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| BUF at KC | CAR at ATL | CHI at STL | CIN at PIT | GB at NO | HOU at CLE | IND at SD | MIN at JAX |
| NE at MIA | NYG at ARI | NYJ at TEN | OAK at DEN | PHI at BAL | SF at DAL | TB at DET | WAS at SEA |
Week 12 Game Recap: New York Jets 34, Tennessee Titans 13
What you need to know
| New York Jets |
Getting off to a quick start, the Jets controlled both sides of the ball and dominated the time of possession battle, racking up 409 yards of offense and rolling to a 21 point victory. Brett Favre, leading the Jets to their fifth straight victory managed an efficient game as he threw for 224 yard and two scores.
It was the smash mouth rushing attack that proved too much for the Titans, and New York racked up 192 yards on the ground. Led by Thomas Jones, the Jets relied on his hard nosed downhill rushing style to wear down the defense and grind out the clock. He carried 27 times in total, just falling short of the 100 yard mark and was able to use a convoy of blockers when he took an inside screen ten yards for the Jets first touchdown of the game. What Jones started, fellow running back Leon Washington finished as he rushed for two scores, his first being on a 61 yard breakaway play giving the Jets an insurmountable fourth quarter lead.
Defensively the Jets did what they have done all year, stop the run. They limited the Titans offense to less than 50 yards on the ground and were assisted by some Tennessee miscues that stalled drives. This stout defensive unit was on the field for less than 20 minutes as they were able to stay fresh and prevent any big play that could have gotten the Titans and their fans back in the game. It was not until the fourth quarter that New York allowed a touchdown as they limited Tennessee to their lowest point total of the year and handed them their first loss of the 2008 season.
| Tennessee Titans |
Kerry Collins and company struggled to move the ball, putting up only 13 points in their first loss of the season. The Titans signal caller racked up most of his yardage late in the game and was forced to throw 39 times in total, a number that usually is not part of the Titans smash mouth game plan.
The impressive streak that Tennessee was on this year was due in large part to their success running the football. They were unable to establish any sort of ground attack against the hungry Jets as they gained 45 yards total on eleven carries. Chris Johnson struggled to get anything going consistently as he carried only ten times in total and had a costly fumble early in the second half. Through the air was more of the same as no Titans receiver was able to make an impact or find the end zone. The lone Tennessee touchdown came when the game was out of reach as Collins hit Full Back Ahmard Hall out of the backfield for a six yard score.
Defensively, where Tennessee is so strong, there were struggles as well, as they gave up over 400 yards of total offense and were on the field for 40 minutes of football. They had no answer for New York's offense and could not be it's usual disruptive self, forcing only one punt on the day and allowing Favre and the AFC East leading Jets to move the ball and score at will in a hostile road environment.
What you ought to know
| QB Brett Favre, Pass: 25 - 32 - 224 - 2 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0 |
Favre did a good job of moving the chains and limiting the high risk throws. He was again a game manager completing all but seven of his passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. He spread his 25 completions among eight different targets, completing no pass over 25 yards but assuring the Jets offense stayed on the field, successfully grinding out yardage and the clock. His interception came on what will be a highlight reel play as Cortland Finnegan made a spectacular bid for the ball, and coming up with his league leading fifth interception of the season. Both touchdown passes were of the shot variety as Favre connected from two and ten yards out respectively, helping New York pull off the upset.
| RB Thomas Jones, Rush: 27 - 96 - 0, Rec: 3 - 21 - 1 (3 targets) |
Jones was the workhorse, grinding out yards on all 27 of his carries. He recorded 30 touches, compiling 117 yards in total while adding a receiving touchdown in the effort. Jones was leaned on heavily by Mangini and the Jets and was able to find just enough against the stout defensive front of Tennessee. He clearly benefited from the effectiveness of Leon Washington in the backup role as he ran hard downhill with authority.
| RB Leon Washington, Rush: 8 - 82 - 2, Rec: 1 - 2 - 0 (2 targets) |
Washington was again used in a reserved role, and again made a huge impact with his limited touches. He turned nine touches into 84 yards and two deadly touchdowns as he provided the big play when the Jets needed it most. It was Washington who took a fourth quarter handoff and rolled 61 yards to the end zone, clinching the victory for New York.
| WR Laveranues Coles, Rec: 7 - 88 - 1 (13 targets) |
Coles saw a team high 13 targets, turning them into a team high seven receptions for 88 yards and a score. His touchdown came on a two yard pass from Brett Favre in the third quarter and capped off a solid day receiving. He benefited from the extra attention placed on fellow wide out Jerricho Cotchery and often ran free underneath, providing Favre a reliable outlet to keep the chains moving.
| WR Jerricho Cotchery, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0, Rec: 6 - 55 - 0 (6 targets) |
Cotchery saw double coverage most of the day and had to make the most of his opportunities as he brought in all six of his targets for 55 yards. With Cortland Finnegan blanketing him for most of the day, Cotchery found some troubles in getting open but was able to contribute when called upon, making the tough catch and fighting for the extra yard.
| WR Brad Smith, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (1 targets) |
Smith saw his only target good for an eight yard gain.
| WR Chansi Stuckey, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (1 targets) |
Stuckey saw only one look, which he hauled in for an eight yard gain
| TE Dustin Keller, Rec: 6 - 42 - 0 (10 targets) |
Keller had his third consecutive productive outing as he saw ten targets his way, catching six balls for 42 yards and again being used as a catalyst to move the chains and get first downs. Favre clearly looks his way early and often in his progressions, relying on him heavily when he needs a quick five to ten yards
| PK Jay Feely 2 - 2 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 10 points |
Feely connected on both of his short field goal attempts while adding four PATs.
| NYJ Rush Defense |
The Jets rush defense again had another big game as they bottled up the young tandem of Chris Johnson and LenDale White. The speedy rookie out of East Carolina found no room inside and was routinely stuffed when trying to break to the outside with his speed. The New York cornerbacks did a good job of recognizing the run and providing support, limiting the strength of the Tennessee Titans offense and giving up only 45 yards on the ground.
| NYJ Pass Defense |
The Jets defended the pass much better against Tennessee than they have in previous weeks, keeping wide receivers in front of them and preventing the big play downfield. Kerry Collins was forced to throw for four quarters and was only able to put up 243 yards and a score in the loosing effort. Getting to Collins for only one sack put the pressure squarely on the shoulders of the Jets secondary who delivered allowing no Tennessee receiver to gain more than 43 yards though the air. This was in large part thanks to the Jets ability to play tight coverage, limiting any chances for Titans receivers to run after the catch.
| QB Kerry Collins, Pass: 21 - 39 - 243 - 1 TD / 0 INT |
Collins was forced to again put the Titans on his shoulders and this time could not deliver. He was unable to move the ball downfield when he needed it most and received no help from his defense as Tennessee was dominated in time of possession. He managed to complete a little more than 50 percent of his passes as his lone touchdown came on a short throw where he was able to find his full back for a six yard score with the game out of reach.
| RB Chris Johnson, Rush: 10 - 46 - 0, Rec: 3 - 15 - 0 (7 targets) |
Johnson was the most involved Titans running back as he gained 61 total yards on 13 touches in the loss. He had no room to run in space and display the speed that makes him so dangerous, as New York clearly made shutting him down, priority number one. He provided Collins with another option in the passing game as caught three short passes for 15 yards. On Tennessee's first play from scrimmage in the second half Johnson broke off a nice 11 yard run, only to fumble and turn the ball right back over to the Jets, leading to an eight play scoring drive.
| RB Quinton Ganther, Rec: 3 - 40 - 0 (3 targets) |
Ganther came in on the last drive of the ball game and saw three targets. He made the most of those targets by catching all three for 40 yards. .
| RB Ahmard Hall, Rec: 1 - 6 - 1 (1 targets) |
Hall, the blocking fullback for Tennessee, saw a short target out of the backfield, which he caught for a six yard touchdown. It was the only touchdown of the game for the Tennessee Titans
| RB LenDale White, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0 (1 targets) |
LenDale White finished the game with only one rush and a target. Playing from behind for most of the game, Tennessee elected to go with the better threat out of the backfield in Chris Johnson. White finished the day with one rush for one yard and was a non-factor against a tough Jets rush defense.
| WR Justin McCareins, Rec: 4 - 43 - 0 (6 targets) |
McCareins caught four of his six targets for 43 yards as he led Tennessee in receiving against New York. Most of his damage was done after Tennessee had abandoned the run, recording only one catch in the first half for five yards and bringing in three second half targets for 38 yards.
| WR Brandon Jones, Rec: 4 - 40 - 0 (8 targets) |
Jones was the most targeted Titan as he saw eight looks come his way and managed to bring in half of them for 40 yards. He seemed to have the most success finding space against a quick Jets secondary and was able to make some nice grabs in what was a dismal performance for the Titans offense as a whole.
| WR Justin Gage, Rec: 1 - 37 - 0 (5 targets) |
Gage saw five targets come his way and was only able to bring in one ball for a big gain of 37 yards. It was Tennessee's longest gain from scrimmage, as well as Gage's only catch as there were few bright spots in the 19 minutes that the Titans offense had the ball.
| TE Bo Scaife, Rec: 3 - 40 - 0 (7 targets) |
Scaife saw seven balls come his way and was again a target for Collins, catching three balls for 40 yards. His involvement in the passing game has made Collins comfortable in the pocket as you can clearly see Collins look for Scaife when he needs to make something happen. Early in the second quarter, Scaife had an uncharacteristic drop on what would have been a third down conversion inside Jets territory.
| TE Alge Crumpler, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (2 targets) |
Crumpler saw only two targets in limited action and was able to record one catch for eight yards.
| PK Rob Bironas 2 - 2 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 7 points |
Bironas connected on both of his field goal attempts and converted his only PAT attempt.
| TEN Rush Defense |
The Titans rush defense had no answer for Thomas Jones or Leon Washington as they wore down this front on 35 carries. They allowed their largest rushing output of the season as they were gouged for just shy of 200 yards and two scores. Whether it was the power running of Jones or the shiftier running style of Washington, Tennessee and its' defense could not get off the field or keep the Jets out of the end zone.
| TEN Pass Defense |
The Titans pass defense struggled to stall Brett Favre and the New York offense, allowing them to mount long drives and move the ball into Titans territory with ease. Favre only threw seven balls incomplete and had success sustaining drives against the Tennessee cornerbacks as they allowed seven third down conversions. The lone bright spot came as Cortland Finnegan continued his dominant play, stealing a ball away from Laveranues Coles and staying in bounds to record his fifth interception of the season.
