Sports Then and Now

Chad Henne and the Miami Dolphins snatched victory from the New York Jets in an entertaining Monday Night Football battle.

In one of the most enjoyable Monday Night Football games in recent memory, the New York Jets showed that right now they are a very good football team, but not yet elite, as they fell to the Miami Dolphins 31-27.

The normally stout Jets defense expected a run-happy Dolphins offense.  What they didn’t expect was to be beaten by another inexperienced quarterback, Michigan’s own Chad Henne.

Henne was simply brilliant, going 20-26 for 241 yards and two touchdowns, out-playing his much noted counterpart, USCs own Mark Sanchez.  Sanchez had an excellent game as well, helping the Jets put 27 points on the board, a turn-around many expected after last week’s performance in New Orleans.

The Dolphins put a total of 413 yards of offense against Rex Ryan’s vaunted defense.  The Dolphins featured the NFLs latest fad, “The Wildcat,” to move the ball repeatedly against the Jets.

Ronny Brown and Ricky Williams both hammered away at the Jets defense on the ground, and Williams looked like the Heisman Trophy running back he was while at Texas.

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Braylon Edwards showed that he does indeed still know how to catch a football.

One of the few bright spots for the Jets was the play of their new number one receiver, recently acquired Braylon Edwards. He hooked up with Sanchez for five catches, 64 yards, and one touchdown. Edwards might have had two if he extended his arm one yard further on a brilliant pass from Sanchez.

Edwards was familiar with the Jets offense because it is similar to the one used in his time in Cleveland.  “It really was a game of just refreshing the memory”, he said after the game.

Edwards, who has led the league in dropped passes in the past, looked like he would catch everything thrown at him by Sanchez, and he nearly did.  He would have liked to catch the “Hail Mary” pass that fell short to end the game.

The Jets are a very exciting team to watch.  What the fans must remember is that it is still very early in the learning process.  The Jets are not as good as their 3-0 start, but they’re not as bad as the two-game losing streak looks.

With a pretty favorable schedule over the next five weeks, the Jets have the opportunity to make a statement in the AFC East.

They have a rematch with both New England and Miami and games with Oakland, Buffalo, and Jacksonville who have a combined 4-11 record.

Next up for the Jets is the disastrous Buffalo Bills (1-4).  It will also be an opportunity to see the struggling Terrell Owens, who seems due to sound off in the very near future.

Should be fun.

Richard Marsh is a die-hard fan of the Mets and Jets. He is the author of “The Blog” From Vegas Rich and is also a featured contributor on Bleacher Report.