Jets Soar Past Redskins, 34-19

For about 55 minutes, this game was back and forth.  No one had established a position of dominance.  Then the Redskins got soft.  Mark Sanchez hit Santonio Holmes for a go-ahead TD and made the score 20-16. Then on the ensuing possession Rex Grossman was sacked and fumbled the ball.  The Jets would eventually score on a Wildcat Formation Run, to essentially put the game out of reach.  Washington actually came out with guns ablaze, but they ran out of bullets when they needed them the most, down the stretch.  The Jets have finally established themselves as a Playoff Contender and are poised to make a run in the Playoffs.  Washington hasn’t smelled the Playoffs since 2007 and that drought will continue.

Rex Grossman took control of the Washington offense the way that we’ve all wanted him to.  Grossman took the Redskins straight down the field and scored on the very first possession and led them to a FG on the 2^nd possession.  Unfortunately, they hit a wall later on in the game and could only muster up 2 more FGs before the Jets put the final nail in the coffin.  Washington had great drives, but could not get timely 3^rd down conversions when they needed them.  That is the things that Playoff teams do.  Grossman completed 19 of 46 passes for 221 Yards, and didn’t throw his weekly INT until the last possession of the game.  Good for you Rex.  Roy Helu was a bright spot running for 100 Yards on 23 Carries and 1 TD that came on the first possession of the game.  Fred Davis had 99 Receiving Yards on 6 catches, but, unfortunately, didn’t score a TD.  Washington falls to 4-8 bailing out the Philadelphia Eagles who laid an egg against the same team that Washington beat last Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks.  This is another loss for a team that showed so much promise early on.  But, the Jets have other plans going forward.

Mark Sanchez has taken a lot of heat this year.  Almost as much heat as Tim Tebow.  Most people don’t think that either QB can lead a team to the Playoffs or a championship.  I’d beg to differ.  Mark Sanchez, although shaky at times, looked like a 10 year vet in the past few games that I’ve watched of his.  Sanchez is able to put together timely drives when the Jets need them and, time and time again, pulled out victories.  This week Sanchez completed 19 of 32 passes for 165 Yards, and 1 TD pass that was ultimately the game-winner.  He got some help in the run game from Shonn Greene who had 22 carries for 88 Yards and 3 Rushing TDs.  Nothing that the Jets did was pretty.  But they got the job done.  Now at 7-5 they can actually start to talk about the Playoffs as a possible Wild Card Team.  And if you have had a chance to watch them before, the Jets can do some damage as a Wild Card team.  The last 2 times that the Jets have made the Playoffs, they’ve ended up in AFC Championship Games.  Although they didn’t win them, no one expected them to even be there.  Now I am going out on a limb and saying that if they make the Playoffs this year, they will be in the Super Bowl.  They have the team and they have the fight.  I’d love to see it. 

This weeks game ball goes to Mark Sanchez.  Good job Mark.

All Betts Are On, All Day!!

I know, I know. I am the biggest Redskins fan there is and I didn’t pick us to beat the Broncos yesterday. Tar and feather me!! I did, however, know that Ladell Betts would have a good game. Partly because our Offensive Lineman, although two are fill-ins, were all playing their original positions. This kind of helps a bit. But Betts has filled in for Clinton Portis before and had over 1,000 yards in only 9 games. Most people, myself included, had been blinded by Betts’ inability to hold on to the ball lately, but yesterday we were quickly reminded as to how good this guy is and why we liked him in the first place. He had opportunities to go elsewhere, but he said that he loved being here, he loved being a Redskins. Although he is a football player, we could take note of his unselfish attitude. Why? Because like everything else, attitudes like this are contagious.

Matthew Ladell Betts grew up an only child in Kansas City, KS. While in high school, Betts was a track star, but was widely known for his accomplishments on the football field. His Senior year in high school, Betts not only led his team to a 10-1 record, but he was also named USA Today’s Missouri Player of the year. He garnered All-State and All-Metro honors on the gridiron. He also won the Thomas Simone Award, which usually goes to the best high school player in the Kansas City area, and was named a Parade and Super Prep All-American. The foundation was laid for Betts to be a very selfish player. But he was not highly recruited coming out of high school so he attended the University of Iowa. Some would consider this a humbling experience. After winning a team MVP award, as well as making All-Big Ten 2nd team, Betts was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 2nd Round (56th Overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft. Again, this is enough for people to develop the “ME” attitude, but Betts never showed any signs of being that way.

Talk to his teammates, talk to reporters, talk to the Coaches, they all share the same sentiments. Betts is the consummate professional, a great teammate and a great locker room guy. This is a Joe Gibbs kind of player. If you bust your ass during the off-season, bust your ass during training camp, and bust your ass in practice, you will not be surprised at what happens in the game. So what Ladell Betts did yesterday (26 carries, 114 yards, one TD) versus the Broncos was something that I have come to expect from him. It was good to see a good guy get a great opportunity, albeit unfortunate circumstances. About three years ago, I envisioned using him and Clinton Portis as a 1-2 punch, but that never materialized. And at the end of the 2006 season, Betts could have gone anywhere in the NFL as he was a Free Agent. But, he chose to stay here in a backup role. Why? Because, he enjoys being a Redskin. In an organization that is in turmoil, it is nice to see and hear a story like this one.

Now at the ripe old age of 30, standing at 5’11” and weighing in at 225 lbs., he may be considered small, but when it comes to heart, there are very few who can match Ladell’s heart in size. I wish him nothing but the best because guys like this don’t grow on trees. Players like this aren’t born everyday. And teammates like this only come by once in a Blue Moon. Although, people are quick to say Clinton Portis is finished, people have to consider the fact that Portis and Betts are pretty much the same size and height [Betts 5’11”, 225 lbs.; Portis 5’11” 221 lbs.]. The only difference is, Betts (30) is about 2 years older than Portis (28). So if you think Portis is done should you not think the same thing about Betts? I mean we all have heard that Portis is “old and slow.” But, Betts showed yesterday that age is just a number. I know what you are going to say, "Portis has been banged up for the past two seasons." That might be true. But don't you also hope that Betts can continue to produce the way he did yesterday. Who knows!! If Portis is able to return again this season we have a pretty good Spell Back in Betts. And if we keep this particular line in tact we could be looking at two 1000-yd. rushers. But until then….. RUN BETTS, RUN!!!