IRVING, Texas – If the Jets can simulate the entire game as a two-minute drill when they’re on offense today, they might have a chance to outscore the potent Cowboys offense.
That’s because Kellen Clemens has been at his best when facing pressure situations. For example, he led the Jets on to a field goal at the end of the first half Sunday, and then engineered the game-tying drive at the end of regulation – culminating in another Mike Nugent kick – to help beat the Steelers.
“A lot of times, it takes a quarterback years to get comfortable in those situations, but he’s already comfortable with it,” Jets TE Chris Baker said of Clemens. “When a lot of bullets are flying, he’s done a great job. He has that whatever it is that you need to have [in pressure situations], which is a tremendous asset for him.
“It’s just something where you don’t get caught up in it; you kind of just play. For a young quarterback, it’s pretty impressive to play at his best when everything is on the line.”
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips recognizes Clemens’ propensity to make plays under pressure.
“I think the most impressive part is the two-minute,” Phillips said. “That shows a guy can play in the league if he can handle a team in that realm. He’s a good-looking young quarterback.”
Clemens said he didn’t have an answer for why he’s been more effective in two-minute situations.
“I’ve thought about that and I don’t really know,” he said.
Count Phillips as one person who took notice of the Jets’ upset victory over the Steelers.
“The Jets were impressive,” he said. “I thought they did a number on Pittsburgh. When you get seven sacks on a team and throttle an offense that, I think, is really good, and stuffed a running game, that is really good.”
Added Cowboys WR Terrell Owens: “From what we saw on film, we can’t underestimate anybody.”
Jets LB David Bowens on Cowboys QB Tony Romo: “I played with No. 4 [Green Bay’s Brett Favre] before and [Romo] reminds me of Favre. It doesn’t matter if the guy’s got pressure on the edges, he’ll step up; if he has pressure up the middle, he’ll step out. He’ll find his guys. I think he’s really an up-and-coming star.”
Bowens said he’s excited to play in his fourth Thanksgiving Day game.
“What bigger stage is there other than the Super Bowl and playoff games?” he said. “You’re on national TV, everyone’s family is around the TV watching, and someone’s drunk uncle is watching the game somewhere cussing you out.”
Dallas RB Julius Jones, asked if the “perfect” situation would be seeing his brother, Jets RB Thomas Jones, rush for 100 yards but the Cowboys still get the win, said, “Yeah, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen because I don’t know if [Thomas] can get 100 on our defense.”
Julius Jones did, however, praise his brother’s 117-yard performance against the Steelers while tweaking the Jets’ lack of commitment to the running the game. “He’s finally getting an opportunity to do what they paid him to do,” little brother said.