Spiritguy
12-01-2008, 04:34 PM
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/200...by_denver.html (http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2008/11/new_york_jets_beaten_by_denver.html)
Denver Broncos cool off hot New York Jets, 34-17
by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
Sunday November 30, 2008, 11:22 PM
The Jets had a front-row seat to see the player being touted as the NFL's newest gunslinger -- Broncos co****re quarterback Jay Cutler. They can attest to the accuracy of the hype.
In a steady, freezing rain Sunday at the Meadowlands, the next Brett Favre bested the current one as Cutler carved up the Jets' suspect secondary throughout a 34-17 Denver victory that, at least for the moment, will put a damper on Super Bowl-frenzied talk involving the Jets.
Cutler made plays in and out of the pocket, completing an assortment of short, quick-hitting screens to his wide receivers and medium-range completions to his tight ends. He connected on 27 of 43 passes for 357 yards, two touchdowns and an interception and a 94.8 passer rating. His sixth 300-yard game of the season was at least partly the product of a Jets' pass rush that didn't come close to the nimble-footed Cutler.
"I thought he played well," Favre said following the Jets' first loss since mid-October. "These were tough conditions. I told him after the game he played outstanding. He was the better man tonight."
Cutler so frustrated the Jets' secondary that normally talkative safety Kerry Rhodes refused to discuss him, muttering: "I don't like him. I don't want to talk about him. Any other questions?"
Meantime, Favre completed 23 of 43 passes for 247 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. He had a 60.9 passer rating.
Adding to the complete breakdown by the Jets was a career game by rookie fullback-turned-featured back Peyton Hillis, a one-time fifth-stringer on the Broncos' depth chart, who rumbled for 129 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries -- the first 100-yard rusher against the Jets this season.
Denver brought the Jets back down after a five-game winning streak had lifted them to the top of the AFC East. The Jets (8-4) didn't lose that standing -- they still hold a one-game lead in the AFC East over the Patriots (7-5) and the Dolphins (7-5) -- but are reeling this morning as they turn their attention to Sunday's game at San Francisco.
Coach Eric Mangini was as upset as he had been in recent memory following a loss. He said he wasn't pleased with the Jets' week of practice and lamented his team's mistakes; the Broncos (7-5) turned two turnovers into 14 points.
"I was really disappointed with the way we played," a stone-faced Mangini said. "We have established a certain way we play and we played nothing like that today."
The players, however, insisted they were ready for the Broncos and weren't still basking in the glow of their recent success.
"We knew what was at hand," right tackle Damien Woody said. "Give them credit. They played a good game. It didn't have anything to do with us overlooking the Broncos. It's tough dropping this one at home but we have to regroup."
Although running back Thomas Jones rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on just 16 carries (8.6-yard average), the offense never got in sync and couldn't sustain drives. The Jets were just 3 of 11 in third-down situations.
Defensively, the Jets allowed a whopping 484 yards total offense, 316 yards in the first half.
Cutler found receivers at will. Four receivers had five catches or more. And as has been the case all season, tight ends hurt the Jets as Tony Scheffler (seven catches for 90 yards) and Daniel Graham (6 catches for 59 yards) inflicted major damage in big spots.
"He (Cutler) didn't surprise us," defensive end C.J. Mosley said. "That's Cutler. He makes all the right decisions, all the right throws, all the right moves. He did his job. We didn't do ours."
The Broncos' big plays -- Eddie Royal caught a 59-yard touchdown -- and ability to capitalize on the Jets' mistakes helped build a 27-14 halftime lead. A fumble by Jerricho Cotchery on an end-around ended up in the hands of Denver safety Vernon Fox, who ran the ball in for a 23-yard touchdown. The Broncos later turned a Favre interception into a 1-yard touchdown run by Hillis.
Surprisingly, Hillis repeatedly found holes in the Jets defense. Broncos veteran center, 35-year-old Casey Wiegmann (6-2, 285 pounds), had shocking success against Jets massive nose tackle Kris Jenkins (6-4, 360 points).
The Jets might have lost the game when they failed to convert on a third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 on the opening drive of the second half. Oddly, the Jets tried to throw twice against the Denver's 27th-ranked run defense.
Trailing 27-17, the Broncos put the game away when Cutler hit Brandon Stokley for a 36-yard touchdown over safety Abram Elam to give Denver a 34-17 lead with 9:26 left to play.
"We got outplayed," Favre said. "We had plenty of opportunities. It wasn't like we played our best football and we just lost."
Denver Broncos cool off hot New York Jets, 34-17
by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger
Sunday November 30, 2008, 11:22 PM
The Jets had a front-row seat to see the player being touted as the NFL's newest gunslinger -- Broncos co****re quarterback Jay Cutler. They can attest to the accuracy of the hype.
In a steady, freezing rain Sunday at the Meadowlands, the next Brett Favre bested the current one as Cutler carved up the Jets' suspect secondary throughout a 34-17 Denver victory that, at least for the moment, will put a damper on Super Bowl-frenzied talk involving the Jets.
Cutler made plays in and out of the pocket, completing an assortment of short, quick-hitting screens to his wide receivers and medium-range completions to his tight ends. He connected on 27 of 43 passes for 357 yards, two touchdowns and an interception and a 94.8 passer rating. His sixth 300-yard game of the season was at least partly the product of a Jets' pass rush that didn't come close to the nimble-footed Cutler.
"I thought he played well," Favre said following the Jets' first loss since mid-October. "These were tough conditions. I told him after the game he played outstanding. He was the better man tonight."
Cutler so frustrated the Jets' secondary that normally talkative safety Kerry Rhodes refused to discuss him, muttering: "I don't like him. I don't want to talk about him. Any other questions?"
Meantime, Favre completed 23 of 43 passes for 247 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. He had a 60.9 passer rating.
Adding to the complete breakdown by the Jets was a career game by rookie fullback-turned-featured back Peyton Hillis, a one-time fifth-stringer on the Broncos' depth chart, who rumbled for 129 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries -- the first 100-yard rusher against the Jets this season.
Denver brought the Jets back down after a five-game winning streak had lifted them to the top of the AFC East. The Jets (8-4) didn't lose that standing -- they still hold a one-game lead in the AFC East over the Patriots (7-5) and the Dolphins (7-5) -- but are reeling this morning as they turn their attention to Sunday's game at San Francisco.
Coach Eric Mangini was as upset as he had been in recent memory following a loss. He said he wasn't pleased with the Jets' week of practice and lamented his team's mistakes; the Broncos (7-5) turned two turnovers into 14 points.
"I was really disappointed with the way we played," a stone-faced Mangini said. "We have established a certain way we play and we played nothing like that today."
The players, however, insisted they were ready for the Broncos and weren't still basking in the glow of their recent success.
"We knew what was at hand," right tackle Damien Woody said. "Give them credit. They played a good game. It didn't have anything to do with us overlooking the Broncos. It's tough dropping this one at home but we have to regroup."
Although running back Thomas Jones rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on just 16 carries (8.6-yard average), the offense never got in sync and couldn't sustain drives. The Jets were just 3 of 11 in third-down situations.
Defensively, the Jets allowed a whopping 484 yards total offense, 316 yards in the first half.
Cutler found receivers at will. Four receivers had five catches or more. And as has been the case all season, tight ends hurt the Jets as Tony Scheffler (seven catches for 90 yards) and Daniel Graham (6 catches for 59 yards) inflicted major damage in big spots.
"He (Cutler) didn't surprise us," defensive end C.J. Mosley said. "That's Cutler. He makes all the right decisions, all the right throws, all the right moves. He did his job. We didn't do ours."
The Broncos' big plays -- Eddie Royal caught a 59-yard touchdown -- and ability to capitalize on the Jets' mistakes helped build a 27-14 halftime lead. A fumble by Jerricho Cotchery on an end-around ended up in the hands of Denver safety Vernon Fox, who ran the ball in for a 23-yard touchdown. The Broncos later turned a Favre interception into a 1-yard touchdown run by Hillis.
Surprisingly, Hillis repeatedly found holes in the Jets defense. Broncos veteran center, 35-year-old Casey Wiegmann (6-2, 285 pounds), had shocking success against Jets massive nose tackle Kris Jenkins (6-4, 360 points).
The Jets might have lost the game when they failed to convert on a third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 on the opening drive of the second half. Oddly, the Jets tried to throw twice against the Denver's 27th-ranked run defense.
Trailing 27-17, the Broncos put the game away when Cutler hit Brandon Stokley for a 36-yard touchdown over safety Abram Elam to give Denver a 34-17 lead with 9:26 left to play.
"We got outplayed," Favre said. "We had plenty of opportunities. It wasn't like we played our best football and we just lost."