IRVING, Texas – The Jets will not make the playoffs this season. But even at 2-8, they believe they’re much better than their record, and are on a mission to prove that to the nation today when they play the 9-1 Cowboys at Texas Stadium.
“We think of ourselves as a good team that hasn’t played well,” Jets LB Matt Chatham said.
“We have the same guys in the locker room [who] were 10-6 [last season],” TE Chris Baker said. “We have the same talent; we just haven’t been as consistent. We could very easily be 6-4 or 7-3 had we made a couple of plays in a couple of games. Unfortunately, we are 2-8.
“But we know we have the talent and we know we have the players to play with anybody in the league,” Baker added, citing the Jets’ 19-16 upset of the Steelers last Sunday. “This isn’t like 2005 when we were struggling, everyone was hurt and we didn’t know half the guys in the room. In this situation, we have players who have won, been together for two years now, so it’s a different feel now. We have the players [who] can compete with anybody in the league.”
Here’s an inside look at whether the Jets can play with the heavily favored Cowboys:
BEST BATTLE
Jets RB Thomas Jones vs. Cowboys RB Julius Jones. The two brothers won’t actually be playing against each other, but their respective production could be a key factor in the game. The Jets have won their two games when Thomas Jones has rushed for 100 or more yards. Julius is a key part of Dallas’ one-two punch with Marion Barber.
PICK-OFF ATTEMPT
The Cowboys are tied for second in the NFL with 15 interceptions. CB Anthony Henry leads the team with five despite missing three games with an injury and seeing limited time in two others. S Ken Hamlin has four and CB Terence Newman and S Roy Williams have two each. Jets QBs have thrown 12 INTs this season, including five by Kellen Clemens.
SECOND-HALF STRENGTH
The Cowboys are an extremely strong second-half team, outscoring their opponents 201-100 after intermission. That, of course, is a Jets weakness as they’ve been outscored 154-71 after halftime. Dallas has been particularly powerful in the third quarter, outscoring opponents 111-40. Cowboys QB Tony Romo has a 140.6 passer rating in the third quarter with 12 TDs and no INTs. In the second half, Romo has thrown 19 TDs to only three INTs and has a 130.6 rating, second only to Tom Brady.
WHAT’S THE SCORE?
Touchdowns have been elusive for the Jets, who’ve scored only 18 this season. Only five teams have scored fewer. Fourteen of those touchdowns have come on offense, with three having come on kickoff returns and one on a fumble return. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have reached the end zone 40 times – more than double the Jets’ output and the most of any NFL team other than the Patriots.
I’M ‘TO.’ WHO ARE YOU?
Jets rookie CB Darrelle Revis likely will get a heavy dose of Cowboys WR Terrell Owens, who has made 58 receptions for 1,028 yards with 12 TDs already this season. When Owens was asked about Revis, the Jets’ first-round pick, he said, “I don’t know who that is. Once I step on the field, it don’t matter who’s out there. I don’t really pay attention to numbers or names, but I go out there and focus on what I’m supposed to do.”
FOE FACT
The Cowboys enter this game having scored at least 24 points in 11 consecutive regular-season games dating back to last season.
JETS FACT
The Jets have 10 kickoff returns for TDs since 2001, the most in the NFL during that stretch.
NUMBER TO KNOW
0. That’s the number of rushing touchdowns Thomas Jones has in 190 carries this season, the longest such current scoring drought in the NFL.
CANNIZZARO’S CALL
One astute former NFL player who lives in Dallas said this week that the Cowboys have a high opinion of themselves and might be ripe for an upset. The Jets are coming off their spirited win over the Steelers and will not only ride that momentum, but try to show the country they’re better than 2-8. Look for another spirited performance from the Jets, who will force a couple of Tony Romo turnovers and score some points on the chance-taking Dallas defense.