As the tape from Sunday’s game rolled inside the Jets’ new auditorium yesterday, some players cringed.
They didn’t cringe from being blown out. They didn’t cringe because it was yet another loss to the Patriots they were reliving. They cringed because they saw how close they were to reversing their 19-10 loss.
“It showed that we were close,” Jets center Nick Mangold said of the film.
That was the overriding emotion from the Jets players on the day after. After they left the locker room Sunday night, most of them reflected on the lost opportunities they squandered against the Patriots, who continually beat their opponents with a velvet hammer that doesn’t leave their victims hurting as much physically but mentally the day after.
“Even though we made mistakes, we were still in control of the game and had our chances to put our stamp on the game,” Jets safety Kerry Rhodes said. “But we didn’t.”
Look at the Patriots’ performance statistically and it makes you scratch your head wondering how they won. Their leading receiver (Wes Welker) had seven catches for 72 yards. Their leading rusher (Lamont Jordan) had 62 yards on 11 carries. Their QB, Matt Cassel, finished with modest, yet efficient, numbers: 16 of 23 for 165 yards.
None of these represented dominant numbers that belie a team as talented as the Patriots. Yet that’s how they win if they have to on days like this. They had one fewer turnover than the Jets as well as four fewer penalties for 40 fewer yards.
Their kicker (Stephen Gostkowski) made all four field goals he tried. The Jets kicker, Jay Feely, missed his first try, a 31-yarder. That set a bad, missed-opportunity tone. That was about all the Patriots needed to bleed out the Jets.
The next task for the Jets (1-1) will not be an easy one. They play the Chargers, 0-2 and desperate for a win – as well as angry after being robbed against the Broncos Sunday on some embarrassing officiating calls.
The game is on Monday night in San Diego.
Can you say hornet’s nest?
“Playing them anywhere is dangerous,” Jets linebacker Eric Barton said of the Chargers. “They’re a dangerous team and to go in there it’s going to be difficult for us.
“I’m sure they’re going to be hungry with their ears pinned back. It’s Monday night. It doesn’t take much to get up for those games anyway.”
Rhodes said, “We’re going into a tough situation. [The Chargers] were expected to be a tough team this year and they’re in a hole now at 0-2. They’re going to come to play with something to prove. It’s going to be a tough game.”
Defensive back David Barrett said Monday night in San Diego is going to be “a bees nest.”
“They’re going to want to come out and prove a point,” he said. “We have to go out there and show them that we mean business also.”
Added right guard Brandon Moore about the Chargers: “I’m sure they’re pretty upset. They’ll be hungry on Monday night. But we’re pretty desperate, too. We don’t want to be 1-2. This is a big game for us, definitely a big test for us.”