Soar & Sore

Dallas’ debacle season continued against the Packers on Sunday night. The Eagles edged the Colts by two in an intriguing, firework-like contest at the Linc. The upstart Raiders and Chiefs played a thrilling overtime game with the black-and-gold pulling through in the end. But the 1pm game between the New York Jets and Detroit Lions is the focus of this post.
The Jets soared to an overtime victory over the Lions in Detroit. New York improved to 6-2 and benefited from poor coaching, a little bit of green luck and another Lions’ choke job. Detroit fell to 2-6 on the year after suffering a heartbreaking 23-20 home loss. Nick Folk’s 36 yard field goal on the final play of the fourth quarter sent the game into an extra session. The Jets’ place kicker nailed a 30-yarder in overtime to lift the Jets over a sore Detroit squad. New York sits in first place in the AFC East after the Patriots were topped by Colt McCoy’s Cleveland club.
Matthew Stafford, the gifted signal caller for Detroit threw for a pair of touchdowns and 246 yards before leaving the game midway through the fourth quarter. Stafford suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced by Drew Stanton. Detroit coasted to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on Brandon Pettigrew’s 10 yard reception. The Oklahoma State product hauled in Stafford’s pass after an 11 play drive at 9:16 in the first. The Jets did not answer until the clock read 3:57 in the second stanza. Folk planted a 31 yard field goal to cut the Lions’ lead to four. After a Detroit punt, the sloppy Jets (five fumbles) got the ball back. Facing third-and-nine, quarterback Mark Sanchez lofted a bomb downfield to Braylon Edwards. The Gang Green receiver made the 74 yard catch and ran it to the end zone with a minute left before halftime.
The Jets’ 10-7 advantage didn’t last long after the break. Detroit threatened to score on their first drive out of the locker room. Stafford drove the Lions inside the five yard line, but Detroit would have to settle for a field goal opportunity against Rex Ryan’s stingy defense. Jason Hanson’s kick was good, but New York was charged with a roughing-the-kicker penalty. The Lions had new life, albeit at the cost of their kicker. Stafford ran the ball in from one yard out after faking a handoff to Jahvid Best in the backfield. Defensive tackle and top draft pick, Ndamukong Suh replaced Hanson, but booted the extra point, making it 13-10 in favor of the Lions.
Neither team executed the run very efficiently. LaDainian Tomlinson was held to 55 yards on 15 carries for New York. Best rushed for a mere 48 yards in the loss. Nate Burleson’s two yard pass from Stafford with 3:17 left to play gave the Lions a ten point cushion. The Jets would soon erase that protection. Sanchez orchestrated a 56 yard drive on six plays, culminating in a one-yard quarterback scramble. Stanton had little success completing passes and running out the clock. The Lions afforded New York too much time, and after a Detroit punt, Folk planted the game-tying kick. In overtime, the Jets needed just five plays to race down the field. Santonio Holmes charged down the field and grabbed a 52 yard pass from Sanchez to set up the winning field goal. Holmes, the dynamic receiver from Ohio State, finisihed with 114 yards. Burleson nearly matched him, with 113, for the Lions. Sanchez finished with a career-high 323 yards, which makes sense when you look at the two bombs he threw for completions. The Jets are riding a seven game road winning streak as they head to Cleveland next Sunday.

Parting Points: The Yankees are pursuing Cliff Lee. Really!?

The Giants absolutely destroyed the Seahawks yesterday. It’s been a rough year for Pete Carroll.