Jets: Still a good year, but enough with the excuses

At halftime of the Jets game, I rationalized to Squawker Lisa that at least a blowout loss is less painful than a close one. But I'm glad the Jets made it close, even if it's that much more frustrating that this was a game they could have won. However, by barely showing up in the first half, it was not a game the Jets should have won.

When the Jets rallied for last-minute wins against Detroit, Cleveland and Houston in the middle of the season, Lisa compared them to the team-of-destiny 2009 Yankees and all their walkoff wins, while I complained that mediocre teams were giving the Jets way too much trouble. As it turns out, both of us had a point. The 2010 Jets do have a lot of heart, especially their quarterback. But rallying against the Browns, Lions and Texans is not the same as rallying against the Steelers.

The season was still a big success. In the first 39 seasons of the AFC, the Jets reached the championship game twice. Under Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez, they've gotten there twice in two years. Unlike last year, when the Colts were clearly the better team, the Jets showed they could play with the Steelers. After losing three AFC title games by at least 13 points, this game was a lot closer. But in the end, the Jets were not good enough to get to the Super Bowl.

I don't buy the notion that the Jets "ran out of time" in the AFC championship game. Just because the Jets outscored Pittsburgh 16-0 in the second half doesn't mean they dominated the Steelers the way the Steelers dominated the Jets in the first half. After the Jets cut the lead to 24-19, they allowed Pittsburgh to run the kickoff back to their 41, complete a pass into Jets territory for a first down, then complete another pass on third down for a first down that sealed the game. Even if the clock did not run out, the Steelers had advanced to the Jets' 26, Ben Roethlisberger was making plays, and the Jets' defense and special teams were not making the big play.

And I don't want to hear any excuses about how hard it is to play all your playoff games on the road and not to have a bye. You want home field? Earn it. You've shown you can beat New England in the playoffs, now let's see you beat them for the division. Also, Green Bay got to the Super Bowl this year as the sixth seed, though they did seem to have an easier path.

Going forward, the Jets look like they have a bright future and are going in the right direction. I haven't felt this confident about any of my teams since the conclusion of the Mets' 2006 season. Which is not quite the slam it sounds like. That Met team was very good for two more seasons. They just didn't have the heart to avoid collapsing in both years. And then the injuries started.

If there's anything to worry about on the Jets' horizon, it's that they've been really fortunate with injuries the last couple of years. I also felt great about the Jets following the 1998 trip to the AFC title game, and that enthusiasm didn't make it out of the first half of the first game the following season when Vinny Testaverde went down.

Overall, still a good year, but another missed opportunity to get to the Super Bowl. Can't wait - till next year.

Jets, Mets and teams that expect to win

Why did Squawker Lisa predict a Jet win over New England, while the Squawker who is actually a lifelong Jet fan was just hoping for a competitive game? Is it because she's a Yankee fan who always expects to win, while I'm still trying to get used to the idea?

A day after one of the most glorious wins in Jets history, I'm still in a state of shock. But it's not just because Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez outcoached and outplayed Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. It's because I've entered unusual territory for those of us that root for the Jets and the Mets. I now expect my team to win.

Sure, I didn't think the Jets would win yesterday until the Jets responded to the Patriots cutting the lead to 14-11 with Jerricho Cotchery's 58-yard catch and run early in the fourth quarter. And next Sunday against the Steelers, I'll be all too aware of the Jets' blowing double-digit leads in last year's AFC title game and the one in January 1999.

The last time the Jets faced the Steelers in the playoffs, Jets kicker Doug Brien blew the game. Yesterday, current kicker Nick Folk missed a 30-yard field goal.

But now I expect the Jets to win. Now, when I think of Folk, I think of the game-winner in the wild-card round against the Colts.

When I think of those blown double-digit leads, I'll remember how the Jets gave back some of yesterday's double-digit lead, but still won the game.

Now I'm looking forward to the Favre Super Bowl - Jets vs. Packers - seeing two teams rise to great heights after cutting ties with Brett.

Or the Cutler Super Bowl - Jay Cutler and the Bears against the team that some thought should have drafted Cutler in 2006. (Of course, the same old Jets would have drafted Matt Leinart. Instead, they waited three years, then drafted a USC quarterback who just tied the record for most career road playoff wins.)

The Mets brought Sandy Alderson in to change the culture, and so far I am optimistic that will happen. But Alderson has a way to go to achieve what Rex Ryan has done in under two years. I can only hope that "same old Mets" disappears as fast as "same old Jets" has under Ryan.

So much for looking forward to football season

Impotent offense? Dubious coaching moves? Season-ending injuries? And here I thought watching the Jets opener would be a welcome change from the Mets.

The last time the Jets were coming off of a trip to the AFC title game, Vinny Testaverde went down for the year early in the first game. Yesterday, it was Kris Jenkins' turn. At least Johan Santana is definitely coming back, though it's unknown how good he will be. Jenkins' career could be over.

So far, Antonio Cromartie remind me of Jason Bay - big-name acquisition, small-time production.

Kyle Wilson makes me think of Jenrry Mejia - highly touted rookie not ready for a leading role.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and Jerry Manuel both sound good on TV. But when it comes to strategy... How do you not have Mark Sanchez at least try to throw against the Ravens' depleted secondary?

Though I'm a diehard Jet fan, even before last night I agreed that the Jets talk way too much for a team that has not been to the Super Bowl in over four decades. But now Squawker Lisa tells me that the Jets' bluster has some of our Boston readers actually hating the Jets more than the Yankees.

Well, at least one of my teams is beating the Yankees at something.