Playoff Hopes... Still Alive

It was September in November in downtown, East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets found themselves down by 3 to the Buffalo Bills with under six minutes remaining. It had been a sloppy day for the Jets who maintained a steady lead throughout the majority of the game.

They had lost the lead late in the fourth quarter thanks to Antonio Cromartie. The baby daddy to a baker's dozen was given the call by Special Teams Coach Mike Westhoff to field a Buffalo punt after an excellent defensive stop from the Jets. Up until that point it was Jim Leonard retuning punts because the Jets, specifically Cromartie have had trouble muffing punts and kickoffs. So Westhoff took a chance on Cromartie who does have better speed than Leonard and lo and behold, Cromartie fumbles and gives the Bills the ball with great field position and a chance to take the lead.

On the first play of the Bills drive, Ryan Fitzpatrick notices ex-Jet Brad Smith lined up one on one against.... Antonio Cromartie. The ball was snapped and before you knew it, Brad Smith had caught a 36 yard touchdown pass against his former teammate.

The Jets fielded the ensuing kickoff and returned it to their own 18 yard line. Now it was up to Mark Sanchez, who has pulled off a number of fourth quarter comebacks in his short career. He had thrown three touchdown passes in the game already, but still managed to look like a rookie like he's done often this season. The Jets had plenty of time, a couple timeouts, but there was no doubt they needed this drive. If they don't score they give the ball back to the Bills who in all likelihood would be able to run out the clock for the win.

With 82 yards of field in front of him, Mark Sanchez was under center to start another potential game winning drive. The Jets were able to string together a first down while eating up a good portion of the clock on a couple running plays. Then with a fresh set of downs, Shonn Greene gets stuffed for a two yard gain. Now a crucial 2nd and 8 play with 3:40 on the clock, Sanchez notices the Bills free safety move to the line of scrimmage which leaves Plaxico Burress in one on one coverage wide left. Sanchez fired a pass 12 yards down the field to the sideline where Burress made an excellent catch and got both feet in bounds for a first down.

Things quickly got interesting in the next set of downs. Jets have the ball now 3rd and 8 from the Bills' 47 yard line. Sanchez decided to go to Patrick Turner, the practice squad player of the game. Turner runs a 12 yard out route and with his big 6'5" frame hauls down a poorly thrown Sanchez pass for another Jet First down.

Next set of downs, Jets find themselves in another 3rd down situation from the Bills 36, this time with 11 yards to go after a Jet penalty. The had successfully run the clock down to the two minute warning when Sanchez took the 3rd down snap. The Bills brought a corner back blitz which left Plaxico Burress lined up against a safety. But with the corner blitz Sanchez had practically no time to throw. Fortunately when you have Plaxico Burress lined up against a safety, you simply just throw the ball in the air and odd are, he'll come down with it. That's exactly what happened. Sanchez threw up a prayer and it took an amazing one handed catch along the sideline 17yard down the field from Plaxico. This not only saved the game but may have saved the season for gang green.

"The Catch"

Two plays later Sanchez found Santonio Holmes for an 16 yard touchdown pass to give the Jets the lead at 28-24 with 1:02 left in the game. This drive of the week, nay, drive of the season went for 12 plays, 82 yards and took 4:43 off the clock.

The Bills drove down the field with the little time they had and three timeouts. They made it into field goal range but down by four they needed a touchdown and only a touchdown and that touchdown they did not get. The Jets now improve their record to 6-5 thanks to Plaxico Burress and Mark Sanchez.

I'm sorry Mark for saying you suck... just please don't suck against Washington this week. And Plax... thanks for shooting yourself in the leg. You'd probably still be a Giant if you did.