Brace for Jets' crash

The Jets, who won the August-September-October-November Super Bowl, but now are ducking for cover now that real bullets are starting to fly. The Jets, whose offense has turned into soggy lettuce now that the cripples on the schedule have been disposed of and important games are being played. Too easy, in fact.

So let’s do it.

It seems like a generation since the Jets offense last scored a touchdown (actually it was the third quarter of Week 12, against Cincinnati, but it still counts), the California quarterback is playing like he’s learned nothing in nearly two seasons, the coach seems to have run out of answers and the defense is collectively pouting because the coach, not wanting to destroy what little is left of the quarterback’s confidence, is starting to lay the blame on the defense. That about cover it?

Last time we believed anything Rex Ryan had to say he was getting on a plane and heading to Massachusetts, explaining to anyone with a microphone that his Jets would take care of the Patriots and again assume control of the AFC East.

Now, eight days and two debilitating losses later, accident reconstruction specialists are converging on New Jersey to examine the wreckage and coaches, players and fans are at various stages of the five stages of grief:

Stage 1 (Denial) - “We’d like to go out there and play them again right now,” said a defiant Ryan after the Patriots put the Jets over their knees and applied a 45-3 spanking.

Stage 2 (Anger) - Pissed-off fans demanded that Ryan be fired and Mark Sanchez benched after the loss in Foxboro.

Stage 3 (Bargaining) - “We’re still in prime position to make the playoffs,” said one blogger on profootballtalk.com after Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins. “Every year the Jets hit a road bump. Rex will get these guys ready to go for the playoffs, which is what actually matters.”

Stage 4 (Depression) - The mid-season schedule was a firewall against a collapse. Houston, Cincinnati, Cleveland etc. etc. But the devil has arrived to collect his soul and it comes in the form of trips to Pittsburgh Sunday and Chicago the following week. If California-cool Sanchez was chilled in New York against Miami, he has no clue what awaits him in the Rust Belt against a Steelers team battling for a playoff bye and a Bears team licking its wound after getting beaten down by New England.

Stage 5 (Acceptance) - Hey, the Knicks look like they’re gonna get Carmelo Anthony!”

Aside from the slip-up in Foxboro, the Jets defense has actually been OK. New York is ranked No. 3 overall in yards allowed per game and it’s still not easy to run the ball on them. Miami actually had only 179 total yards Sunday and had trouble moving the ball the entire game.

But today’s NFL is all about quarterback play and the Jets are starting to realize that Sanchez might not be what they thought he was.

Ryan was absolutely convinced that Sanchez had turned the corner last season in playoff victories over Cincinnati and San Diego, perhaps ignoring the possibility that the Bengals were overrated and the Chargers choke every year at that time. And Sanchez had life by the tail through the first five games this season. His highest QB ratings came in victories in Week 2 (New England, 124.3), Week 3 (Miami 120.5) and Week 4 (Buffalo 124.3) as the Jets swept through the AFC East and disregarded the warning signs that had arisen in that opening-night loss to the Ravens.

Jets backers ignored close calls against Detroit, Cleveland and Houston (good teams win those type of games, they said), but in the last two (New England, Miami) Sanchez has an average QB rating of 36.5. That has sent fans to the internet to find out who the backup quarterback is (hint: he’s left-handed and 40 years old).

In Las Vegas, Chris Graham at the Hilton sportsbook says that the Jets’ recent problems haven’t stopped the public from backing them.

“Aside from the Patriots games, they are a public team,” says Graham. “The Pats are definitely more popular, as well as the Steelers, but Jets (always) have a ton of support.”

Meanwhile, in the No Forgiving League, it’s on to Pittsburgh this week for the warm-weather-loving Sanchez and the Jets and the long-range forecast calls for snow and temperatures in the 20s at 4:15 p.m. ET kickoff.

Awaiting word on Rodgers

Even a year ago there would have been no discussion. Aaron Rodgers would be practicing and getting ready for what likely will be the Packers’ biggest game of the season, Sunday at New England. But after two concussions, the latest suffered last Sunday against the Lions, the situation is dicey and the team says it will now be Wednesday or possibly even Thursday before more information is available. The chances are probably close to 100 percent that very few Patriots even knew that Matt Flynn was the name of the Packers’ backup QB. The Pats could easily be double-digit favorites if Rodgers can’t play.

Wakeup call if you were sleeping on the Giants

Monday night’s dominant victory over the Vikings was a reminder that the Giants are still part of the NFC conversation and that loss to Dallas a while back was just a reminder that every once in a while you step in it. A victory over Philadelphia at home Sunday (NY -2.5, 44.5) would be the fourth straight for New York, which has been a stealth team in the Big Apple as attention has focused on the Jets’ collapse. The key for the Giants has been their ability to win without getting great QB play from Eli Manning, who has thrown 19 interceptions this year (most in the league). New York’s final two are on the road, at Green Bay and at Washington.

Showdown in the Show-Me State

Two seasons ago the discussion was which state, Ohio (Cincinnati/Cleveland) or Missouri (Kansas City/St. Louis) had the worst teams. This Sunday the 8-5 Chiefs and the 6-7 Cardinals meet in St. Louis in a game which could go a long way toward determining the winners of the both the AFC West and the NFC West. Kansas City is giving one point to St. Louis and the only question in western Missouri being asked today is whether Matt Cassel will play Sunday. Cassel is only seven days removed from surgery to remove his appendix and Brodie Croyle’s performance (7/17, 40 yards) in the 31-0 loss to the Chargers last week did nothing but turn the stomachs of Chiefs fans. In the dysfunctional NFC West, meanwhile, the Rams, Seahawks (6-7) and 49ers (5-8) are in a scrum to see who can finish 8-8 and steal the division. The 49ers are at San Diego (Chargers -8.5, 44.5) Thursday night in what amounts to a West undercard bout.