This contest was like watching the kiddie table playing against the adults in a game of backyard football before a Thanksgiving day meal.

Guess which role the Jets played on Thursday?

Gang Green's offense never got started, Terence Newman brought a pick back for a touchdown (Newman!) and the Dallas offense imposed their will on the Green and White as the Cowboys cruised to a 34-3 victory over the Jets on Turkey Day. 

If you watched the entire game on this holiday afternoon you were:

• a) a crazy, disillusioned Jet fan with a taste for punishment
• b) a Cowboy fan 
• c) a gambler who bet a ton of money on the outcome and came out victorious

If you answered either b or c you had a good day.

I didn't have a good day.

The loss ensures the Jets a losing record for the second time in the past three seasons.  This one wasn't pretty so let's get the particulars over and done with. 

REASONS TO GET UP ON FRIDAY:

Avoiding the goose egg.  Mike Nugent's 40-yard field goal with 43 seconds left in the first half broke up the shutout and "cut" the Cowboys lead to 21-3.  The scoring drive also included a key fourth down conversion (key at the time anyway).  It was the best offensive series the Jets would muster on the day.

Two in a row.  The 'Boys jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead and then recovered a fumble by Leon Washington on the ensuing kickoff.  Tony Romo went deep for Terrell Owens on the first play, but safety Kerry Rhodes drifted over and intercepted his second pass in as many weeks.  It was big at the time.

REASONS TO SLEEP IN ON FRIDAY:

Offensive.  The Jets offense was pushed around the entire game.  Thomas Jones had nowhere to run, Kellen Clemens was under constant pressure and the receivers couldn't get open.  The absence of Laveranues Coles didn't help, but the rest of the squad did nothing to pick up the slack.  Add it all up and the Gotham Green managed just 202 yards of total offense.  Clemens finished 12 of 27 for a measly 142 yards and a killer pick, Jones finished with only 40 yards on 17 carries and Chris Baker led the team with 3 receptions.  If those numbers weren't bad enough, Clemens threw one pass left handed just to avoid the rush.  Yep, it was ugly. 

Over-powered.  The Jets defense started out well against America's Team, but they were simply worn down as the game went on.  Gang Green registered 3 sacks and held T.O. to only 65 yards receiving, but they couldn't stop the run as Marion Barber racked up 103 yards on the ground and the 'Boys finished with 174 yards as a team on the ground. Tony Romo flipped 2 touchdown passes and finished 21 of 28 for 195 yards. The Green and White did a decent job on Owens, but they couldn't keep him out of the end zone as he ended the Cowboys scoring with a 22-yard touchdown catch.

Blown away.  Gang Green entered the game with a horrible 2-8 record, but they had a knack for staying close before ripping out the hearts of Jet fans everywhere this season.  Their worst loss of the season (if you're going by score) was a 38-14 drubbing at the hands of the Patriots in the opener.  And that game was 14-7 at the half and 28-14 heading into the fourth quarter.  There was no such drama on Thursday.  It almost looked like the Cowboys took their foot off the accelerator during this game.  Maybe they were showing mercy or maybe they wanted to conserve some energy for their big game with the Green Bay Packers next week, but it was like watching a cat toy with a mouse at times.  Very disconcerting.

Oh, and on a side note, the Bro Bowl between brothers Thomas Jones and Julius Jones went to younger brother Jules again.  JJ finished with 64 yards on 14 carries and he added 4 catches for 26 yards.  As stated before, TJ finished with 40 yards rushing and picked up 2 receptions for 17 yards.  JJ also notched the victory and is now 2-0 all-time against his big bro. 

Well, the thrilling upset over the Steelers didn't carry over into Big D and the Jets absorbed a thorough ass whupping in front of the entire country on the biggest eating day of the year.

Up next for the Jets -- a meeting in Miami against the winless Dolphins.

I don't think there will be a national audience watching that one.