Jets-Cardinals: First Half

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Jets-Cardinals: First Half

Published: Sun, September 28, 2008 - 1:49pm ET
Randy Lange

By Randy Lange

Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J.


File Under: Darrelle Revis, Shaun Ellis, Hank Poteat, Brett Favre, Bubba Franks, Dwight Lowery, Anquan Boldin, Kurt Warner

09/28 — The weather has improved but the Jets, instead of raindrops, are dodging bullets and bending while not breaking for the game's first 10 minutes. First Arizona drives to second-and-goal at the Jets 9, but is turned back by two consecutive forced fumbles.

The first comes by Shaun Ellis on QB Kurt Warner, a strip-sack that Edgerrin James recovers ahead of Kenyon Coleman's pursuit back at the 32. The next play is a Warner pass to Anquan Boldin, who is hit almost immediately by CB Dwight Lowery to force another fumble, picked up by newly signed CB Hank Poteat. First bullet dodged.

But Favre, on his second straight throwback, is picked off by LB Chike Okeafor, who returns it to the Jets 16.

This time the defense stiffens again, forcing a Warner intentional grounding. Then Kris Jenkins collapses the left side of Arizona's interior line on a field goal, snuffing Neil Rackers' 37-yard try. It is the fourth FG block of Jenkins' career and the Jets' fifth since 1994. Here are those five rejections (home team in CAPS):

 Season Block By Kicker Final Score
 1997 Corwin Brown Cole Ford 35 FG JETS 23, Raiders 22
 2000 Shane Burton Steve Christie 43 FG JETS 27, Bill 14
 2000 Shane Burton Steve Christie 44 FG BILLS 23, Jets 20
 2006 Bryan Thomas Stephen Gostkowski 29 FG Patriots 24, JETS 17
 2008 Kris Jenkins Neil Rackers 37 FG  

The Jets capitalize on a starting field position of the Cards 49, although it takes a little while. A Favre pass to wide-open TE Bubba Franks goes for 25 yards to the Arizona 1.

The first play from there, a rush by Thomas Jones, loses a yard. The teams change sides to start the second quarter, and play No. 2 from near the goal line appears to pay off as, from that three-TE package, Favre play-fakes to Jones and hits Franks, again wide open, for the TD.

But wait — holding on Nick Mangold. Second-and-goal at the 12.

Two plays later, the Meadowlands erupts as Favre lasers a ball to Laveranues Coles, who streaks from his left split end spot to the end zone and runs along the end line to get past two Arizona DBs for the 12-yard TD.

That pass comes 16 seconds into the second quarter. Eight-five seconds later, at 13:19, it's 14-0, Jets.

Coordinator Bob Sutton dials up a very productive defense that produces Darrelle Revis' first pro touchdown. He calls for, in effect, a one-man rush, as nine Jets fall into coverage and Jenkins hangs around the line. Warner has a lot of time but no receivers. He finally goes for Boldin — but Revis has a head start on a jumped route, snares the pass and jogs 32 yards for the score.

The Jets' renaissance continues with a nice mix of playcalling by offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. A screen to Thomas Jones picks up 19, an end-around to Brad Smith 17 more, a Leon Washington slant 13 more after that. Then the coup de grace, Favre pump-faking to Laveranues Coles (on which it seems RCB Eric Green pushes off and sprains his knee, falling to the turf), then lobbing a 34-yard TD to the all-alone LC.

It's Coles' seventh career multi-TD game and it makes the score 21-0. Coles celebrates with a dance and then by jumping into Favre's arms.

Next comes more Jenkins — on the Cards' first play after the kickoff, he plows C Lyle Sendlein back into the pocket, jostling Warner, whose altered throw is snagged by S Eric Smith at the 25 and returned to the 19. In short order, Jay Feely hits a 20-yard field goal. It's 24-0.

When it rains it pours. Warner is sacked again, by Calvin Pace from behind, fumbling forward into David Harris' waiting arms at the Cards 40. Another drive, this one of the two-minute variety, with Favre hitting the on-fire Coles — for 19 yards on a fingertip grab over the middle, 15 yards to convert a third-and-8 at the 5, and finally a 2-yard grab of a fade pass. It's 31-0.

Finally comes another sack, forced fumble and recovery against Warner — all executed by David Bowens out of the nickel, giving the Jets the ball again with 2 seconds left on the clock. Feely hits from 30 and it's 34-0.

The numbers are numbing. Five takeaways, three sacks, Coles five catches for 82 yards and three TDs.

The 34-point lead is the second-largest halftime advantage in franchise history, trailing only the 35-0 lead over New England on Sunday night Game 4 of the 1993 season.

And with the 34 points all coming in the second quarter, this is the most points scored in any quarter by a Jets or Titans team. Here are most points scored in a quarter in franchise history (home team in CAPS):

 Season Final Score Points, Qtr
 2008 JETS 34, Cardinals 0 (halftime) 34, 2nd
 2000 JETS 40, Dolphins 37, OT 30, 4th
 1986 JETS 51, Dolphins 45, OT 28, 2nd
 1968 JETS 48, Boston Patriots 14 28, 4th

What can the second half hold for Green & White and Navy & Gold fans? We're about to find out.

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Fans Respond

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FavreFan4Ever Said:

Sun, September 28, 2008 - 9:13pm ET

"Wow!!! What a day!!! Thank you Brett for another wonderful game. This Wisconsin girl is soooooooooo happy to still be able to watch you play! You are the magic man!"

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Row Said:

Mon, September 29, 2008 - 12:30am ET

"I think I called everyone in my phone book at halftime, can't beat 34-0, they really helped us this game. "

Offensive Comment?

john bratton Said:

Mon, September 29, 2008 - 8:09pm ET

"now thats what i like to see a good team with a good Qb thats the brett im use to seeing its not to late for the jets they looked good this week hopefully they keep the hammer down"

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