Yakking Jets Need More YAC in Pittsburgh
By Jon Wagner-Sr. Writer-Football Reporters Online
Mark Sanchez’s first pass set the tone last Sunday in New England.
It was a short, 2nd-and-6 pass to the left for wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who turned the reception into a 16-yard gain to the New England 48 yard-line.
And, on just the second play of the New York Jets’ monumental divisional playoff upset win over the New England Patriots, the Jets had moved into New England territory for the first of four straight times to start the game.
The Jets sorely needed that, after suffering an humiliating 45-3 embarrassment on the same field just six weeks earlier.
As Important as linebacker David Harris’ interception breaking Tom Brady’s NFL-record streak of 339 consecutive pass attempts without a pick on New England’s opening possession, the Jets simply being on the Patriots’ side of the field so often to begin the game was a definite tone setter and collective a psychological lift for Gang Green (even though it took the Jets until their fourth drive to finally get on the scoreboard).
Cotchery’s first catch was a foreshadowing of just how important the “Yards After the Catch” stat would mean to the Jets as the game unfolded.
After all, it was Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady and his group of dangerous receiving threats who were supposed to make most of the big plays in the passing game. The Jets’ passing game? A mere afterthought, by comparison.
Yet, as the Jets’ defense did a remarkably good job of closely blanketing Brady’s receivers all game, it was the Jets’ receivers who turned into the game’s biggest playmakers, especially after catches were made.
Unexpected, but actually pretty fitting for a team that boldly talked trash all week, leading up to the game.
Yes, the team that likes to yak, winning with YAC.
Sanchez finished that fourth possession with another short swing pass to the left, this time for running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who in his tenth season, finally scored on his first career postseason touchdown catch with what else? YAC.
After taking the screen pass, Tomlinson eluded a tackler en route to seven-yard touchdown to give the Jets a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter.
YAC later came into play again, as the Jets made the Patriots pay for a bad gamble, after New England, still trailing just 7-3, with only a 1:06 left in the first half, failed on a fake punt from its own 38 yard-line.
Four plays later, wide receiver Braylon Edwards, taking a short pass that was really intended simply to move the chains on 3rd-and-4, dragged tacklers with him into the end zone on a key 15-yard score that gave the Jets a 14-3 lead by halftime and had New England playing catch-up for the remainder of the game.
Then, in the fourth quarter, with all of the momentum on the Patriots’ side after a touchdown and a two-point conversion drew New England to within 14-11, came the biggest YAC play of all.
The Jets needed to respond. A three-and-out after the Patriots scoring might have ultimately led to a New England rally and spelled doom for the Jets’ season.
But, on 2nd-and-6 from the Jets’ 29 yard-line, with Gillette Stadium rocking the as loud as it was all day, Sanchez again found Cotchery, this time, over the middle, for what appeared to be a routine first down gain.
But nope. The YAC attack, again.
Cotchery turned the play into a backbreaker for the Patriots, moving across the field to the right, and up the right sideline for the longest play of the game – a 58-yard reception to the New England 13 yard-line.
Three plays later, wide receiver Santonio Holmes reminded everyone of his spectacular tip-toeing grab to win Super Bowl XLIII for Pittsburgh, with a similar touchdown catch that put the Jets ahead 21-11, with 13 minutes left.
New York still had to hold on from there, and the Jets even needed another score off of a good onside kick return to put the game on ice. But, Cotchery’s big YAC play was the final key turning point toward one of the biggest victories in Jets’ franchise history.
Ironically, Holmes will now have go through his former team – as will the rest of Sanchez’s targets -- on Sunday to help the Jets reach their first Super Bowl in 42 years.
Strangely, as those receivers prepare for New York’s biggest game of the season, the usually talkative Jets have so far, become suddenly quiet and even respectful of the Pittsburgh Steelers this week.
Whether or not the Jets revive their yakking as Sunday’s AFC title game draws closer, remains to be seen.
But, if the Jets are to finally return to the Super Bowl this year, their YAC-ing must continue.