AFC Wild Card: NY Jets 24, KC Chiefs 0

How fitting was it that the green team would play the red team on Christmas day ? The Jets, who virutally backed into the playoffs after losing 5 straight played host to the Chiefs who found a way to win on special team and intangibles. The Jets found themselves in the uneviable position of having to try and recapture the lightning they had going during the days when they were 10-1 and the top rated team in the league.

At game time it was a toss up if Ken "I'm on my back more than a Vegas Call Girl" O'Brien was going to start. O'B has been battered, bruised and blitz over the past 5 weeks. The popular thought was that the more mobile Pat Ryan might get the nod. In fact the two alternated snaps on the first 3 plays before O'Brien got the reign.

The game started out with KC mysteriously winning the toss, but chosing to kick to the Jets. Nick Lowery's opening kickoff was into the wind and only went to the Jet 22, where Kurt Sohn, the Fordham Flash, turned on the Jets and returned it to just about mid field. New York gained 45 yards on the next two plays as both Al Toon and Wesley Walker caught long one's. Three plays later Freeman McNeil ran it in from the eight to put the Jets up 7-0.

Marty Lyons sacked Chiefs QB Bill Kenney for 5 yards on a second and seven to put the Chiefs in the proverbial hole. 2 plays later Lewis Colbert was on the field to punt for the first time on the day. Colbert would see extensive action on this blustery day in the swamps of Jersey.

The Jets took over on their own 39 and started moving just like the did on their first drive. A fine defensive stand by the Chiefs and some penalties stopped the Jets cold on KC's 35. Convetional wisdom would have seen the Jets bring on Dave Jennings to go for the coffin corner, but with the wind to their back the Jets elected to bring on Pat Leahy, who kicked a 57 yarder dead center. With the first quarter not even halfway through the Jets were up 10-0.

The next 3 drives were both 3 and outs. Two by KC and one by the Jets. The Jets seemed to be content to play a game of field position until they got possession at mid field and it was time to go to work on offense again. O'Brien struck quickly hitting Mickey Shuler for 24 and Wesley Walker for 25 to make it 1st and goal from the 1. Fullback Tony Paige got stuffed for 3 yards, but Freeman McNeil blasted through for a 4 yard TD run and after a Pat Leahy XP the Jets were up 17-0 with the first quarter not even complete.

The second quarter saw the Jets chew over 6 minutes off the clock on a nice drive that started from their 39 and culminated with a Ken O'Brien QB sneak. The big play on this drive came on a Johnny Hector 4 yard run off of a draw play on 3rd and 4 from KC's 8. If KC stops Hector the Jets have to settle for a FG and it's still a 3 score game.

The Jets took the pedal off the metal and basically tried to play safe football the rest of the afternoon and let the scoreboard and blustery weather be their ally. KC tried their best to fight until the end, but inept offense and inopportune penalties were their undoing.

New York will head for their fateful match-up with the Browns in Cleveland and KC will head back home to the heartland.