The following blog was being updated from the Press Box at Giants Stadium during the Jets/Falcons game on Sunday, Dec. 20.
In The Locker Room: I was able to get interviews with Matt Ryan, Mike Smith, Tony Gonzalez, Roddy White and Damien Woody following the game. Interviews with be posted later on ScottStanchak.com, while the game feature will be up on Monday.
Fourth Quarter: A missed Feely field goal gave the Falcons the ball on the their own 27 yard line with 4:27 left in the game. Atlanta drove 73 yards down the field and converted on 4th-and-6 with a touchdown pass from Ryan to Gonzalez for the game-winning score. The Jets had about 1:30 to follow up the score, but Sanchez threw his third pick on the afternoon to seal it for the Falcons. The final: Falcons 10, Jets 7. Feely wasn’t the only one to miss a field goal this quarter. His counterpart, Bryant, failed to convert on a 48 yarder that would have brought the game within one. Needless to say, I can’t imagine Jets head coach Rex Ryan will be too happy about his special teams today after three missed kicks.
Third Quarter: The Jets were moving the ball nicely down the field on their first possession of the second half, but an unnecessary roughness penalty on Thomas Jones pushed them back 15 yards, taking them out of field goal range. The penalty came after the Jets converted on 4th-and-1. They’d be forced to punt a few downs later. All in all a very quiet quarter as both teams weren’t able to put points up on the scoreboard. Atlanta’s offense is still struggling bad.
Second Quarter: Credit Darrelle Reevis, who Jets head coach Rex Ryan believes should be the defensive player of the year, with great coverage on Falcons wide receiver Roddy White. White has just one catch for five yards. Tight end Tony Gonzalez leads their receivers with two catches for 26 yards. Sanchez tossed another pick, his second of the game. This time the ball was thrown right into the arms of cornerback Brent Grimes. New York’s 7-3 should be at least up to 13-3, but there were two botched field goals. The first, holder Kellen Clemens botched the snap, while the second was simply a bad kick by Jay Feely.
First Quarter: Mark Sanchez hit Braylon Edwards with a beautiful 65-yard pass at 2:48 to give the Jets the 7-3 lead. Edwards got in front of Falcons cornerback Christopher Owens and Sanchez was able to hit him in stride for the score. The pass was Sanchez’ longest completion and touchdown of his career. Fans celebrated by “making it rain” with snow they found under their seats. Sanchez also played a part in the Falcons first points of the game. The rookie quarterback was picked off earlier in the quarter, but the Falcons were unable to add six despite getting the ball to the 1 yard line. Atlanta kicker Matt Bryant’s 24 yarder is what they’d settle for.
Pre-Game: The New York Jets are fighting for their playoff lives this afternoon at home against the Atlanta Falcons. A foot of snow fell in the area on Saturday into the overnight and, as of an hour before kickoff, crews are still working to get it cleaned off the field. The frigid temps could work in the Jets’ favor against the Falcons, who play inside the comfy confines of a dome.
New York (7-6) is right behind the Miami Dolphins for the final Wild Card spot in the AFC. The Dolphins, however, hold the advantage having won four of six games in the division. New York, meanwhile, have won just two. A Patriots (8-5) loss could change the picture as well and propel the Jets into a tie for the division lead. There’s a few other scenarios for the Jets to make it, but none will matter unless they win their last three games.
The Jets will see the return of their rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez, this afternoon. Sanchez missed last week’s game after injuring his PCL while rushing the ball in a Thursday night game against the Buffalo Bills two weeks back.
Atlanta (6-7) also gets back key pieces of their lineup, as quarterback Matt Ryan and Michael Turner are expected to start. Ryan has been out the past couple of weeks with turf toe, while Turner has missed three of the Falcons’ last four with an ankle injury. Having those two players on the field give the Falcons their best chance of winning.
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