunday. In the end, the Jets got the victory but they’ll have to improve drastically if they want to compete if and when they make the playoffs.

The Jets showed up for one of the biggest games of their season and came out flat. This team wasn’t prepared properly and it was evident through three quarters of play. The offense was once again sluggish and not very effective through the entire first half. Gailey did a poor job with the game plan or players didn’t execute it at the very least. The offense has come out flat many times this season and I have to believe some of the blame has to fall on Gailey for his preparation.

The Jets’ offense was flat through the first three quarters until it caught fire in the fourth quarter and the electrifying part of the game began. The offense needs to be much more consistent. They were behind 20 -10 before they got going and you can’t let good teams jump out to that big of lead and expect to come back. Luckily, Fitzmagic came to life and it was only the Giants they were playing against.

Dec 6, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

The Jets’ defense doesn’t walk away from this one without it’s share of criticism, nor should Todd Bowles. This elite front and the $100 million dollar secondary simply didn’t do their jobs very well. The Giants’ offensive line has been battered all year which at this point in the season is a mismatch of players plugged in to try and stop the bleeding. Eli Manning has been sacked a total of 21 times this season, despite improving on how long he holds the ball.

The Jets got to him at the end, putting up three sacks on the day, but for most of the day Manning was allowed to go through his progressions. The Jets’ front four is loaded with talent, but at times on Sunday, you wouldn’t have known it.

The Jets shut down the Giants run game early, only allowing them 74 yards on the day, as a result it became a passing game for their offense. When you have a one dimensional team in front of you, defensive play calling gets a lot easier.

Yet, the Jets’ defense wasn’t very aggressive and their effort at times seemed to be lacking. Again, the Jets’ defensive line came out flat and it took over a half a game of football to come to life. This front needs to start asserting earlier in games to set the tone. Four quarters of football is required.

The Jets’ defensive secondary is being thrown at an awful lot this year. Teams have figured out that the Jets have a potent run defense and have gone to pass happy game plans against the Jets. Manning was no exception to the rule, throwing at the Jets’ defense 50 times during the course of the game.

Despite a poor day, Manning was able to complete 36 of those throws, put up 297 yards and a touchdown against this grouping of defensive backs. Yes, the Jets were without Darrelle Revis, but the secondary effort was suspect all afternoon with too many missed assignments and a few too many penalties as well.

Dec 6, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets center Nick Mangold (74) snaps the ball against the New York Giants during overtime at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Giants 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Overall this was a game that was poorly played. Too many penalties and missed assignments for a well coached football team. The effort was sub par through much of the day and the Jets will need to play far better down the stretch than they did on Sunday. The Giants gave them an early holiday present and the Jet fan base should be ecstatic to get it.

On an awful drive late in the third quarter, Manning “drove” his football team deep into Jet territory, aided hugely by their blunders and penalties. After going forward, then backwards then forward again, the Giants were at the Jet two-yard line. The drive ate up over seven minutes of clock and taking the game into the fourth quarter.

The drive was ugly, with both teams seemingly showing disinterest in who would win this game. This seven plus minute drive turned out to be the turning point of the game however. The Giants were up 20-10, but surely not dominating the Jets, the game was at hand and the Giants only had to step on the Jets’ throat for the victory.

Then it happened, Tom Coughlin turned into Santa Claus and ignored football wisdom and decided to go for it on fourth and two instead of putting up three points with a chip shot field goal. The three points would have forced the Jets to score two touchdowns to beat the Giants. I don’t know what Coughlin was thinking to be honest.

There was very little done by his offense to go the length of the field, in fact they should have gone three and out if it were not for a running into the kicker call against Jeff Cumberland on the punt. Pass interference calls and off sides penalties aided Coughlin’s offense more then his players had.

The play went south on the Giants, as Rontez Miles intercepted Manning at the goal line and returned it to the eleven yard line, giving the offense some breathing room. The Christmas present was neatly wrapped and laid at the Jets feet, all they had to do was unwrap it.  Thank you, Coughlin.

To the Jets credit, the play provided the motivation for both sides of the ball to suddenly come out and execute. Fitzmagic suddenly reappeared and Eric Decker finally came alive. Brandon Marshall came up big again and the Jets drove the length of the field and put up three to get within seven points. We all know how the rest played out.

Dec 6, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) catches a game-tying touchdown against New York Giants corner back Prince Amukamara (20) during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Giants 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

You have to like the way Jets responded after the Giants left the door open for them though. They showed guts and determination and everyone contributed. Despite poor play and what appeared to be poor preparation for this game, the Jets came alive and won the game. That is the sort of play this team needs to display on a much more consistent basis however. Great win, that could possibly spark this football team for a run, but they’ll need to prove they can build off of this success.

Good to get the win, I didn’t care for the effort through a majority of the game. The Giants left the door open for them on a questionable call by Coughlin and the Jets jumped on their opportunity. That about sums this game up. I don’t want to be overly critical of a victory, but this game didn’t boost my confidence in the team very much, this could have easily gone the other way.

Next: Rontez Miles makes play of the game in Jets vs Giants

I’d just like to see this team come out and play four quarters of football at the level they are capable of. It wasn’t much fun this Sunday watching them fumble and bumble themselves through three quarters of football, before they decided to execute and claim the win.

That’s how I saw this one, now I’d like to hear how you saw it. We here at The Jet Press value our readers opinions so we ask that you please leave us a comment below and help us talk Jet football!!