JETS AND GIANTS

It's the end of week 12 in the 2010-2011 NFL season, with just one game yet to be played. Now since we live in NY, I figured it's time we did an article about the Giants and Jets. Both teams have had great success in their respective decision, and a lot of people are wondering "will there be a Giants-Jets Super Bowl this year?" Well... I can't answer that, but I can assure you both teams will make the playoffs.

NEW YORK JETS
The Jets have been nothing short of spectacular this season, achieving a 9-2 record, their best since 1986. They have had some bumps in the road, but have managed to stay calm and cool in the clutch. Their year started off with a 10-9 loss to the Ravens, making some wonder if they were legitimate like they showed in the 2009-2010 playoffs. They then put a big whoopin' on their arch rivals, the New England Patriots in a 28-14 win.  From there, they won 4 more game in a row, 2 coming against their division rivals Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. On Halloween day, they had what was their worst game of the season, a putrid offensive effort, getting shutout by the Green Bay Packers. They had held the Packers to only 9 points, but the stingy Packers defence made Mark Sanchez & co. look anemic and lifeless.

Jets QB Mark Sanchez

Since the defeat at home vs Green Bay, they have not lost, riding a 4 game winning streak. Although, they have not looked their sharpest, almost losing to the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, and Houston Texans, all 3 teams being ranked in the bottom 5 of the NFL in total defense.

In Detroit, QB Mark Sanchez hit Santonio Holmes on a quick slant, and Holmes took a 5 yard pass into a 52 yard gain, as it set up a 30 yard Nick Folk field goal to win the game in overtime 23-20. In Cleveland, the Browns virtually had the game in their hands during an overtime thriller, as QB Colt McCoy hit former Jet WR Chansi Stuckey with a 12 yard pass, but Stuckey fumbled and gave the ball back to the Jets. Sanchez then too the Jets down the field, and with 16 seconds left, the Jets reproduced the SAME exact play that won them the game in Detroit to win them the game, a 37 yard TD to Santonio Holmes. Last Sunday, at the Meadowlands, the Jets had been down 27-23 with less than a minute left to the Houston Texans, but Sanchez and the offense stormed back, as he hit his favorite target in the clutch, Santonio Holmes, for a 6 yard TD with 10 seconds left to win the game 30-27. And this past Thursday, on Thanksgiving, the Jets dominated the Cincinnati Bengals in New Jersey 26-10 to put them at 9-2.

Here are the Jet's team leaders:
Passing: QB Mark Sanchez- 2472 passing yards, 16 TD, 8 INT, 55.2 completion %, 81.9 QB rating
Rushing: RB LaDainian Tomlinson- 741 rushing yards, 5 TD, 4.5 yards per carry, 1 fumble
Receiving: WR Braylon Edwards- 35 receptions, 618 receiving yards, 6 TD, 17.7 yards per catch
Defense: CB Darrelle Revis- 18 tackles, 8 passes defended, 2 fumbles recovered
CB Antonio Cromartie- 33 tackles, 15 passes defended, 3 INT, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovered
MLB Bart Scott- 57 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovered

Jets WR Santonio Holmes

Difference Maker: WR Santonio Holmes- After missing the first 4 games due to suspension, Holmes has been nothing short of spectacular for the Jets, and a life-saver for sophmore QB Mark Sanchez. Holmes has had 32 receptions, 491 receiving yards, and 4 TD in 7 games, and has caught 2 game winning touchdowns. All in all, the Jets would probably be 6-5 without Holmes, and he has definitely been a steal for the Jets this season. Look for more to come from Holmes.

Mid-Season Prediction: Super Bowl match-up with Falcons- I will not predict who wins this game, but I have to say, both teams have put on a show this year. I look forward to see if the Jets actually do make the Super Bowl.


NEW YORK GIANTS

Giants S Antrel Rolle

The Giants have definitely re-gained their 2007 and 2008 seasons' form, and have now tied for the NFC East division lead. They are led by QB Eli Manning, who has seemed to mature more and more each year. The Giants weigh in to today at 7-4, coming off an impressive win yesterday vs the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-20 in New Jersey. The Giants, predicted by many to be the joke of the division they once conquered, have surpassed the expectations of many due to the re-emergence of the devastating pass rush that Tom Coughlin has built through the years. The Giants pass rush, led by DEs Osi Umeniyora, Justin Tuck, and OLB/DE Mathias Kiwanuka, has been crushing opposing QB's this season, injuring QBs such as Jay Cutler and Tony Romo. The Giants are tied for 5th in sacks with 31 on the season, and dismantled the Chicago Bears QBs in a 17-3 rout in week 4, recording a whopping 11 SACKS! Besides the sacks, the G-Men are 2nd in total defense in the NFL behind the San Diego Chargers, and lead the NFL in pass defense. The secondary has been lead by players such as safeties Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips, and Deon Grant, as well as CBs Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, and Aaron Ross.



Wait a minute, don't the Giants have a good offense too? YES! The Giants are 3rd overall in total offense, and are 6th in rushing offense, led by RBs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, and are 9th in passing offense, led by Manning, as well as WRs Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and TE Kevin Boss.

The highlight of the Giants' season definitely came against their arch rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, in week 7, in 41-35 thriller. Not only did the G-Men win the game, but they prevented a possible Cowboys playoffseason by breaking Dallas QB Tony Romo's collarbone, forcing him to miss 7-9 weeks of action. The Giants, after

being down 7-20 afetr a 93 yard Dez Bryant punt return TD, came back in fashion, and scored 31 unanswered points to make the score 38-20. The Giants won the game 41-35 in the end, but the Giants put up fantastic numbers. The Bradshaw-Jacobs duo ran for an even 200 yards, and Eli Manning threw for 306 yards and 4 TDs. WRs Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith both had 9 receptions, over 100 yards, and a TD(Nicks had 2).

Team Leaders:

Passing: QB Eli Manning- 2821 passing yards, 23 TD, 16 INT, 65.2 completion %, 90.3 QB rating

Rushing: RB Ahmad Bradshaw- 916 rushing yards, 5 TD, 4.7 yards per carry, 6 fumbles

Receiving: WR Hakeem Nicks- 62 receptions, 800 receiving yards, 9 TD, 12.9 yards per catch

Defense: DE Justin Tuck- 56 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 4 forced fumbles, 4 fumbles recovered

DE Osi Umeniyora- 35 tackles, 8 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 1 tackle for loss

CB Terrell Thomas- 65 tackles, 16 passes defended, 4 INT, 1 blocked field goal, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles

Giants DE Justin Tuck

Difference Maker- DE Justin Tuck- Tuck has been an absolute animal this year, leading the Giants in tackles for loss, and fumbles recovered, and is a half-a-sack from Osi Umeniyora's 8 sacks. He put's the hurt on all QB's and all RTs that go against him, and has been almost virtually impossible to contain. If Tuck continues this torrid pace, he may contend for Defensive NFL MVP.

Mid-Season Prediction: NFC Divisional round loss to the Atlanta Falcons- Had it not been for the playoff system, and for the Falcons themselves, the Giants may have had a Super Bowl shot. But I believe they will lose the NFC East to the Philadelphia Eagles, and will compose a 10-6 record, good enough for the 6th seed(yes, that is very high, the Saints get the 5th seed at 11-5). The Giants will easily dispose of the Chicago Bears, who will seal the 3rd seed, and lose to the 1st seeded Falcons.