By Mark La Monica
General rule of thumb: Never turn off a football game when the Jets are involved. Regardless of the score, you almost never know who's going to win. And you're guaranteed to have a better-than-average chance of seeing something you've never seen before in football.
But this? This one makes you want to throw your television into your neighbor's pool, then jump out the window after it.
The Jets trailed the Browns, 17-6, late in the fourth quarter. They scored a touchdown but missed the two-point conversion. Then, miraculously yet predictably, the Jets recovered the onside kick.
They got to the Browns' 20-yard-line with three timeouts and 1:45 left. Fourth-and-10. What does Mangini do? He sends in Mike Nugent to kick a freakin' field goal. Are you kidding me? A field goal when you're down five?
Not even Herm Edwards would attempt a field goal in that situation.
Mangenious? Ha! Man-moron!
That's just plain dumb. And you can bet Man-moron will find his way into "Paybacks" this Tuesday.
At best, you're down two and have to recover a second onside kick, or you kick it deep and stop the Browns from getting a first down.
At worst, you don't get the first down and the Browns have the ball deep in their end and you still have three timeouts to stop them.
Final score: 24-18. (Yep, they actually kicked another field goal!)
This is why the Jets are the Jets and will always be the Jets. This is why we need Joe Benigno back on the overnights for WFAN.
Comments (8)
My feelings exactly. Could have been the worst display of coaching I have ever seen.
Now, I was fuming when they punted with 7 minutes left due to the fact this team is 3-9. I know thats a little much, but then to see this bumbling disaster I had a Kotite flashback. The Jets played the 4th quarter like an 0-16 team along with the coaching staff. Moronic and completely unfair to people who are faithful and loyal fans. Get it the F together.
Was there a better chance on 4th and 10 to get the first down and ultimately a TD or to recover a second onside kick and win with another FG? I don't think the question is that one sided.
Is it really that bad of a decision?
Even after the FG and the onsides kick, they still had 3 timeouts (right?)...so, if they stopped the Browns, they still would have gotten the ball back with 90-seconds or so to play, and only been down by 2, and a FG would have won it.
It just so happens that Cle. scored...but that's not the point. Going for the FG to cut the lead to 17-15 didn't kill them.
I don't think it was a horrible decision...But, I'm also not an expert. Am I completely insane for thinking this?
I've heard the far-worse decision was going for the 2nd onsides kick instead of kicking it deep...I can see that critique.
Then ManMoran says on Monday that he stands by the decision! I was all for giving him another year, but now I don't know. That level of stuborness is beyond anything I can understand and I'm a stuborn azz.
Patriots are 0-2 with lines over 20(MAKE THAT 0-3 AFTER SUNDAY)
I'm taking the jets straight up this week. Who's with me?
I'm with you, TJ.
We can move into the poorhouse together, but we'll do it wearing T-shirts that read "I got onions!" on the front and "Moneyline" on the back.
Look....yeah it's 4th and 10 but even if they get the first down, are you sure they're going to get a touchdown with this qb (he's a big disappointment that's for sure) and Brad Smith and the fade pattern?
Quite frankly kicking the field goal was far from the worst decision in the history of football because they had their 3 time outs....kick the field goal, stop them on a 3 and out and get the ball back with 1:20 left needing a fg to win........it's simply not a terrible decision given what we've seen from the Jet offense.
Far more questionable, IMHO, was giong for the 2nd on side kick...kick the ball deep...as they're expecting an on side kick a good chance you can pin them deep as most of the blockers are up front....stop them on a 3 and out (1 first down kills you no matter where the ball is) and with a decent punt return you need only about 10 to 15 yards for a game winning field goal.
And of course the real brain lock was the idiot Cleveland running back...take a knee once you're 3 or 4 yards past the first down marker and then with less than 80 seconds left and the Jets with only 1 time out, 3 kneel downs and the game is over...but no this imbecile has to score a touchdown putting his glory ahead of the team...where was the Cleveland coach telling them to do anything but score....it gave the Jets albeit a small one, a chance to do what they did. That was moronic; not what Mangini did.
Those who think the decision to kick a field goal was so stupid just don't have a clue.