Friday, December 28, 2007

AFC Div Rd: Jets re-write history in Cleveland

History said the Jets would come into Cleveland and catch the Browns napping, but lose late due to ineffectiveness and a stupid penalty by Mark Gastineau. History has been re-written. Cleveland actually came out stoked early and the Jets seemed to be on their heels. Both teams exchanged field goals in the 1st quarter as a stalemate seemed to be in the mix.

The second quarter saw a frenzy of points put on the board (33 total). The key play being a Matt Bahr botched XP that gave the Jets a 1 point lead at the half. Cleveland moved the ball at will against the Jets pourus defense. Bernie Kosar hit Reggie Langhorne in stride for a huge 46 yard TD pass with :32 seconds left in the half to put the hometown team up by 6. As most fans headed to the warm corridors of Municipal Stadium to get their half time hot chocolate, amongst other beverages, Bobby Humphrey took a short Bahr kick back 90 yards and all of a sudden the Jets had a 1 point lead at the half.

Coaches Schneider and Weiss returned with their troops for second half that would ultimately decide the contest. Cleveland struck first as Bahr hit a 28 yard field goal to culminate an 8 play drive. Up by 2 the Browns now had to play some tight defense. 4:07 later the Jets traveled 80 yards and went up by 5 as Ken O'Brien hit Wesley Walker in the end zone for 15 yard TD strike.

Opposite of real life the 4th quarter was all Jets. Cleveland's passing game ground to a halt. The Cleveland receivers were all fatigued beyond belief. RB Earnest Byner only touched the ball 4 times. Cleveland's game play had gone awry. The Jets spent the whole 4th quarter double teaming and playing nickle D, just daring the Browns to run. The run never came. The Jets finally opened it up and began throwing the ball all over the place. Al Toon caught an 9 yard TD pass and Freeman McNeil caught one for 4 yards as the Jets pulled away. Ken O'Brien had a career day going 22-29-329-4TD-Int. He was unstoppable. Freeman McNeil had 100 yards, even, on the ground.

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