To help illustrate just how important the New England Patriots' recent win (see also: romping, annihilation, ass-kicking) over the New York Jets was, in addition to just how back-and-forth the overall battle for AFC East supremacy has become between the two recently, we need to go back in time. For those of you who've just started watching football or simply can't remember things very well due to too much whiskey or simply living in the Philadelphia area, it hasn't always been this way.
From 2003-2008, the Patriots managed to win the AFC East crown every single year in that time period, save for 2008, when the Miami Dolphins finally claimed the mantle. They went 77-19 in that time span in the regular season and also went to three different Super Bowls (2003, 2004, and 2007), winning two of them, while losing the other, despite going 19-1 in their famously tragic, near-perfect 2007 season.
During that same time period, the Jets found a way to go a paltry 43-53, complete with two 4-12 seasons in 2005 and 2007. Although there were a few solid 10-6 seasons sprinkled throughout, there was nothing in the way of divisional titles or playoff wins (save for a wild card victory over the Chargers in 2004). Suffice it to say, Jets fans and ownership alike were famished and thirsty for a return to greatness.
Then Rex Ryan was hired. And they got their wish.
It didn't take him long to stir up the pot (unsurprisingly), as he almost immediately made it known that the Jets would not be kneeling down before the "mighty" Patriots and kissing their Super Bowl rings any longer. Not that this actually happened or anything as the comments were proverbial (if you will), but you can't argue that the new coaches comments weren't dramatic and exciting. They almost instantly caused a completely transcended rivalry between the two teams. In playground speak, "it was on!"
With the help of ESPN playing Ryan's smack talk on constant loop every 20-30 minutes all offseason long, the Jets/Patriots rivalry began to closely resemble Red Sox/Yankees levels. Not only did Ryan excel in talking trash, but he managed to completely transform the environment and attitude of the entire organization. Not only that, but he also managed to quickly silence the many doubters claiming he was all talk with the help of a Week 2 victory over the mighty Patriots, 16-9.
As far as Jets fans were concerned, this Rex Ryan was the second coming hybrid of Weeb Ewbank, Joe Walton, and Bill Parcells. The man literally could do no wrong and since he was so charming and witty during his media appearances, everyone throughout the nation knew it.
Although the team would lose their rematch with the Pats in Week 11, 31-14 (and ultimately cede ownership of the divisional title to the Patriots yet again), expectations soared even higher when the Jets fought and battled their way through to the AFC Championship Game before finally falling victim to the Colts, 30-17. Surprisingly, the Patriots were knocked out — or rather, to use a more realistic description, were completely annihilated and destroyed — by the Baltimore Ravens in the wild card round, 33-14. Despite the lack of a divisional crown, it appeared that the Jets had won round one of the new rivalry.
Heading into 2010, the general consensus and expectations about the two teams had flipped completely. It was now the Jets who were the golden boy favorites to win the division, thanks to an excellent running game, a solid offensive line, the best cornerback in the game in Darrelle Revis and a seemingly future stud at quarterback in Mark Sanchez. Further bolstering public confidence in the Jets were their frequent and aggressive offseason player acquisitions. These additions included free agent signees LaDainian Tomlinson (at running back) and Jason Taylor (at defensive end), as well as wide receiver Santonio Holmes and cornerback Antonio Cromartie via trade.
On the Patriots' side of the fence, it was comparably less noisy but still in line with the team's overall personality. The team's primary free agent additions consisted of veterans Leigh Bodden (at cornerback) and Gerard Warren (at defensive tackle). Hybrid linebacker Adalius Thomas' progressively negative behavior finally came to a head and he was given a bus ticket out of town. As was tight end Benjamin Watson, but in a much more businesslike manner.
Perhaps the biggest reason for the role shifts was the Patriots young, inexperienced defense. While the Jets surrounded their young playmakers with top-tier veteran leadership on both sides of the ball, the Patriots defense was loaded with players just two to three years out of college in addition to straight-up rookies as well. Coach Bill Belichick's successful strategy of surrounding his young defensive playmakers with veteran leadership alongside the likes of safety Rodney Harrison and linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel was no longer very effective due to player retirements or draft-day deals (in the case of Vrabel).
Even though the Jets were the primary favorite to finally win the AFC East at long last, the Patriots were still expected to be a very talented team. The vast majority of NFL pundits even had them as a playoff caliber club in 2010. With only a few veterans remaining on the Patriots who had experienced the teams past success, it was apparent that not all of the young players understood what it truly took in order to succeed consistently enough to put the team in a position for a Super Bowl run. This was never a problem for the Patriots in Super Bowl years of the past.
Belichick's method of drilling and practicing situational football in order to be ready and acclimated for every potential outcome demands a certain kind of player. A player who can withstand the mental rigors of memorizing and replaying dozens of different plays and assignments at any one time -- and then reacting in a split-second based on that knowledge. And let's not forget studying game film. That's the coach's number one requirement when deciding who is able to play and succeed on his team. A high football intelligence and a penchant for studying and analyzing game tape.
At the time of the Jets/Patriots Week 2 game, it was apparent that the young, inexperienced New England defense still had a long way to go before they'd be able to truly utilize and take advantage of Belichick's defensive genius. The Jets offense had absolutely no problem revealing this to the world that Sunday. No problem at all.
With all of the story lines, projections and expectations bubbling over from the offseason, the Patriots/Jets Week 2 matchup was arguably the first "big game" of the year. When all was said and done, it appeared that the many predictions crowning the Jets as the new team to beat in the AFC East were indeed going to come to fruition. And with one of the NFL's toughest schedules going forward, the Patriots were all but written off the map, thanks to being trounced and nearly outclassed by their divisional rival in just the second week of the season.
The Jets were the darlings of the NFL world and sports media for several weeks following the game, and with good reason. They looked like everything they said they were and were backing up their trash talk with action. And swagger.
But in a turn of events that couldn't have been scripted any more dramatically, the Patriots didn't crumble and managed to hold it together in the wake of the Randy Moss saga and Logan Mankins' holdout and still run the table (save for an ass-whipping at the hands of the Browns in Week 9). This naturally setup a playoff-esque rematch in Foxboro in Week 13 in which we'd finally get our answer as to who would rule the AFC East roost this year at long-last.
As we all know, the Patriots outpointed, outplayed, and out-executed the Jets in every fashion in route to a 45-3 coming out party. Presently, it appears as if the Patriots will end up on top — both literally, as they're the new, overwhelming Super Bowl favorite, and figuratively, in regards to the teams' rivalry. However, if we've learned anything from our jaunt back in time, it's that nothing is forever and nothing is for certain.
While we'll have to wait and see who will eventually win this year's bragging rights in the rivalry, one thing at least is for certain. And that is that the Jets/Patriots rivalry has quickly become one of the most multi-layered, fascinating, emotional rivalries in all of football — nay, in all sports.
And the best thing about it all? It isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
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