Although the Jets are 4-3, it feels like they are doing a whole lot worse when you look at their actual performances. The Buffalo Bills have been this season's surprise story thanks to a much better than expected offense. The main reason for this sudden offensive outburst is the revival of a once-awful offensive line that has turned itself around to be one of the top units the league this year. Led by a stunning season by left guard Andy Levitre, this line has given Ryan Fitzpatrick all the time in the world and is finally providing some much-needed push for stud back Fred Jackson.

Nick Mangold is finally back after rag doll Colin Baxter proceeded to suck things up as a run blocker (though he did provide some huge value in pass pro). Brandon Moore has been a surprise this season, but not in a good way. One of the best guards in the league, Moore has digressed this season to the "very mediocre" range of play. He will be matched up, for the most part, against explosive rookie Marcell Dareus in this game.

The interesting thing about Dareus is that he was always solid this season, but he turned up the heat in his last two games and put forth two of the best performances by a defensive tackle this season. Forget the criminally underrated Kyle Williams; it's the Dareus show in Buffalo now. The Jets will be soon acquainted with the the real "Hard Knock Life".

I really hate the Jets offense right now, and the listing of Plaxico Burress as the team's number one receiver over incumbent Santonio Holmes sums it up; stupidity. This offense squanders around and doesn't do crap, and that Mark Sanchez guy- as clutch as he is- doesn't put his team in the position to actually have a clutch anyway. He wilts under pressure, he has no arm, and he'll make stupid decisions too. Yeah, the guy has the whole package.

However, it isn't really all Sanchez's fault. Shonn Greene is subpar, and I have totally given up on him as a starting-caliber NFL running back. Nick Barnett and Kirk Morrison are two of the better linebackers against the run in the NFL, and they will eat this guy alive.

I think that's pretty much most of the pessimistic comments directed at the Jets, because they still have a nice D (read: Darrelle Revis is freaking awesome).

Fred Jackson is one of the best ten backs in the NFL, because he does everything extremely well. Not only is he a great pure runner with his elusiveness, but he can catch and is one of the best pass blocking backs in the league. However, he will face a huge challenge against the Jets in this game (the same can be said for his line). Sione Pouha and Mike DeVito are two of the best defensive linemen against the run in the NFL, and Pouha has ripped apart far better linemen than the ones that he is prepared to face today. And oh by the way, those linebackers are pretty tough to get by too.

The good thing- for the offensive line- is that the Jets have very poor pass rushers. Thus, Fitzpatrick should continue to have time to test the Jets secondary. Which means, everybody except Revis (if he's smart).

There is no more valuable defensive player in the league than Revis, because he is the reason why the Jets can blitz defensive backs and do all the crazy stuff that they do. Revis has given up the least amount of receiving yards, and he has had more tips/picks than catches allowed.

This lavish praise of Revis is actually pertinent to his game, because the Bills offense is one-dimensional receiving-wise. Everybody knows that Fitz is going to try to hit Stevie Johnson as much as he can, but Revis can easily take him out. This leaves David Nelson to be contained by Cromartie and whoever else has him guarded.

This is going to be a low-scoring contest, and it's the Jets utter offensive incompetence that makes the Bills go 6-2, instead of tying them up at 5-3. It seems hard to believe, well, to everybody but me. Look, the Jets stink because their offense has been horrible for such a long time. Revis and the defense will once again be the only guys keeping this game close. This is going to be one heckuva ballgame, and Revis will be the MVP, regardless of who wins.

Stevie Johnson: Prepare to be shipwrecked

Vote

Comments (1)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Joe Soriano - Category: NFL, NFL Predictions, Jets, Antonio Cromartie, Brandon Moore, Colin Baxter, Darrelle Revis, Mark Sanchez, Mike DeVito, Nick Mangold, Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes, Shonn Greene, Sione Pouha, Bills, Andy Levitre, David Nelson, Fred Jackson, Kirk Morrison, Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus, Nick Barnett, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Stevie Johnson

Email this Post to a Friend

7/31 NFL News: Plaxico with other New York team

July 31st 2011 16:26

Since the lockout was lifted, Plaxico Burress was talking to his two former teams; the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants. Today, Burress has signed with the other NFL team in New York. The recently released (from prison) receiver was given a one year deal (as expected). He will be paid three million, and that's a price that is a little too high.

Before Burress was sent to prison, he was a very good- but not elite- receiver. At 34 years old and rusty, I only see Burress as a decent player who will mainly be used in the red zone. I think his speed has deteriorated, but I do think he will remain a quality option. I don't get why he is considered a big-name free agent at all. It just goes to show you how fans get it all wrong. Like, how is Matt Roth still waiting for a phone call? He's one of the better pass rushers in the game, and Roth is definitely a better player than Burress; it's just that nobody knows who he is.

Now this is a pretty nice deal here by the Lions. After heavy talks with Stephen Tulloch, the valuable linebacker has signed a one year deal worth almost three and a half million. It's a very cheap deal, and the only reason why Tulloch didn't get a multi-year deal was because of bad negotiating. He's one of the best tacklers in the game, and Tulloch is exactly the kind of guy the Lions need on that terrible back seven. Next up: a corner.

The Indianapolis Colts made two important re-signings. One of them was pretty obvious, and that was to give Peyton Manning a new deal. The other move was also important, but it wasn't a certain thing. Joseph Addai is the most underrated player on the Colts, and he is by far the best running back on the roster. Addai takes huge pressure off Manning, and he is very versatile. I am glad that the Colts value Addai, because he is their only option at running back right now.

Lofa Tatupu wants to be released, and it's a pretty surprising development- at least to me it is. The Seahawks asked Tatupu to take a paycut, but he declined and requested a release. The former fan favorite was cut, but the Seahawks can live without him. He wasn't paid all that much, but the production just didn't meet the costs. He has really tailed off the last couple of years, and the Seahawks felt that they could save some money. Even though the fans love him, it was worth it when you look at it from a "business" perspective. The Seahawks need to move on because the franchise is changing for the better since Pete Carroll came in.

The Philadelphia Eagles made another useless signing. They already had Juqua Parker, Trent Cole, Darryl Tapp, and Brandon Graham at defensive end. They have recently spent big money on Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins. While those two are both very good ends who are better than everybody on that roster besides Cole, I think it's unnecessary expenditure.

The Eagles also dealt defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley to the Browns for a 5th rounder. Bunkley was traded because the Eagles already have two solid defensive tackles in Antonio Dixon- who overtook Bunkley last year- and Mike Patterson. I do think that the Eagles should have gotten more out of the trade, and the Browns end up with a nice D-Tackle for a very low price.

Well, there is finally some news on safety Michael Huff. He had a huge year last season, and he really broke out to become one of the league's best ten safeties. The Raiders have re-signed Huff, so they still have a good safety tandem with Huff and Tyvon Branch. Even without Nnamdi, the Raiders' secondary looks like a good one. Now if only they can finalize a deal with Jared Gaither to finally get an elite lineman.