Jets-Giants: Fourth Quarter

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Jets-Giants: Fourth Quarter

Published: Sat, August 25, 2007 - 10:19pm EST
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.


08/25 — FOURTH QUARTER

Kellen Clemens had been doing it again. His three completions on this drive were to tight ends, one to Jason Pociask, two to Joe Kowalewski. Then KC was bit by the turnover bug, albeit a brilliant takeaway. He tries to hit WR Frisman Jackson for the 42-yard TD strike but instead safety J.R. Reed flashes over to the sideline to steal the ball out of the air for the pick at the Giants 2.

CB Drew Coleman makes a nice open-field tackle on Sinorice Moss, causing the Giants to punt from their 11 on fourth-and-1.

After Chansi Stuckey's 11-yard punt return, on which Sean Ryan blocks two Giants, Marques Tuiasosopo comes on to QB the Green & White. And Tui was moving the Jets until Wade Smith's shotgun snap hit him in the hands, he fumbled and Giants DT Jay Alford recovers at the Giants 45. So with 6½ minutes to go, a Jets comeback win is put in jeopardy.

A swing pass from Tim Hasselbeck to Ryan Grant gains 18 on second-and-15 as Grant runs past tackle attempts by David Bowens and Manny Collins. Hasselbeck moves Big Blue to the Green 13 before an incompletion and C.J. Mosley's barge up the middle for a Hasselbeck sack. That sets up a Josh Huston FG from 42 yards that is ... wide right. The 20-12 lead is preserved and there's less than 3½ to go.

The Giants burn two of their three timeouts with more than 3 minutes to go. It's in that gray area where you'd like to throw but you can't afford to stop the clock for the other team with the incompletion. OC Brian Schottenheimer tries a little wrinkle with a reverse to Chansi Stuckey on third down that doesn't work, so Ben Graham gets off a punt under pressure downed at the Giants 21 with 2:47 to go.

More than enough time for a two-minute drive, even with one timeout left. Sounds like a Mangini two-minute "situation" at the end of practice, except that the wrong team has the ball.

Except that the Jets defense wins this two minute drill. Andre Wadsworth comes off his block to step up and strip Hasselbeck as he scrambles (not a sack because the Giants QB was past the LOS) and Anthony Schlegel recovers with 2:10 to go. Good for both. This should be it at the two-minute warning.

And another Schottenheimer wrinkle closes it out for the Jets as Tuiasosopo fakes to Ware into the line on third down, where all the Giants are, and keeps around left for 21 yards to set up his kneeldown.

The Jets win it, 20-12, end a two-game preseason losing streak to their stadium co-tenants, and even the rivals' all-time series in all games, 24-24-1.

I'll be back with a locker room report shortly.

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charleyjet Said:

Sun, August 26, 2007 - 10:56am EST

"What is Tannenbaum thinking about? Get a left guard! With Bender and Clarke Ferguson is being exposed as a bust and Chad will go down."

Offensive Comment?

Ira Said:

Sun, August 26, 2007 - 11:43am EST

"Banks was ahead of Ware early in camp. Then Ware jumped ahead and continues to get better. Really liked the way he ran last night. They might have something in him. Plus he is a hard runner and has some nice moves. Vilma is going to be under the microscope. Hopefully he will improve."

Offensive Comment?

JOHNNYJET Said:

Sun, August 26, 2007 - 7:20pm EST

"MR. T GO GET COREY SIMON!!!!! WE NEED MUCH BETTER DEFENSIVE HELP!!! GO GET JEREMIAH TROTTER TOO!! WHERE IS VILMA!!"

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