The New York Jets scored 17 points in the fourth quarter in a dramatic comback victory over the Dallas Cowboys Sunday night. Here's what we learned about the Jets in their season-opening 27-24 win.
Plaxico Burress is not Mark Sanchez’s new Braylon Edwards.
This isn’t a bad thing. Burress has a lanky frame and long arms that allow him to make catches over cornerbacks, but he’s not the speedy deep threat Edwards was. That difference is something Sanchez is getting used to. When throwing the long sideline ball, Sanchez usually led Edwards and watched him chase it down. With Burress, Sanchez is learning that he needs to position the ball back-shoulder so Burress can use his long reach to snatch the ball around the defender.
If it’s a bomb toss-up, Burress isn’t going to be able to chase it down most of the time, but throwing to Burress gives Sanchez a little more margin for error. While Edwards could get 50-50 tosses by grit and effort, Burress can get them by physical attributes alone. Sanchez started to get comfortable with throwing to Burress in the second half, and they connected on a big fourth quarter touchdown.
The offensive line has some work to do.
Sanchez was hit six times and sacked four – not good numbers for a unit that was arguably the best of its kind over the last two years. Right tackle Wayne Hunter, though he improved in the second half, got manhandled by DeMarcus Ware. Sure, Ware is a beast and even cleanly beat left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson once, but the Jets should have taken that matchup into account and not waited so long to give Hunter tight end help.
Also, the Jets got virtually no push up front, blocking for a lowly 2.8 yards a carry. Again, this is a group that prides itself on run blocking.
They are who we thought they were.
With 10 of 11 starters back on defense and more experience on the offensive side of the ball from last year, this is still a team that likes to make it interesting. It’s at the point where no lead or amount of momentum is safe against these guys (OK, maybe the Patriots’40-plus lead last December was good enough).
The comeback has become a big part of the Jets’ identity, as five of New York’s last 10 wins came via rallies in the final quarter. Whether it’s offense, special teams or defense rising to the occassion, they get it done in the end more often than not.
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