The following blog was being updated from the Press Box at Giants Stadium during the Jets/Patriots game on Sunday, Sept. 20.
› 4:53 pm: Just got up from the locker rooms. Got interviews with Brady, Moss, Ryan and Bart Scott. Look for the story tomorrow and interviews on ScottStanchak.com later today.
› 4:00 pm: The Jets pulled this one off, 16-9.
› 3:01 pm: I like the two scoring drives the Jets put together to start the second half. Sanchez has looked much stronger throwing the ball down the field. On the second scoring drive, Sanchez got the ball into the endzone for a questionable call. The former USC quarterback ran off the field yelling and signaling for the field goal unit to get out there as quickly as possible. Belichick was quite calm as he reached for the challenge flag out of his sock and tossed it onto the field. The touchdown was overturned and the Jets had to settle for a field goal.
› 2:22 pm: We have hit halftime and there really is no clear cut winner in this one just yet, despite the 9-3 Patriots lead. Both teams continue to play strong defense, but are also held being back by a lot of misplays. Brady and Sanchez both look shaky. Jets head coach Rex Ryan doesn’t look like he’s exactly trusting putting the ball in the hands of Sanchez. All of his passes are sideways, meaning he’s looking for the receivers and backs to pick up all the yardage after the catch/carry. I’m sure the game plans will change for the second half now that both teams have seen each other. I expect more deep passes from Brady, maybe some to Moss. I also want to see more of Washington for the Jets. Sanchez is going to get a talking to in the locker room right now, so his ability to get the ball downfield will also play a role in the outcome. Right now, it looks like Brett Favre — oops, did I say that name? — could play QB for the Jets and do better.
› 1:44 pm: Interesting first quarter for the Jets and Patriots. The 15 minutes were marred with turnovers, including a fumble by Leon Washington and an interception on Brady. The Patriots do have the 3-0 lead thanks to a Stephen Gostkowski field goal. There has also been a slew of penalties on both sides. That is another reason for the low score thus far.
› 1:10 pm: Sanchez’ first play against the Patriots didn’t go so well. The quarterback dropped back, watched the pocket collapse around him and ended up getting sacked. Not only sacked, but hit hard enough to fumble. The ball was recovered by the Jets.
› 1:00 pm: An hilarious note before we get things started: O’Connell is one of the captains for the Jets today. I wonder what Belichick’s reaction was to that news.
› 12:42 pm: I just got back from down on the field. A few things to note:
- Michael Douglas, Tyson Beckford and Constantine Maroulis are here. Met Douglas, who was really a nice guy.
- I completely forgot, but the Patriots also have a former Jets player: Chris Baker. The tight end was supposed to be the starter ahead of Watson heading into Week 1, but then Watson had a big game. We’ll see how things work out today, but I could see Belichick trying to get Baker a touch in the endzone.
- It couldn’t be any nicer down on the turf. The weather is absolutely perfect and the fans are ready to go.
› 11:44 am: A big surprise on the Patriots inactive’s list with wide receiver Wes Welker, who is battling a knee injury. That means Tom Brady may depend on his tight ends more, including Benjamin Watson, who scored two touchdowns last week against the Bills.
Here are the other inactives:
Jets: O’Connell, QB (Third QB); Erik Ainge, QB; Ryan Fowler, LB; Matt Slauson, OL; Mike DeVito, DE; Ropati Pitoitua, DL; Matthew Mulligan, TE; Howard Green, DL.
Patriots: Welker, WR; Matthew Slater, WR; Terrance Wheatley, CB; Jerod Mayo, LB; Rich Ohrnberger, OL; Dan Connolly, OL; Kendall Simmons, G; Michael Matthews, TE.
› 11:40 am: The Jets have made Kevin O’Connell their third quarterback for the game. O’Connell came over to the Jets this preseason in a deal with the Lions, who got him off the waiver wire from the Patriots just days earlier. O’Connell was surprisingly released from the Patriots after only one season. I wonder how many secrets he shared with his new teammates about Bill Belichick’s offensive and defensive schemes.
› 11:14 am: Heading down to the field in a bit. It’s nice and cold in the press box, while it looks really warm outside. I see most of the guys in short sleeves and shorts. We’ll be lucky to get one or two more weeks of this weather before the thermals come out.
› 10:08 am: I’m here nice and early for the game. The field is nearly empty, as is the press box. It’s important to remember that this is the last home opener for the Jets here at Giants Stadium. Next year, the team will move into the new structure across the parking lot. This has all the makings of one of the best final home openers in NFL history.
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