It has boiled down to a season of one and one for the Jets -- one more away game and one more at home -- before the men in green clean out their lockers and head in separate directions.
Sunday is the road game at Tennessee.
And the Jets haven't exactly been road warriors this season.
Last year the Jets finished a sparkling 6-2 away from home, which included a 17-14 victory at New England, on their way to the playoffs. This season the Green and White are 1-6 away from New Jersey and their lone victory came against the woeful Dolphins. The 8-6 Titans definitely aren't Miami and are still in the thick of the playoff hunt. They'll need some help to get into the post-season, but they should be fired up to take on Gang Green.
And one player who will be leading the charge for Tennessee will be a familiar face to Jet fans -- No. 68, Kevin Mawae.
Mawae was the center for the Green and White from 1998 to 2005. During his tenure as a Jet, he anchored one of the best offensive lines in the AFC, made the Pro Bowl six times and, in his prime, was probably the best pulling center in the league.
He also brought an intensity and a nastiness to the offense -- something this current Jets unit sorely lacks. Mawae was the type of player you hated if you were playing against him, but you loved if he was on your squad. He would talk trash, get into arguments with opposing players and wasn't above taking borderline cheap shots on occasion. While those aren't admirable traits (in theory), sometimes you need players like that on your team. It also really helps if you're an All-Pro type player.
Mawae is on the downside of his career (even though he was chosen as a first alternate in this year's Pro Bowl) and the Gotham Green have themselves a budding star in the middle with second-year pro Nick Mangold, but
Mawae feels that the reason Mangini and the Jets let him go after the 2005 season had more to do with his outspokenness than with his diminishing football skills.
This will be the second opportunity for Mawae to show the Jets that he still has something left in the tank. The Jets played at Tennessee last season -- a 23-16 victory for the Green and White in Week 1. The Jets made the right move by letting Mawae go and inserting Mangold at center, but New York could sure use ol' Number 68's attitude on the line.
It will be a tough task for the Jets to pick up their second victory away from the Meadowlands, but the Titans are only 4-3 at home this season.
Here's a
Titans' fan's view of the upcoming match-up.
The Jets also announced their team awards this week and Leon Washington was named as the
team's MVP. This really shouldn't shock anyone. Washington has been the most explosive player on the Jets and while he doesn't boast impressive numbers in the rushing or receiving categories, his play on special teams has been outstanding. Mr. Washington has brought back a league-leading three kickoffs for touchdowns this season and ranks 2nd in the NFL with a 28.2 kickoff return average. While his punt return numbers aren't as impressive, his 33-yard punt return in overtime against the Steelers help set up the winning field. The Jets should really work on getting No. 29 some more touches on offense next season.
Was Washington snubbed from this year's Pro Bowl? Probably, but when you're on a team that's 3-11, it's easy for teams, players and fans to overlook you. In case you're wondering,
Josh Cribbs from the playoff-bound Cleveland Browns was picked to represent the AFC in Honolulu in February.
The 2007 scapegoat for Gang Green also received an award from his teammates. Chad Pennington was named as the squad's most inspirational player for the second season in a row. Pennington won the award last year after coming back from two shoulder surgeries within one year and came away with the honor this season for showing tremendous professionalism and poise after being benched for Kellen Clemens in Week 9. Pennington's time as a New York Jet may be ticking away and he hasn't been treated well by fans and the media, but one thing that should never be questioned is No. 10's heart.
Speaking of heart, it turns out that Laveranues Coles may just have had too much of it. Coles was placed
on the IR this week due to the lingering effects from a high ankle sprain he sustained against the Steelers over a month ago. LC missed the next game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, but returned to action the following week in Miami and made some important catches early on in Gang Green's victory. No. 87 tried to give it a go at the Patriots last week, but just couldn't make it. Coles won the Jets Ed Block Courage Award and finishes a tough 2007 season with 55 catches for 646 yards and 6 TDs.
And finally, two Jets players have a chance to reach personal milestones in Sunday's game. Running back Thomas Jones hasn't had a terrific season by any stretch, but he needs only 37 yards to crack 1,000 yards rushing for the third straight season. Jones only gained 19 yards last week in New England and Tennessee ranks seventh in the NFL against the run so TJ may have to wait until the final week to break the barrier.
Meanwhile, fourth-year wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery needs 98 more yards to break 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in his career. Cotchery fractured his right index finger three weeks ago during practice, but he's only missed one game. The Alabama native finished just short of reaching 1,000 yards receiving in 2006 and ended the season with 961 yards.
Last one on the road, boys.
Let's make it a win.
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