It's Thanksgiving, and the Jets are on

It's Thanksgiving day and my team is playing today. They play the third part of a rivalry against the Bengals that has featured some really good games in the past year. Actually, the Jets have probably had a hand in destroying and derailing the Bengals best shots at a title run. They beat them 37-0 in the season finale last year to get into the playoffs; and then 24-14 in the Wildcard Round in Cincinnati.

Today, it's probably a chance to bring the dagger to Marvin Lewis and the Bengals.

I'm used to watching the Detroit Lions and then dozing off for the afternoon part of the double-header against the Dallas Cowboys. That's tradition to me. It's what I've grown up doing on this illustrious day.A few years back in 2004 or 2005 or so, the NFL decided to take away my Saturday afternoon football in December and add the 3rd Thanksgiving game. It was often part of my tradition to head down to my fathers on Thanksgiving night and watch this third game of the Thanksgiving day on the NFL Network (he was the only guy I knew who got the network) and spend a few hours with him.

Today, my team gets to play on Thanksgiving day. They're in the middle of a very special season and tonight is a night to not only celebrate and give thanks, but to keep it going. If the Jets want to go to the Super Bowl, today is another important day in that run. So I'll root against the Patriots in the early game and hope Detroit can pull off some kind of miracle; and I'll live and die on every down the Jets play tonight in hopes that they can move to 9-2. The importance of home-field advantage can never be overstated.

Here's that miracle drive last week against the Texans in case you're wondering why I love this team so much:

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The rise of a legend (Jets 30 Texans 27)

[Game Book]
[ESPN] [NY Times] [CBS Sportsline] [NY Daily News] [NY Times Fifth Down] [Jets.com]

I did not get to see this whole game, in fact I only saw the ending of it. But the throw that Sanchez made to Braylon Edwards up the sideline with time running down and the throw he followed it up with to Santonio Holmes is a thing of pure legend. It is something I predict football fans and Jets fans especially will be talking about for years.

The Jets had locked up a 30-27 last minute win heading into a short holiday week, and Mark Sanchez had thrown for 300 yards+ yet again.

I really love these Jets and Sanchez. The last second come from behind victories are really a sign of a team that has a ton of character. I wanted to get this game in the archives of this blog. There are so many people who don't think Mark Sanchez is a player. The guy has what it takes to win a Super Bowl.

How many times does he have to prove that he can play when the bullets are flying before people start to realize that this guy is a big time quarterback?

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Grading The Positions From The Jets vs. Browns Game

Matt Sullivan - Getty Images

2 days ago: CLEVELAND - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Colt McCoy #12 of the Cleveland Browns throws to a receiver against the New York Jets at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 14 2010 in Cleveland Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

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How did the Cleveland Browns do in their 26-20 loss to the New York Jets?

After big wins over the Saints and the Patriots, the Cleveland Browns fell victim to the New York Jets 26-20 in the final seconds of overtime. How did each positional unit perform during the game? It's time to grade the positions once again with a "Pass" or "Fail." The grades focus on the unit's performance for that particular week.

OFFENSE

• QB (PASS):When was the last time a Browns quarterback led a touchdown-scoring drive with under two minutes to play? Colt McCoy had another solid game and wasn't fazed by the Jets' defense. He made the decisions necessary to move to 3-1 at quarterback, but now he's back to .500.
   
• RB (PASS):While he didn't get as many carries as he did against New England thanks to the Jets controlling the clock in the second half, Peyton Hillis continued running hard en route to a stellar day. It doesn't matter what defense he faces -- he'll make his presence felt.
   
• WR (FAIL):You have to feel bad for Chansi Stuckey, but his fumble in overtime stands out as a moment that really hurts. It seemed like the gameplan involved McCoy not even bothering to mess with the Jet corners, so that means the other wide receivers were mostly invisible.
   
• TE (PASS):The tight ends were McCoy's go-to-guys. Ben Watson led the team in receptions and had plenty of yards after the catch. Evan Moore had a late catch while covered by Revis. Even Robert Royal caught a pass early on in the game.
   
• OL (PASS):The pocket caved on McCoy a couple of times, but overall the protection was there and the run blocking was there for Hillis. The Jets seemed to blitz a little less once they saw they couldn't get past Cleveland's line.

DEFENSE

• DL (FAIL):Shaun Rogers had a chance to bring Mark Sanchez down in overtime, but he didn't. There were other opportunities as well to bring Sanchez down, but the defensive line made him seem like Ben Roethlisberger out there.
   
• LB (FAIL):Losing Scott Fujita in the second quarter hurt. The Browns had trouble covering the running backs out of the backfield, and when it came to stopping the run on third down, the Browns didn't have the "big play stop" they've been accustomed to from the linebacker position.
   
• DB (FAIL):While they didn't play terrible, the lack of plays stands out -- T.J. Ward and Abram Elam both dropped interceptions that led to field goals. On Santonio Holmes' game-winning touchdown catch-and-run, Eric Wright and Ward both had cracks at making the tackle but didn't. The unit also lost Sheldon Brown early on.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• ST (PASS): Phil Dawson and Reggie Hodges did their jobs, and Joe Haden filled in nicely on kickoff returns. Special teams didn't stand out, but they did have a negative play in a failed surprise onside kick. At least they didn't miss three field goals like Nick Folk did.

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Jets find a way on Sanchez's first 300 yard day

[Game Book]

I did not see this game because I was in Cleveland at Colt McCoy's first NFL start; but I've got to get it in the archives somehow because it was a big win for Mark Sanchez and the Jets coming from behind to win in Overtime.

The game was Sanchez's first 300 yard game of his career.

This was also the game in which Matthew Stafford was lost for the year.

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New York Jets at Cleveland Browns Wednesday Injury Report

NEW YORK JETS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday:
CB Marquice Cole (hamstring),
RB Tony Richardson (not injury related)
G Matt Slauson (knee)
RB LaDainian Tomlinson (not injury related)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday

LB Joshua Mauga (hamstring)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday

LB Calvin Pace (foot)
CB Darrelle Revis (hamstring)

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday

S Mike Adams (head)
QB Jake Delhomme (ankle)
DT Shaun Rogers (ankle)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday

DE Kenyon Coleman (knee)
T John St. Clair (ankle)
QB Seneca Wallace (ankle)

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