09/16 — The Jets have to try something, so they come out quickly in the third quarter, running several quick plays, especially Thomas Jones runs, to get to midfield. But then Clemens tosses to Jones, LB Jarret Johnson isn't fooled and takes TJ down for a 3-yard loss. Brad Smith is a little overeager in punt coverage, allowing Yamon Figurs to take off from his 8 for a 16-yard return.

More blitzing, and although Eric Barton doesn't quite get to Kyle Boller physically, he may have reached Baltimore's backup QB mentally as his pass sails out of bounds. Then Jonathan Vilma takes down old teammate Willis McGahee from "The U" after a 2-yard gain. After a false start, the Ravens have third-and-13

Eric Smith is definitely feeling better. He gets in on Sam Koch's punt very quickly and nearly blocks the kick. The Jets haven't gotten any of those kinds of big plays so far in their first two games, and they'll need at least one to defeat the Brian Billick Ravens, who are 47-1 when holding a 14-point lead (nice graphic by CBS).

Jerricho Cotchery had been quiet for the first six quarters of the season, but he's coming on in the third quarter. He had an 18-yard reception earlier on this drive, then makes a brilliant reaching grab of a high Kellen Clemens for 12 yards on third-and-10.

But then the Ravens blitz catches up to the Jets and Clemens for consecutive sacks, forcing another Ben Graham drop punt. And this time the Ravens have back for the return not rookie Yamon Figurs but another Jet-killer in Ed Reed. Reed takes off up the open middle with for a 39-yard return to midfield.

However, the M&T Bank Stadium turf is littered with artifacts. One item is a Jets shoe belonging to Wallace Wright. But the other is a yellow flag. Baltimore's Dennis Haley is detected with an illegal block to the back. So the team with so many great returns against the Jets, most by Jermaine Lewis back in the day, loses another.

Even though the Jets force a punt, they still aren't putting it all together. Gunner Corey Ivy gets away from the Jets' jammers and for a second straight punt forces a late fair catch call from Leon Washington. The Jets at their 24 is an awfully long field for Kellen Clemens in this, his first NFL start.

Clemens is increasingly under the gun. He has another pass batted in the backfield, but this one center Nick Mangold snatches out of the air for a reception of minus-3 yards. It is the first catch by a Jets OL since Jumbo Elliott made that triple catch to tie up the Monday Night Miracle against the Dolphins in 2000. But of course Jumbo was playing TE on that play.

While the Baltimore blitz is becoming more effective, the Jets' blitz is becoming less so. They blitz on a play but don't get to Boller before he loads up and hits Todd Heap, who lines up wide and is covered by David Barrett. Despite Barrett's interference, Heap makes the 37-yard catch to the Jets 25. The quarter ends with the hosts sitting menacingly at the visitors' 20.