Sunday, December 19, 2004
SEAHAWKS/JETS
(last update 1:12p)
Here's what I got for game notes for today's game. I managed to wake up, with no alarm, at 10am exactly, after a late Saturday night and little sleep. I very well could have missed the opening kickoff or quarter.
1ST QUARTER
>> 1st New York possession (NYJ 25, fumble on return whistled down by contact)
14:45 Pennington to McCareins overthrown sideline left (Boulware blitz)
14:38 Martin runs right for 9
14:00 Jordan stood up at line...crappy spot anyone? Chains brought...yeah, it's a first down
13:30 Pennington to McCareins over the middle to midfield for a first down
12:54 Pennington play-action catch to Moss for 8, runs out of bounds
12:26 Reverse outside left Moss runs for 8 (SEA 31)
11:59 Martin outside right for 11 and a first down
11:17 Martin right side for 5
10:37 Pennington to McCareins loft pass left end zone broken up by Lucas
10:33 Martin up the middle stuffed by Boulware at the 3
***9:56 Brien from 21 (NYJ 3-0)
POROUS!!! Yet somehow I'm astounded that the Jets didn't get into the end zone there. Once the Seahawk defense didn't get the spot on that 3rd down play early in the drive, it was all downhill from there. Until the Jets somehow didn't punch it in. I wish this team knew how to stop the draw play a lot earlier, because the commentators are already saying that there's so much emphasis on it that they're getting burned everywhere else. Quite a balance on that drive for the Jets. It seemed like there were a bunch of passes in the beginning, more of Martin in the middle, and then a couple passes at the end and getting stuffed in the red zone.
>> 1st Seattle possession (SEA 29)
9:43 Hasselbeck left quick pass Rice for 8
9:08 Hasselbeck to Strong quick pass right side wide open for 7 and a first down
8:57 Alexander through middle for 6
8:26 Hasselbeck pass over middle to Engram for 13 and a first down (NYJ 37)
7:52 Alexander right side for 2
7:16 Alexander right side keeps legs moving, pounds past the chains for 10 and a first down (NYJ 25)
6:41 Alexander through the middle for 9
6:12 Strong through the middle for 4 and a first down (SEA 8)
***5:28 Hasselbeck changes play, lofts to Rice sideline right end zone one-handed catch TOUCHDOWN (SEA 7-3)
Wow. Beautiful drive. Well-executed, well-timed. I haven't felt this good about the Seahawks' first drive in quite a while. It was pretty nicely balanced too.
>> 2nd New York possession (NYJ 25)
5:11 Pennington play-action to Moss wide open over middle for 17 and a first down (NYJ 42)
4:37 Martin right side for 2
3:58 Pennington right side to Sowell for 7
3:17 Jordan run right, fumbled but Jets recovered...I think it's a first down...same damn thing as last time. Let's hope the defense doesn't cave this time for the next 5 plays (SEA 48)
2:49 Martin right gets 3
2:09 Martin right for 5 (3rd/2)
1:27 Pennington to Sowell right sideline hauls it down over Chad Brown's hands for 34 yards to the SEA 6, first down
0:58 Martin left side to the 2 (4 yd)
0:18 Pennington to Askew runs outside left, stuffed by Boulware out of bounds (1 yd) to the SEA 1
That sucks. March down all the way to the other end of the field, folks! It sucks that Chad Brown's gimp self was the one covering Jerald Sowell on that play. Hopefully the Jets do like they did last time and somehow don't get that last yard. It'd be hilarious, but I'm not putting money on the Seattle defense coming through on a 3rd-and-goal twice. And they did cave after not getting the stuff near the chains, again.
2ND QUARTER
***14:57 Martin untouched into the end zone left side (NYJ 10-7)
Come on, did you really expect the Seahawks to stuff the Jets on two straight possessions in the red zone? With Curtis Martin? No way. I'd have been surprised.
No three-and-out, offense. The defense will get tired...
>> 2nd Seattle possession (SEA 23)
14:46 Hasselbeck right side Alexander for 5, Hasselbeck plowed
14:27 There's the obligatory Hasselbeck pass getting batted down (3rd/5)
14:20 Hasselbeck nearly sacked, gets Mili down the right sideline for 9 and a first down (SEA 36); nice play on the bailout
14:00 Alexander right side for loss of 1...seems like that happens to Shaun every 9 or 10 carries or so
13:19 Hasselbeck sacked...no one's blocking...NICE BLOCK, REF!! Jackson obstructed (3rd/17)
12:45 No way in hell Alexander's getting 17 yards on a run, and definitely not on third down...7 yards outside left
It was damn near a three-and-out. That doesn't make it that much better. Here's to hoping the defense isn't tired too quickly. It would have been nice to have a punt inside the 20 there as well. Thirty-three yard punt. Why did we even sign Walter? Has he brought a lot to this team?
>> 3rd New York possession (NYJ 31)
11:53 Pennington to Jordan over the middle, breaks tackle, gets 8
11:10 screen pass Pennington to Sowell left side, with blockers...gets past way too many people, gets 21 yards and a first down (SEA 40)
10:27 Martin through left side for 12 and a first down (SEA 28)
9:47 play fake, pass to Sowell outside right for 7
9:10 Martin through the right side to SEA 6, first down (15 yd)
8:32 handoff Jordan left side to the 3
7:49 Pennington rollout, pass to end zone left nearly picked off by Orlando Huff
***7:44 CHALLENGE THAT, HOLMGREN!! DAMMIT!! Three yards. I know this probably won't matter, but it's worth a shot. It's not like this hasn't happened IN THE SAME DAMN STADIUM before. Martin tries to punch it in through the line and is (awaiting call) IN. Why did I even think that had a chance? At least it's just a timeout in the first half though. At least that one was closer than Testaverde's touchdown, but THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT MUCH BETTER (NYJ 17-7)
Seattle offense gets nowhere on six plays, punter kicks short, Jets rumble down the field and get that big 21-yard play in the process. Stop the draw, and stop the big play, people.
>> 3rd Seattle possession (SEA 20)
7:30 Hasselbeck right side Mili for 20 yards and a first down, bowling over three guys (SEA 40)
6:58 Alexander right side for nowhere again
6:23 quick pass right side Mili for 9, Hasselbeck plowed (3rd/1)
5:51 toss right side Alexander for first down (3 yd, NYJ 48)
5:13 play-action Hasselbeck to Engram left side for 7
4:37 Alexander up middle for not much (2 yd, 3rd/1)
4:01 Strong up the middle for 2 and a first down (NYJ 38)
3:19 I bet it's a penalty on Jackson too...BIG FREAKIN' SURPRISE. Jackson pushes off down right sideline near the end zone
###3:10 Hasselbeck over middle PICKED OFF by Barton (NYJ 39)
EXACTLY what the Seahawks DID NOT NEED right there. I'm disgusted. Absolutely disgusted.
>> 4th New York possession (NYJ 39)
3:04 Martin left side for 2
2:30 Martin outside left for 5
1:55 Pennington to Moss wide freakin' open left side to the 33...the Seahawks could be going into halftime down 24-7. Total crap. I've been holding on to the hope of the opening drive for too long. They're going nowhere today. I'm not sure why the defense is even on the field today. WAKE THE F$&% UP!! 19 of 31 plays in Seahawk territory? Yeah, I noticed.
***1:49 Pennington wide freakin' open to Moss AGAIN, right side this time for a 32-yd touchdown pass (NYJ 24-7)
It doesn't matter if the Seahawks score on the two-minute drill. The first half is a total failure on Seattle's part. Absolutely inept. I wish the Sonics played tonight so I had the chance of at least some happiness in my day. Damn Seahawks.
You know, the crappy thing about having nonexistent special teams is that you don't even think about the Seahawks running one back. I haven't thought even once this year that running back a kickoff or punt for a touchdown was even remotely possible.
>> 4th Seattle possession (SEA 24)
1:35 Hasselbeck no one to throw to, screen pass right to Alexander for one-yard loss
1:34 Jets timeout
1:27 Alexander right side for first down
1:07 home-run ball down right sideline to Jackson off his helmet...hey, it stops the clock and wasn't picked
1:02 Barton tips the pass away, through Mili's hands downfield middle (3rd/10)
0:55 Bobby Engram rules. Hasselbeck to Engram left side for 13 and first down, runs out of bounds (NYJ 48)
0:51 Hasselbeck throws out of bounds left, flags...OFFSIDE JETS, 5 yards (NYJ 43)
0:49 Good God. Donnie Abraham almost picks off a pass that was right to him. Pass intended for Rice, left sideline.
0:43 Hasselbeck to Jackson left side for his first catch of the day, 18 yards and a first down (NYJ 25)...they need a touchdown here...
0:41 Seattle timeout
0:37 no one to throw to, so Hasselbeck overthrows Alexander right side on the bailout
0:28 screen pass right Alexander for 11 and a first down (11 yd, NYJ 14)
0:17 spike
0:09 pass right side Hasselbeck to Jackson for 8 yards...he should have ran straight out of bounds
0:07 Seattle timeout
***0:03 Hasselbeck to Stevens right side TOUCHDOWN!! Jerramy Stevens, where the hell have you been?!!?! (NYJ 24-14)
The Jets did some trickery and a lateral on the ensuing kickoff (squib) and were stuffed at their own 38. They didn't run a play from scrimmage, seeing as to how there were only three seconds on the clock to begin with.
So, halftime thoughts? I'll quote the movie This Is Spinal Tap right now and say that the Seahawks' first half play was a s*@# sandwich (and yes, I can print that) -- two great touchdown drives as the bread, and a total mess of ineptitude and overwhelming defensive porosity as the meat.
I've got the NFL.com pulled up, so here's some halftime stats. Hasselbeck is 15 of 22 for 144 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick. Shaun Alexander has 54 yards on 10 carries. Itula Mili (38 yd), Bobby Engram (34 yd), and Shaun Alexander (13 yd) have three catches each. Jerry Rice has 2 catches for 20 yards and a score, and Jerramy Stevens had the one touchdown catch for 6 yards. Chad Pennington on the other side is 11 of 14 for 164 yards and a touchdown. Curtis Martin has 14 carries for 88 yards and two scores.
For the second half? Less stupid passes and some better reads by Matt Hasselbeck would be nice, but most of all, how about the defense actually shows up and makes a stop? The Jets have scored on all four trips down the field.
3RD QUARTER
>> 5th Seattle possession (SEA 29, flags...Dilfer on the field?? Holding on Seattle, SEA 19)
14:49 Alexander through the pile for four, Hasselbeck out only one play
14:17 Hasselbeck quick pass left sideline for 5 (3rd/1)
13:38 Hasselbeck nearly sacked, ball nearly picked, Jackson doesn't come down with it over middle
BRILLIANT!! Three-and-freakin' out on the first series of the second half, when you had momentum carried over from the touchdown on the two-minute drill to end the first half? BRILLIANT!!!
>> 5th New York possession (NYJ 28...big break on a holding call on the Jets, NYJ 18)
13:25 Martin left side for 2
12:40 Martin up middle for 2 (3rd/6)
12:00 Pennington hurried, but screen play right side to Sowell down sideline is money...14 damn yards for a first down
11:15 pass over middle McCareins to the SEA 43, flags...NO FACE MASK, but on who? First down
10:50 direct snap Jordan right side for a ton of yards...33 yd to the SEA 10
10:06 Martin left side for 3
9:27 Pennington to Becht at goal line dropped
***9:22 Moss wide freakin' open in the end zone TOUCHDOWN (NYJ 30-14...Brien misses extra point)
The missed extra point is curious, but right now, even I could have 75 yards of receiving and 60 yards of rushing with the Seahawk defense out there. Do we have a reporter back at the team hotel to see if the Seahawks even left for the game? Did they ever make it to the bus? I can't really tell at this point.
>> 6th Seattle possession (SEA 30)
9:10 Hasselbeck to Jackson over middle for 10 and a first down
8:40 Hasselbeck to Mili right side for 5
8:16 Alexander for 4 yards (3rd/1)
7:30 Alexander through right side for first down (NYJ 48)
6:57 Hasselbeck to Jackson right side for 9
6:30 Alexander through right side for 4 and a first down
5:54 Morris outside left for 6 (NYJ 29)
5:35 Hasselbeck to Engram right side for 5 and a first down (NYJ 24)
5:12 Alexander left side for 4
4:33 Hasselbeck to Hannam right side to the NYJ 3 (17 yards, first down)
3:57 Alexander through right side to the NYJ 1
3:24 Hasselbeck has nowhere to throw, nearly sneaks it into the end zone...that would have been a touchdown with Phil Luckett as head ref
2:42 Alexander through middle...for nothing. Bullcrap.
###2:13 Alexander FUMBLES IN END ZONE...CHALLENGE THIS!!! Initial ruling is a touchback...
MY FREAKIN' LIFE AS A SEATTLE SPORTS FAN.
>> 6th New York possession (NYJ 20)
2:07 Martin outside to the 25
1:43 Martin through the left side for a first down (6 yd, NYJ 32)
1:02 Pennington to Baker over middle to the NYJ 49, first down
0:16 Pennington to Jordan for a first down
The Seahawks scored exactly...let me see here...ZERO TIMES in the third quarter!! BRILLIANT!! This game is over. I don't even know why I'm going to put myself through watching the fourth quarter, but that's what I'm going to do. After all, I watched the Mariners through 2004 and did a bunch of recaps, so this self-punishment is nothing new here at all.
4TH QUARTER
14:56 Pennington overthrows receiver down right sideline, who stopped on the route
14:49 Martin through left side for 6 (3rd/4)
14:09 Martin for SEVENTEEN DAMN YARDS and a first down...not that I expected the Seahawks to actually make a third-down stop there
13:33 BULLCRAP!!! ABSOLUTE BULLCRAP!!! Ken Hamlin's fumble recovery for a touchdown and called back because the ball is whistled down is ABSOLUTE BULLCRAP. I can't freakin' believe this. Total bull. I'm with Jeremy. NUKE THE MEADOWLANDS. Thank you.
13:05 Brandon Mitchell bats ball, has it in his breadbasket...he could have run that one back... (3rd/12)
13:00 Jordan right side for 7...the Seahawks actually don't allow a touchdown
###12:20 Brien from 30 NO GOOD
The Seahawks make a defensive stop thanks to Doug Brien's leg being off. But I think Jeremy and I might start our "BLOW UP THE MEADOWLANDS" campaign. Nothing good ever happens there. Ever. I'm not trying to be partial, but I don't think I've ever seen this many boneheaded calls go against a single team in any sport in any season. It's freakin' ridiculous.
Can we place bets on whether the Jets' punter will actually make an appearance today?
>> 7th Seattle possession (SEA 20)
12:15 Hasselbeck sacked, loss of 5. Nice blocking.
11:46 Alexander nowhere to throw, gets Alexander on the bailout for 5
###11:18 Hasselbeck sacked, fumbles, Seahawks recover, fumble, Jets recover, flags...WHICH ARE PULLED BACK. As usual. And as usual, it would have been against Seattle anyway
Did I mention this game was freakin' over?
>> 7th New York possession (SEA 23)
11:12 Martin to right stuffed by Brown for a loss of 3
10:31 Martin left side for 2, nice open-field tackle by Lucas (3rd/11)
9:44 pass to Cotchery over middle, he breaks tackles, and at that point I knew he would get the first down (SEA 9). Make the tackle right there, and you hold them to a field goal. My reaction: "of f*&%ing course!"
8:58 Martin right side for 4
***8:15 Pennington wide open to McCareins at the goal line TOUCHDOWN (NYJ 37-14)
It's conceivable the Seahawks have been screwed out of two, maybe three touchdowns. Though the defense can't stop crap, keep that in mind whenever you end up looking at the final score in this game.
Hasselbeck's elbow is jacked? Sit him down. This game's over. The defense sucks.
>> 8th Seattle possession (SEA 24)
8:02 Dilfer overthrows Strong left side
7:58 Alexander left side for 3 (3rd/7)
7:16 Dilfer overthrows well-covered Engram downfield left
Can you say "coronation"? I knew you could.
By the way, I'll be going straight to the UNC/Va Tech game after this one's over. No viewing of outside postgame analysis for me. Not much to say.
>> 8th New York possession (50)
7:00 Jordan outside right for 5
6:16 Jordan left side for nothing
5:32 Jordan through for a first down
4:46 Jordan outside left for 5
4:02 Jordan left side for first down, 11 yards (SEA 20)
3:17 Jordan for three, right side
2:37 Jordan left side tripped up by Koutouvides for no gain (3rd/7)
1:54 Jordan right side for 6
1:11 Jordan over the middle for the fourth-down conversion
0:33 knee
JETS 37, SEAHAWKS 14
If Mike Holmgren gets fired, it won't be for today. If he's fired, he's had his fate sealed long before this. However, this game could be a great reason to fire Ray Rhodes. Sure, the defense has been decimated by injuries, but THE JETS' PUNTER DIDN'T EVEN GET ONTO THE FIELD TODAY!!! The only drives by the Jets that didn't end in points ended instead in a Doug Brien missed field goal and the ending drive that ran out the rest (SEVEN MINUTES) of the clock to end the game.
Now, to the refs.
-- on the Seahawks' second series in the first quarter, one of the officials put a nice block on Darrell Jackson trying to run a route over the middle.
-- Curtis Martin's touchdown to put the Jets up 17-7 was almost Testaverde-esque...I didn't think he was in
-- pass interference on Darrell Jackson in the end zone, but that's most likely Jackson's fault. He did look like he had a hand on the defender. Still, it's an official's call.
-- I thought Shaun Alexander had control of the ball and broke the plane before the ball came loose. I wish Holmgren would have challenged it.
-- the killer: the Seahawks force a fumble and Ken Hamlin recovers the ball and runs it back for a touchdown. If the ref doesn't whistle it down, the touchdown can be called and it can be challenged on replay, but NOOOOOO. The official blows it down and you can't challenge that. HOGWASH!!
There was a lot of blame to go around though. It's not like the offense didn't fumble twice, and clearly once (I still think Alexander had the ball across the goal line). However, I'm only willing to allow the Jets' defense so much credit. Did they feed Alexander enough? He got the ball 19 times for 77 yards (I'll pencil him in for a touchdown, even though the refs and the Fox people didn't think so). Shaun averaged a tad over 4 yards a carry. Darrell Jackson was the team's leading receiver with (drum roll...) 45 yards on 4 catches. Yippee. The sick thing is, they had way more success throwing the ball than running it.
But to rub it in on the Seattle defense even more, they allowed plays of over ten yards on every one of the Jets' possessions. They allowed 229 ground yards and 253 yards through the air for 482 total yards of offense for the Jets. They failed to make stops on 11 out of 14 on third downs. As usual, Ray Rhodes will not face the media and will not answer any questions about his defense, or lack thereof.
Go Cardinals! Beat the Rams!
And for my viewing for the rest of the day, go Tar Heels and come on, Huskies.
North Carolina is actually on right now as I type this.
Cardinals. Seahawks. Next Sunday.
Here's what I got for game notes for today's game. I managed to wake up, with no alarm, at 10am exactly, after a late Saturday night and little sleep. I very well could have missed the opening kickoff or quarter.
1ST QUARTER
>> 1st New York possession (NYJ 25, fumble on return whistled down by contact)
14:45 Pennington to McCareins overthrown sideline left (Boulware blitz)
14:38 Martin runs right for 9
14:00 Jordan stood up at line...crappy spot anyone? Chains brought...yeah, it's a first down
13:30 Pennington to McCareins over the middle to midfield for a first down
12:54 Pennington play-action catch to Moss for 8, runs out of bounds
12:26 Reverse outside left Moss runs for 8 (SEA 31)
11:59 Martin outside right for 11 and a first down
11:17 Martin right side for 5
10:37 Pennington to McCareins loft pass left end zone broken up by Lucas
10:33 Martin up the middle stuffed by Boulware at the 3
***9:56 Brien from 21 (NYJ 3-0)
POROUS!!! Yet somehow I'm astounded that the Jets didn't get into the end zone there. Once the Seahawk defense didn't get the spot on that 3rd down play early in the drive, it was all downhill from there. Until the Jets somehow didn't punch it in. I wish this team knew how to stop the draw play a lot earlier, because the commentators are already saying that there's so much emphasis on it that they're getting burned everywhere else. Quite a balance on that drive for the Jets. It seemed like there were a bunch of passes in the beginning, more of Martin in the middle, and then a couple passes at the end and getting stuffed in the red zone.
>> 1st Seattle possession (SEA 29)
9:43 Hasselbeck left quick pass Rice for 8
9:08 Hasselbeck to Strong quick pass right side wide open for 7 and a first down
8:57 Alexander through middle for 6
8:26 Hasselbeck pass over middle to Engram for 13 and a first down (NYJ 37)
7:52 Alexander right side for 2
7:16 Alexander right side keeps legs moving, pounds past the chains for 10 and a first down (NYJ 25)
6:41 Alexander through the middle for 9
6:12 Strong through the middle for 4 and a first down (SEA 8)
***5:28 Hasselbeck changes play, lofts to Rice sideline right end zone one-handed catch TOUCHDOWN (SEA 7-3)
Wow. Beautiful drive. Well-executed, well-timed. I haven't felt this good about the Seahawks' first drive in quite a while. It was pretty nicely balanced too.
>> 2nd New York possession (NYJ 25)
5:11 Pennington play-action to Moss wide open over middle for 17 and a first down (NYJ 42)
4:37 Martin right side for 2
3:58 Pennington right side to Sowell for 7
3:17 Jordan run right, fumbled but Jets recovered...I think it's a first down...same damn thing as last time. Let's hope the defense doesn't cave this time for the next 5 plays (SEA 48)
2:49 Martin right gets 3
2:09 Martin right for 5 (3rd/2)
1:27 Pennington to Sowell right sideline hauls it down over Chad Brown's hands for 34 yards to the SEA 6, first down
0:58 Martin left side to the 2 (4 yd)
0:18 Pennington to Askew runs outside left, stuffed by Boulware out of bounds (1 yd) to the SEA 1
That sucks. March down all the way to the other end of the field, folks! It sucks that Chad Brown's gimp self was the one covering Jerald Sowell on that play. Hopefully the Jets do like they did last time and somehow don't get that last yard. It'd be hilarious, but I'm not putting money on the Seattle defense coming through on a 3rd-and-goal twice. And they did cave after not getting the stuff near the chains, again.
2ND QUARTER
***14:57 Martin untouched into the end zone left side (NYJ 10-7)
Come on, did you really expect the Seahawks to stuff the Jets on two straight possessions in the red zone? With Curtis Martin? No way. I'd have been surprised.
No three-and-out, offense. The defense will get tired...
>> 2nd Seattle possession (SEA 23)
14:46 Hasselbeck right side Alexander for 5, Hasselbeck plowed
14:27 There's the obligatory Hasselbeck pass getting batted down (3rd/5)
14:20 Hasselbeck nearly sacked, gets Mili down the right sideline for 9 and a first down (SEA 36); nice play on the bailout
14:00 Alexander right side for loss of 1...seems like that happens to Shaun every 9 or 10 carries or so
13:19 Hasselbeck sacked...no one's blocking...NICE BLOCK, REF!! Jackson obstructed (3rd/17)
12:45 No way in hell Alexander's getting 17 yards on a run, and definitely not on third down...7 yards outside left
It was damn near a three-and-out. That doesn't make it that much better. Here's to hoping the defense isn't tired too quickly. It would have been nice to have a punt inside the 20 there as well. Thirty-three yard punt. Why did we even sign Walter? Has he brought a lot to this team?
>> 3rd New York possession (NYJ 31)
11:53 Pennington to Jordan over the middle, breaks tackle, gets 8
11:10 screen pass Pennington to Sowell left side, with blockers...gets past way too many people, gets 21 yards and a first down (SEA 40)
10:27 Martin through left side for 12 and a first down (SEA 28)
9:47 play fake, pass to Sowell outside right for 7
9:10 Martin through the right side to SEA 6, first down (15 yd)
8:32 handoff Jordan left side to the 3
7:49 Pennington rollout, pass to end zone left nearly picked off by Orlando Huff
***7:44 CHALLENGE THAT, HOLMGREN!! DAMMIT!! Three yards. I know this probably won't matter, but it's worth a shot. It's not like this hasn't happened IN THE SAME DAMN STADIUM before. Martin tries to punch it in through the line and is (awaiting call) IN. Why did I even think that had a chance? At least it's just a timeout in the first half though. At least that one was closer than Testaverde's touchdown, but THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT MUCH BETTER (NYJ 17-7)
Seattle offense gets nowhere on six plays, punter kicks short, Jets rumble down the field and get that big 21-yard play in the process. Stop the draw, and stop the big play, people.
>> 3rd Seattle possession (SEA 20)
7:30 Hasselbeck right side Mili for 20 yards and a first down, bowling over three guys (SEA 40)
6:58 Alexander right side for nowhere again
6:23 quick pass right side Mili for 9, Hasselbeck plowed (3rd/1)
5:51 toss right side Alexander for first down (3 yd, NYJ 48)
5:13 play-action Hasselbeck to Engram left side for 7
4:37 Alexander up middle for not much (2 yd, 3rd/1)
4:01 Strong up the middle for 2 and a first down (NYJ 38)
3:19 I bet it's a penalty on Jackson too...BIG FREAKIN' SURPRISE. Jackson pushes off down right sideline near the end zone
###3:10 Hasselbeck over middle PICKED OFF by Barton (NYJ 39)
EXACTLY what the Seahawks DID NOT NEED right there. I'm disgusted. Absolutely disgusted.
>> 4th New York possession (NYJ 39)
3:04 Martin left side for 2
2:30 Martin outside left for 5
1:55 Pennington to Moss wide freakin' open left side to the 33...the Seahawks could be going into halftime down 24-7. Total crap. I've been holding on to the hope of the opening drive for too long. They're going nowhere today. I'm not sure why the defense is even on the field today. WAKE THE F$&% UP!! 19 of 31 plays in Seahawk territory? Yeah, I noticed.
***1:49 Pennington wide freakin' open to Moss AGAIN, right side this time for a 32-yd touchdown pass (NYJ 24-7)
It doesn't matter if the Seahawks score on the two-minute drill. The first half is a total failure on Seattle's part. Absolutely inept. I wish the Sonics played tonight so I had the chance of at least some happiness in my day. Damn Seahawks.
You know, the crappy thing about having nonexistent special teams is that you don't even think about the Seahawks running one back. I haven't thought even once this year that running back a kickoff or punt for a touchdown was even remotely possible.
>> 4th Seattle possession (SEA 24)
1:35 Hasselbeck no one to throw to, screen pass right to Alexander for one-yard loss
1:34 Jets timeout
1:27 Alexander right side for first down
1:07 home-run ball down right sideline to Jackson off his helmet...hey, it stops the clock and wasn't picked
1:02 Barton tips the pass away, through Mili's hands downfield middle (3rd/10)
0:55 Bobby Engram rules. Hasselbeck to Engram left side for 13 and first down, runs out of bounds (NYJ 48)
0:51 Hasselbeck throws out of bounds left, flags...OFFSIDE JETS, 5 yards (NYJ 43)
0:49 Good God. Donnie Abraham almost picks off a pass that was right to him. Pass intended for Rice, left sideline.
0:43 Hasselbeck to Jackson left side for his first catch of the day, 18 yards and a first down (NYJ 25)...they need a touchdown here...
0:41 Seattle timeout
0:37 no one to throw to, so Hasselbeck overthrows Alexander right side on the bailout
0:28 screen pass right Alexander for 11 and a first down (11 yd, NYJ 14)
0:17 spike
0:09 pass right side Hasselbeck to Jackson for 8 yards...he should have ran straight out of bounds
0:07 Seattle timeout
***0:03 Hasselbeck to Stevens right side TOUCHDOWN!! Jerramy Stevens, where the hell have you been?!!?! (NYJ 24-14)
The Jets did some trickery and a lateral on the ensuing kickoff (squib) and were stuffed at their own 38. They didn't run a play from scrimmage, seeing as to how there were only three seconds on the clock to begin with.
So, halftime thoughts? I'll quote the movie This Is Spinal Tap right now and say that the Seahawks' first half play was a s*@# sandwich (and yes, I can print that) -- two great touchdown drives as the bread, and a total mess of ineptitude and overwhelming defensive porosity as the meat.
I've got the NFL.com pulled up, so here's some halftime stats. Hasselbeck is 15 of 22 for 144 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick. Shaun Alexander has 54 yards on 10 carries. Itula Mili (38 yd), Bobby Engram (34 yd), and Shaun Alexander (13 yd) have three catches each. Jerry Rice has 2 catches for 20 yards and a score, and Jerramy Stevens had the one touchdown catch for 6 yards. Chad Pennington on the other side is 11 of 14 for 164 yards and a touchdown. Curtis Martin has 14 carries for 88 yards and two scores.
For the second half? Less stupid passes and some better reads by Matt Hasselbeck would be nice, but most of all, how about the defense actually shows up and makes a stop? The Jets have scored on all four trips down the field.
3RD QUARTER
>> 5th Seattle possession (SEA 29, flags...Dilfer on the field?? Holding on Seattle, SEA 19)
14:49 Alexander through the pile for four, Hasselbeck out only one play
14:17 Hasselbeck quick pass left sideline for 5 (3rd/1)
13:38 Hasselbeck nearly sacked, ball nearly picked, Jackson doesn't come down with it over middle
BRILLIANT!! Three-and-freakin' out on the first series of the second half, when you had momentum carried over from the touchdown on the two-minute drill to end the first half? BRILLIANT!!!
>> 5th New York possession (NYJ 28...big break on a holding call on the Jets, NYJ 18)
13:25 Martin left side for 2
12:40 Martin up middle for 2 (3rd/6)
12:00 Pennington hurried, but screen play right side to Sowell down sideline is money...14 damn yards for a first down
11:15 pass over middle McCareins to the SEA 43, flags...NO FACE MASK, but on who? First down
10:50 direct snap Jordan right side for a ton of yards...33 yd to the SEA 10
10:06 Martin left side for 3
9:27 Pennington to Becht at goal line dropped
***9:22 Moss wide freakin' open in the end zone TOUCHDOWN (NYJ 30-14...Brien misses extra point)
The missed extra point is curious, but right now, even I could have 75 yards of receiving and 60 yards of rushing with the Seahawk defense out there. Do we have a reporter back at the team hotel to see if the Seahawks even left for the game? Did they ever make it to the bus? I can't really tell at this point.
>> 6th Seattle possession (SEA 30)
9:10 Hasselbeck to Jackson over middle for 10 and a first down
8:40 Hasselbeck to Mili right side for 5
8:16 Alexander for 4 yards (3rd/1)
7:30 Alexander through right side for first down (NYJ 48)
6:57 Hasselbeck to Jackson right side for 9
6:30 Alexander through right side for 4 and a first down
5:54 Morris outside left for 6 (NYJ 29)
5:35 Hasselbeck to Engram right side for 5 and a first down (NYJ 24)
5:12 Alexander left side for 4
4:33 Hasselbeck to Hannam right side to the NYJ 3 (17 yards, first down)
3:57 Alexander through right side to the NYJ 1
3:24 Hasselbeck has nowhere to throw, nearly sneaks it into the end zone...that would have been a touchdown with Phil Luckett as head ref
2:42 Alexander through middle...for nothing. Bullcrap.
###2:13 Alexander FUMBLES IN END ZONE...CHALLENGE THIS!!! Initial ruling is a touchback...
MY FREAKIN' LIFE AS A SEATTLE SPORTS FAN.
>> 6th New York possession (NYJ 20)
2:07 Martin outside to the 25
1:43 Martin through the left side for a first down (6 yd, NYJ 32)
1:02 Pennington to Baker over middle to the NYJ 49, first down
0:16 Pennington to Jordan for a first down
The Seahawks scored exactly...let me see here...ZERO TIMES in the third quarter!! BRILLIANT!! This game is over. I don't even know why I'm going to put myself through watching the fourth quarter, but that's what I'm going to do. After all, I watched the Mariners through 2004 and did a bunch of recaps, so this self-punishment is nothing new here at all.
4TH QUARTER
14:56 Pennington overthrows receiver down right sideline, who stopped on the route
14:49 Martin through left side for 6 (3rd/4)
14:09 Martin for SEVENTEEN DAMN YARDS and a first down...not that I expected the Seahawks to actually make a third-down stop there
13:33 BULLCRAP!!! ABSOLUTE BULLCRAP!!! Ken Hamlin's fumble recovery for a touchdown and called back because the ball is whistled down is ABSOLUTE BULLCRAP. I can't freakin' believe this. Total bull. I'm with Jeremy. NUKE THE MEADOWLANDS. Thank you.
13:05 Brandon Mitchell bats ball, has it in his breadbasket...he could have run that one back... (3rd/12)
13:00 Jordan right side for 7...the Seahawks actually don't allow a touchdown
###12:20 Brien from 30 NO GOOD
The Seahawks make a defensive stop thanks to Doug Brien's leg being off. But I think Jeremy and I might start our "BLOW UP THE MEADOWLANDS" campaign. Nothing good ever happens there. Ever. I'm not trying to be partial, but I don't think I've ever seen this many boneheaded calls go against a single team in any sport in any season. It's freakin' ridiculous.
Can we place bets on whether the Jets' punter will actually make an appearance today?
>> 7th Seattle possession (SEA 20)
12:15 Hasselbeck sacked, loss of 5. Nice blocking.
11:46 Alexander nowhere to throw, gets Alexander on the bailout for 5
###11:18 Hasselbeck sacked, fumbles, Seahawks recover, fumble, Jets recover, flags...WHICH ARE PULLED BACK. As usual. And as usual, it would have been against Seattle anyway
Did I mention this game was freakin' over?
>> 7th New York possession (SEA 23)
11:12 Martin to right stuffed by Brown for a loss of 3
10:31 Martin left side for 2, nice open-field tackle by Lucas (3rd/11)
9:44 pass to Cotchery over middle, he breaks tackles, and at that point I knew he would get the first down (SEA 9). Make the tackle right there, and you hold them to a field goal. My reaction: "of f*&%ing course!"
8:58 Martin right side for 4
***8:15 Pennington wide open to McCareins at the goal line TOUCHDOWN (NYJ 37-14)
It's conceivable the Seahawks have been screwed out of two, maybe three touchdowns. Though the defense can't stop crap, keep that in mind whenever you end up looking at the final score in this game.
Hasselbeck's elbow is jacked? Sit him down. This game's over. The defense sucks.
>> 8th Seattle possession (SEA 24)
8:02 Dilfer overthrows Strong left side
7:58 Alexander left side for 3 (3rd/7)
7:16 Dilfer overthrows well-covered Engram downfield left
Can you say "coronation"? I knew you could.
By the way, I'll be going straight to the UNC/Va Tech game after this one's over. No viewing of outside postgame analysis for me. Not much to say.
>> 8th New York possession (50)
7:00 Jordan outside right for 5
6:16 Jordan left side for nothing
5:32 Jordan through for a first down
4:46 Jordan outside left for 5
4:02 Jordan left side for first down, 11 yards (SEA 20)
3:17 Jordan for three, right side
2:37 Jordan left side tripped up by Koutouvides for no gain (3rd/7)
1:54 Jordan right side for 6
1:11 Jordan over the middle for the fourth-down conversion
0:33 knee
JETS 37, SEAHAWKS 14
If Mike Holmgren gets fired, it won't be for today. If he's fired, he's had his fate sealed long before this. However, this game could be a great reason to fire Ray Rhodes. Sure, the defense has been decimated by injuries, but THE JETS' PUNTER DIDN'T EVEN GET ONTO THE FIELD TODAY!!! The only drives by the Jets that didn't end in points ended instead in a Doug Brien missed field goal and the ending drive that ran out the rest (SEVEN MINUTES) of the clock to end the game.
Now, to the refs.
-- on the Seahawks' second series in the first quarter, one of the officials put a nice block on Darrell Jackson trying to run a route over the middle.
-- Curtis Martin's touchdown to put the Jets up 17-7 was almost Testaverde-esque...I didn't think he was in
-- pass interference on Darrell Jackson in the end zone, but that's most likely Jackson's fault. He did look like he had a hand on the defender. Still, it's an official's call.
-- I thought Shaun Alexander had control of the ball and broke the plane before the ball came loose. I wish Holmgren would have challenged it.
-- the killer: the Seahawks force a fumble and Ken Hamlin recovers the ball and runs it back for a touchdown. If the ref doesn't whistle it down, the touchdown can be called and it can be challenged on replay, but NOOOOOO. The official blows it down and you can't challenge that. HOGWASH!!
There was a lot of blame to go around though. It's not like the offense didn't fumble twice, and clearly once (I still think Alexander had the ball across the goal line). However, I'm only willing to allow the Jets' defense so much credit. Did they feed Alexander enough? He got the ball 19 times for 77 yards (I'll pencil him in for a touchdown, even though the refs and the Fox people didn't think so). Shaun averaged a tad over 4 yards a carry. Darrell Jackson was the team's leading receiver with (drum roll...) 45 yards on 4 catches. Yippee. The sick thing is, they had way more success throwing the ball than running it.
But to rub it in on the Seattle defense even more, they allowed plays of over ten yards on every one of the Jets' possessions. They allowed 229 ground yards and 253 yards through the air for 482 total yards of offense for the Jets. They failed to make stops on 11 out of 14 on third downs. As usual, Ray Rhodes will not face the media and will not answer any questions about his defense, or lack thereof.
Go Cardinals! Beat the Rams!
And for my viewing for the rest of the day, go Tar Heels and come on, Huskies.
North Carolina is actually on right now as I type this.
Cardinals. Seahawks. Next Sunday.
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