Bring Your Own Boos
For the second road game in a row, the Jets forced a docile Midwestern crowd to boo their home team. Quite an accomplishment for the Jets – especially against the Packers, who have known little but love in their history with the folks of Green Bay. But Sunday’s hostility toward the Vikings, and QB Brad Johnson in particular, was tough to watch.
Now I’ll admit, there were times when the Jets were pressuring Johnson and the fan voice in my head was screaming “Get rid of the &$%@ ball!!!” I can’t imagine watching a guy take sacks like that for an entire season. But Johnson has had a strong career, a Super Bowl win, and has twice been a part of the Vikings team. It was sad to hear the boos fall on him and the cheers when Tarvaris Jackson entered in the third quarter. The loudest ovation for the rookie came when he rolled to his right to avoid a rush and threw a ball away out of bounds. I guess when you are used to seeing sacks, even the littlest progress deserves a cheer.
Tough break for Bollinger with his shoulder injury. He’d probably have started the last three games for the Vikings. If he’s in Minnesota next year – he signed an extension with the Vikings after he was traded there from the Jets – he’ll probably be Jackson’s backup.
The Vikings played a sloppy game with bad penalties and poor decisions. It was just like the Packers game in that regard. And the Lions and the Texans, come to think of it. What do those four games have in common? They were Jets wins, but they were also Mangini wins over other first-time head coaches. If the last two games in particular showed anything, it is that Mangini has the Jets ahead of the curve in terms of execution and philosophy. The Packers and Vikings looked like they were all rookies, not just their head coaches.
Mangini couldn’t decide if it was Laveranues Coles’ ribs or back that took the brunt of the hit when he was knocked to the turf late in the game. Coles was walking a bit gingerly afterwards, shuffling along. Almost like … a penguin? No word on whether Eric labeled the receiver with the same ornithological nickname he received from Coles earlier this year for his own wobbly walk.
E-mail
Facebook
Digg
Delicious
Comments (5)
TR,
My family and I made the trip up to the Metrodome from Omaha - and obviously had a ball. It was nice of the Viking fans to start leaving at the end of the third quarter - made for an easier traffic getaway post-game. We had dozens of Jet fans in our corner behind the Jets bench. When the Vikes fans were quiet (which was pretty often - except for the first series and all Brad Johnson appearances), we got several J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets chants going. Jet Nation is alive and well in the Midwest. Hope to see the South Florida chapter energized for Monday night!
T-Rock: Answer this question for us: do we root for the Patriots to beat Jax this weekend or not?
A Pats win means the Jets control their own destiny for the wild card. A Pats loss means hope for winning the division remains (Pats v. Tenn -- the following weekend) but could also mean the Jets don't make the playoffs despite winning the last two.
Glad you had a good time, Des. I did hear the J-E-T-S chants throughout the game, and I know the players always say they appreciate the green mob that follows them from city to city. I'm sure that's one of the reasons they are so successful on the road this season.
Kevin -- I think you have to root for the Pats this weekend, because otherwise you'd have to leave things in the hands of Herm and the Chiefs to beat the Jags in Week 17. A division title would be nice and mean a home playoff game, but we're not talking about the difference between bye for the division and having to play in the wild card round, so I say sew up the postseason invite with two wins and a Jags loss on Sunday. -- TR
Any new news on whether Coles will be playing Monday?