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MIAMI -- There will be no strong-armed quarterback with amazing accuracy riding on a white horse to save the New York Jets next season.

Peyton Manning will not be with Gang Green next year, despite all the rumors. The Indianapolis Colts say Manning isn't on the market. And there is no reason for one AFC team to help another get to the Super Bowl.

So forget about it.

Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III? That's not happening, either. The Jets aren't close to being in position to draft either quarterback. Trading up wouldn’t make much sense.

The quarterback for the Jets in 2012 will be Mark Sanchez -- for better or for worse. That's not what some Jets fans want to hear. But that's the reality for an organization that's committed to its 2009 first-round pick for at least one more year.

Sanchez finished his third season on a low note. He threw for 207 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in a 19-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. In this particular game, Sanchez was the biggest reason for the Jets' loss.

Still, the Jets (8-8) are backing Sanchez.

"Well, I've told you guys I think he's the long-term solution," Ryan said confidently. "I don’t think there’s any doubt. He’s won a lot of games for us. ... I know Mark. I think he's got all the tools to be a great quarterback. He‘s been a winning quarterback here."

Here is what I took from Ryan’s comments: He knows his job is tied to the success of his starting quarterback. When Sanchez plays poorly and his confidence is shot, the Jets lose games. Therefore, Ryan will do and say everything he can to keep Sanchez’s spirits up as long as Sanchez is under center.

And, yes, Sanchez will be under center next year. He has two years left on his five-year, $44 million rookie contract. The Jets won’t make him an expensive backup in 2012 and they can’t trade him. Instead, the Jets will do all they can to support Sanchez and make him better.

If that includes axing offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, so be it.

There seems to be growing unrest with players over Schottenheimer’s play-calling and his time may be up in New York. Santonio Holmes’ blowup and eventual benching in the fourth quarter was a culmination of a frustrating season on offense. New York’s offense entered the final week ranked No. 27th in the NFL. ESPN reported earlier that the Jets are already considering names like Norv Turner, who would be a definite upgrade.

If that means making changes in personnel, so be it.

The Jets can focus on their offensive line. Wayne Hunter might be the worst offensive tackle in the league. If he’s starting next year, the Jets’ front office didn’t do its job. New York also needs speed at receiver and has an interesting decision to make on pending free agent Plaxico Burress. Whatever the Jets decide, it has to be with Sanchez in mind.

Sanchez, as expected, supported his teammates and keeping the team together.

"Whatever it is, we just didn’t seem to do [play well] on a consistent basis and the last two years we did find a way to do that," Sanchez said. "We have a lot of talent. We have guys who can make plays. We have guys that can create after the catch. We have guys that can block up from and we have running backs that can really run the rock. We just didn’t play our best."

Not everyone was as upbeat about the Jets’ offense as Sanchez. When New York starting cornerback Antonio Cromartie was asked whether the team gave enough effort Sunday, Cromartie responded, “Uhhh, maybe on one side of the ball.”

Holmes had a chance to publicly back Schottenheimer after the game and refused.

Ryan’s message to the Jets after the game was for every player to look in the mirror and do something this off-season to make the team better. It’s a message that Sanchez, as the quarterback, says he took to heart.

“You’ve got to ask yourself the tough questions and figure out how you can help this team,” Sanchez said. “You’ve got to ask yourself the tough questions and figure out what you did well and reinforce that, but obviously what you can clean up.”

Sanchez does some things well. He’s doesn’t flinch in the clutch and plays his best football in the fourth quarter. He’s also very good with play-action passes. Those are some things to build on.

But overall, I'm skeptical that Sanchez's ceiling is much higher than what we've seen the previous three years. The Jets are a veteran team built to win now yet has no choice but to stick with Sanchez for at least another season.

That is the price you pay for drafting a quarterback in the top five.

If it works out, great. If not, the Jets have to ride with their decision -- for at least one more year.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Well, I'd be lying to you if I said the New York Giants have looked good. In most significant ways, they have been dominated by the Jets in the first half of their crucial Week 16 game here at MetLife Stadium. But no matter what happens, the Giants can always count on their passing game to save them. And so, with 2:27 left in the first half, facing a third-and-10 from his own 1-yard line, Eli Manning found Victor Cruz just past the first-down marker. Cruz juked two Jets defenders and was gone, 99 yards for what may turn out to be the most significant Giants touchdown of the year.

Of the 182 yards the Giants gained on offense in the first half, 99 came on one play. Other than that play, they have struggled to do anything against the Jets' defense. They have six rushing yards, and their efforts to pick on Jets star cornerback Darrelle Revis with Hakeem Nicks have resulted in frustration. Revis broke up a would-be touchdown pass on third down earlier in the game and the Giants had to settle for a field goal.

But when Cruz caught that ball at the 12-yard line, he found himself between Kyle Wilson and Antonio Cromartie, and neither could bring him down. So the Giants took a 10-7 lead shortly before halftime.

They were able to hold it because their defense has been getting stops today, and got a big one toward the end of the half. Each of the Giants' past five opponents has converted at least 50 percent of its third downs. But the Jets are just 2-for-8 on third down Saturday, and Jason Pierre-Paul's 7-yard sack of Mark Sanchez just before halftime may have pushed Nick Folk out of field-goal range. Folk missed the kick that would have tied the game with time ticking off the clock.

All in all, the Giants have to be ecstatic with the way things have gone. They haven't been able to do anything on offense other than one play. They have allowed the Jets 185 yards but only seven points. And they are leading at halftime. If they can continue to play this bend-but-don't-break defense and get one or two more big plays on offense, then a couple of hours from now they may well leave here knowing for sure that they'll still have a chance to win the division next week.

As you get ready for this afternoon's "road" game against the Jets, here's one reason for New York Giants fans to feel good and one reason for concern.

Feeling good: The Giants are at their best when they can draw some sort of external motivation. They're a big "Nobody believed in us" bunch. And they're not great fans of the way the Jets have carried themselves since Rex Ryan took over as Jets head coach three years ago. The Giants believe their more conservative, buttoned-up, just-play-the-game style is a better way to approach their business than the Jets' boisterous swagger. The Giants have taken joy in beating the Jets in preseason games during the Ryan era. So there's little doubt that, coming off of last week's flop against the Redskins, the Giants will be fired up to beat the Jets in the stadium the two teams share. There should be little doubt about the Giants' ability to get "up" for this game.

Cause for concern: Well, the Giants' own defense remains their biggest cause for concern. Unless it's going to look completely different than it has at any point over the past six weeks, the Giants are going to continue to struggle on third downs and continue to give up points. Mark Sanchez's offense isn't nearly as explosive as some of the offenses that have taken apart the Giants during their current 1-5 stretch, but neither was the Redskins offense that did whatever it wanted to do against them last week. The Giants' best hope is to win a shootout, and the problem there is the trouble their receivers could have with very good Jets cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. If Eli Manning can hit some big plays down the field early against those guys, it could set an encouraging tone for the Giants. If not, it could portend a long day.

Week 12 continues with a pair of weekend games involving three AFC East teams.

Here are some potential X factors to watch:

New York Jets (5-5)

Opponent: vs. Bills

X factor: CB Antonio Cromartie

Analysis: It's been a while since Cromartie has made a huge play. New York's No. 2 cornerback hasn't had an interception since Oct. 9. Buffalo will throw the ball a lot. Chance are, the Bills won't do a lot of passing in the direction of Jets top cornerback Darrelle Revis. That means Cromartie should have plenty of opportunities to make an impact. The Jets could use a big play or two from "Cro" in this must-win game.

Buffalo Bills (5-5)

Opponent: at Jets

X factor: C.J. Spiller

Analysis: This one is obvious. Spiller is making his first start of the season at running back in place of the injured Fred Jackson (leg), who is out for the season. We haven't seen enough of Spiller to know how he will fare as the team's workhorse. Spiller has just 398 rushing yards in two seasons. Can he handle 25-plus carries a game? Can Spiller be physical against a talented Jets defense? We are about to find out.

New England Patriots (7-3)

Opponent: at Eagles

X factor: OT Nate Solder

Analysis: I like what the Patriots are doing with Solder, who converted from tight end to offensive tackle in college. New England head coach Bill Belichick added a wrinkle to use Solder as the third tackle to help with the running game and pass protection. Solder has done a good job pummeling outside linebackers and defensive backs on the perimeter. He will be an underrated key against the Philadelphia Eagles' defense.

ORCHARD, PARK, N.Y. -- In a rare occurrence this season, New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan stepped to the podium Sunday with very little to complain about with his defense.

"We gave up an 80-yard drive at the end of the game there when we were up a bunch of scores," Ryan scoffed. "So that was disappointing."

Ryan pointed out the only blemish in an otherwise stellar day for New York's talented but, at times, underachieving defense. The Jets' strongest unit turned back the clock -- circa 2009 and 2010 -- to cruise to a 27-11 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

More than 70,000 Bills fans came to Ralph Wilson Stadium expecting a "whiteout." They nearly witnessed a shutout, as New York battered and confused Buffalo's offense for four quarters. The Bills turned over the football three times and gained only 287 total yards.

New York's defense officially has its swagger back. That could only mean trouble for the rest of the NFL.

Jets defensive tackle Sione Pouha even has a nickname for the defense regaining its identity.

"It's totally attitude -- it's 'Jetstitude' the way we look at it," Pouha said. "It's playing like a Jet, aggressiveness, going out there in attack mode. I think today kind of displayed just what Jet football is all about."

Although they don't always put it together, the Jets have the NFL's most talented collection of defensive players.

The cornerback tandem of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie is tops in the league. The linebackers, led by David Harris, Bart Scott and Calvin Pace, are physical playmakers. The safeties and defensive line play good, complementary roles when the Jets are at their best. All of those things came together in a big game.

"When everybody is rolling, this team is very hard to beat," Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said.

It marked the first time Buffalo was held to fewer than 20 points this season. Afterward, the Bills sounded perplexed about how the game went downhill so quickly.

"If it was one thing, we could have solved that," Bills coach Chan Gailey said. "You can always solve one thing in a game. They would bring pressure, they would play coverage. ... They would give us something we hadn’t seen or they would bring an extra guy. It was a combination. They kept us off balance and that’s what we can’t allow to happen."

The Jets' defense took apart Buffalo's offense systematically. It started with punishing Bills tailback Fred Jackson.

Jackson has bullied defenders all season. But New York matched and exceeded Jackson's physicality. The Jets even knocked Jackson (82 rushing yards) out of the game temporarily in the second half with big hit that caused a fumble and shoulder stinger. Buffalo's offense never recovered from that blow.

With Jackson not his usually dominant self, the Bills couldn't get anything going offensively.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had his worst game of the season. He threw for 191 yards, two interceptions and a late touchdown in garbage time. Most of the game the receivers were blanketed, and Fitzpatrick dangerously threw into tight coverage.

"For us, we were on our heels trying to figure out what they were doing and trying to figure out what was going on," Bills receiver David Nelson said. "It wasn't because of play calling or anything like that. We only had the ball twice in the first quarter and going three-and-out. We couldn’t get in rhythm."

It didn’t take long for several Jets players to turn toward the New England Patriots. The reigning AFC East champions are up next for the Jets with first place in the division on the line. The Patriots -- currently in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC East with the Jets and Buffalo -- beat New York 30-21 in the first meeting at Gillette Stadium.

Pardon me, but the Jets "can't wait" for next week's rematch at home.

“If you can’t get fired up and ready to play for this game, you shouldn't be playing," Jets tailback LaDainian Tomlinson said. "That's plain and simple."

Last month, New York was a team close to imploding during its three-game losing streak. This month, the Jets have their sights set on first place in the AFC East after a three-game winning streak.

It's a stunning turnaround for the Jets, who have found the winning formula with an aggressive defense and a ground-and-pound style on offense.

New York showed on Sunday it has as good a shot as anyone in the second half of the season.

"We know what we're capable of doing. We know we're not a team that's going to fold in the tank," Wilkerson said of the midseason turnaround. "We lost three in a row, but it's a long season. We kept preparing like we’ve always been doing, knowing that we'd get things turned around."

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The New York Jets lead the Buffalo Bills, 3-0, at intermission.

Here are several notes at intermission:

• This was an ugly, defensive battle from the start. The first quarter zoomed by after the Jets produced a lengthy, 15-play drive that ate up most of the first quarter. The drive ended on an awful decision by New York quarterback Mark Sanchez to throw high into triple coverage. It was picked off by Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd in the end zone. Sanchez also had another potential interception called back late in the first half. The play was overturned on a replay challenge and New York capitalized with a field goal.
• Jets tight end Dustin Keller also made a questionable decision in the first half. Keller caught a pass and had plenty of running room on the sideline. But as Buffalo defenders were closing in, Keller stayed in bounds and tried to jump over the tackler. He got flipped over in midair and suffered a head injury. Backup Matthew Mulligan replaced Keller in the second quarter. Keller's return is questionable.
• Buffalo's offense is struggling. Jets cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie are doing a great job on Buffalo receivers Steve Johnson and Donald Jones. Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has two interceptions and isn't making plays. Buffalo has just 73 yards of total offense.
• Buffalo honored former kicker Scott Norwood in the first quarter. Norwood was a key figure during Buffalo’s four Super Bowl appearances in the 1990s. But he is most remembered for his missed field goal that could have won Super Bowl XXV against the New York Giants.

What it means: The San Diego Chargers have been living dangerously. They opened the season 4-1, but none of their four wins were impressive. Folks around the league were wondering when it would catch up to them. Ironically, in the first half Sunday, the Chargers did look good. They led 21-10. Then, it all fell apart as LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Cromartie’s Jets outscored the Chargers, 17-0, in the second half to drop San Diego to 4-2.

Tomorrow’s Talker: The Chargers’ passing game lagged Sunday. According to ESPN’s Stats & Information, the Chargers couldn’t get much going vertically. Star receiver Vincent Jackson was targeted just four times. He had just one catch for 15 yards. In the first five games, the Chargers completed six passes of 30-plus yards. They didn’t have any Sunday. Quarterback Philip Rivers had his worst game of the season. He was 16-of-32 for 179 yards. He was intercepted twice and he has now thrown nine interceptions this season. He had nine interceptions in the entire 2009 season.

Mathews contained: The Chargers’ problem on offense weren’t just in the air. Second-year running back Ryan Mathews had just 39 yards rushing on 13 carries. He had been very strong this season, but the Jets’ defense shut him down.

What’s next: The Chargers play at Kansas City on Oct. 31 on "Monday Night Football."

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 7:

Chargers could go after Cromartie: Much has been made of the Chargers facing former star running back LaDainian Tomlinson for the first time since his 2010 release. Sunday’s game at the New York Jets represents another reunion for San Diego. It traded cornerback Antonio Cromartie to the Jets for a couple of draft picks in 2010. Many in the Chargers’ organization felt Cromartie was overrated and he didn’t always play with toughness. Expect the San Diego to challenge him often Sunday.

Tebow has hand in Luck sweepstakes: If Tim Tebow wants to be the Broncos’ starting quarterback in 2012, he needs to win his first start of 2011. The Broncos are 1-4 and the Dolphins are 0-5. If the Broncos win at Miami, their chances of ending up with the No. 1 pick and the right to unite John Elway and Andrew Luck -- Stanford star quarterbacks past and present -- would lessen considerably. Thus, Tebow can seriously help his future cause with a win.

Watch the Chiefs to be prepared to face Kelly: Don’t be surprised if a few Kansas City Chiefs have something to say to Oakland defensive tackle Tommy Kelly. Prior to Oakland’s Week 2 loss at Buffalo, Kelly’s message to the Bills was “we ain't the Chiefs.” It was in response to the Bills’ 41-7 win at Kansas City in Week 1. I’m sure his words were documented in Kansas City’s locker room.

A McClain family reunion: For the first time, the McClain family will be NFL adversaries. Kansas City veteran fullback Le'Ron McClain and Oakland middle linebacker Rolando McClain are cousins. When McClain signed with the Chiefs as a free agent this summer, they became twice-a-year divisional foes.

Rivers has an unusual problem: San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers has thrown seven interceptions in five games, which is unlike him. What is particularly unusual for Rivers is he is seeing short tosses get picked off. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Rivers has thrown five interceptions this season on passes within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. It is tied for most in the NFL with Carolina rookie Cam Newton. In the past two seasons combined, Rivers threw three interceptions on such throws. Let’s see if his issues continue against the Jets.

It's been a rough first four games for NFC West teams in the penalty department, and not just in the tripping department.

Officials have flagged teams from the division 153 times, assessing penalties covering 1,054 yards. The other divisions average 118 penalties and 835 penalty yards, according to ESPN Stats & Information. No division has as many in either category.

The totals count declined penalties.


The chart below shows all 14 NFL players with at least five declined and assessed penalties this season. Five of them play for NFC West teams.

On a side note, penalties for unnecessary roughness are on the rise, with 57 having been called through the first four weeks of the season. There were 25 through the first four games of the 2007 season. That number has risen to 37 (2008), 41 (2009), 53 (2010) and now 57.

I doubt players have gotten any rougher unnecessarily. Officials are likely calling these penalties more aggressively. Calls for unsportsmanlike conduct are also up. There have been 17 through four games this season, up from an average of nine at this point in the previous four seasons.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 4:

Ochocinco could have been a Raider: Chad Ochocinco is headed to Oakland with many people wondering if he will ever help the New England Patriots. He has barely contributed to a high-powered offense and he had a crucial drop in the Patriots’ loss at Buffalo last week. Ochocinco could have been a Raider. The Raiders asked permission to talk to Ochocinco in an attempt to acquire him from Cincinnati shortly before he was traded to the Patriots this summer. Oakland coach Hue Jackson coached Ochocinco in Cincinnati and the two remain close. Oakland considered Ochocinco as a veteran presence on a young receiving crew. It was probably a good thing Ochocinco went elsewhere. The Raiders are young at receiver, but they have a load of talent. With Ochocinco’s career likely on the downslide, his presence could have gotten in the way of the development of the group.

Never give up, Chiefs: The game in Kansas City on Sunday between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chiefs is a game between two 0-3 teams. It may not create a lot of interest, but it may be worth tuning into after halftime. Craziness could happen. The Chief showed their only fight of the young season in the second half at San Diego last week. After not converting a first down in the first half (it was the first time that has happened in the NFL since the 2009 season according to ESPN Stats & Information), the Chiefs scored 17 second-half points in a 20-17 loss. The Chiefs scored a total of 10 points in the first 10 quarters of the season. To further give the Chiefs confidence, the Vikings have been horrid in the second half this season. The Vikings have blown double-digit halftime leads in all three games.

It’s him again, San Diego: The San Diego Chargers will have to deal with Brandon Marshall again. This time, he’ll play the Chargers as a Dolphin. He tore up San Diego as a Denver Bronco before the receiver was traded to the Dolphins last year. In 2008, he torched former San Diego cornerback Antonio Cromartie for 18 catches and 166 yards. In total, Marshall, who has 17 catches this season, has 45 catches in six starts against San Diego.

Broncos have never been a big cheese in Wisconsin: The Denver Broncos head to the Dairy State to play the world champion Green Bay Packers with the hopes of returning in a good mood. The Broncos are 0-4-1 against the Packers in Wisconsin, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Denver has also never won at Miami or Baltimore. Besides Aaron Rodgers and company, the Broncos have history going against them Sunday.

Expect an offensive explosion in Oakland: Last team with the ball wins in Oakland on Sunday? Could be. The Patriots lead the NFL with 1,621 yards in three games. It is the most yards any team has compiled through three games, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Yet, the Patriots’ defense is giving up yards at almost as large of a pace. New England has allowed an NFL-high 1,406 yards this season. It’s the fifth most yards allowed by a team at this point of the season since the 1970 merger. The Raiders have scored 69 points in the past two games. This one could be fun.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Falling

1. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins (0-2) dropped their first two home games and now have to win on the road. Miami couldn't put it together for four quarters in a pair of losses to the New England Patriots and Houston Texans. The Dolphins are probably not as bad as their record. They lost to two of the top teams in the AFC. But this road game against the Cleveland Browns (1-1) is a must-win and a good measuring stick of where Miami stands.

2. Buffalo Bills' defense: Buffalo's defense was lights out against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. In Week 2, the Oakland Raiders' offense pretty much had its way with the Bills. The Raiders amassed 454 total yards in a 38-35 shootout loss to Buffalo. You had the sense in the second half that it would come down to who had the ball last with enough time to score. Oakland scored too quickly with a 50-yard bomb to receiver Denarius Moore with less than four minutes remaining. That led to Ryan Fitzpatrick's comeback drive for Buffalo.

3. New York Jets' running game: Maybe I should give a pass to the Jets after thrashing the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. But despite the blowout, the offensive line is still failing to open holes for the running backs. I watched the games against Jacksonville and Dallas. I'm seeing too many defenders penetrating and hitting backs early or at the line of scrimmage. Center Nick Mangold's high-ankle sprain also contributed to the falling stock.

Rising

1. Fred Jackson, Bills running back: The NFL's leading rusher is unexpectedly in Buffalo. The Bills' offense, which uses a lot of spread and shotgun formations, has been very efficient running the football. Jackson rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns against a pretty good Oakland front seven. Jackson averaged 7.8 yards per carry.

2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots quarterback: It’s kind of strange when 423 passing yards and three touchdowns only gets you the No. 2 spot. Brady's stock already is so high that we're expecting big numbers. After he threw for 517 yards and four touchdowns in Week 1, Sunday's game against the Chargers was only his second-best performance. Still, Brady is on a monster pace and is the early MVP favorite after two games.

3. Antonio Cromartie, New York Jets corner: Cromartie had a nice, bounce-back game against Jacksonville. He used his great athleticism to help the Jets on defense and special teams. Cromartie recorded two interceptions, three tackles and returned a pair of kickoffs for 40-plus yards. New York needs to see more of the Week 2 Cromartie this season, not the Week 1 version who struggled against Dallas.

Welcome to the "Seven-step drop." Each week we will look back at the games in the AFC East with seven notes and observations.

• Opponents can't get too caught up in the Buffalo Bills' spread offense, because they're also running the football extremely well. Starting running back Fred Jackson is leading the NFL in rushing through the first two weeks. He has 229 yards and two touchdowns. The biggest thing is Jackson is averaging 6.5 yards per carry. The Bills pass a lot. But Jackson also is maximizing his opportunities.
• Keep an eye on Bills receiver David Nelson. He was the catalyst behind the Bills' second-half rally over the Oakland Raiders. Nelson has good size (6-foot-5, 215 pounds) and hands to play in the slot. He provides a big target in traffic for Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Nelson caught 31 passes last year but had a breakout game against Oakland. He caught 10 passes for 83 yards, including the game-winning touchdown on Buffalo's final drive.
• The New York Jets did something in Sunday's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars that we haven't seen in a while. The Jets got off to a fast start in the first quarter. Call it the "Jason Hill factor." New York broke a 16-game streak by scoring a first-quarter touchdown. The Jets never trailed in the 32-3 route. Hill caught the Jets' attention with his trash talking, and New York was fired up for this game.
• Cornerback Antonio Cromartie had arguably his best all-around performance in a Jets uniform. Cromartie recorded two interceptions, two pass defenses, three tackles and a pair of kickoff returns totaling 85 yards. It was a nice bounce-back effort for Cromartie. He was shaky in Week 1 against Dallas. New York's No. 2 corner will get tested all season opposite Darrelle Revis. The Jets will be hard to beat if Cromartie consistently plays at this level.
• I don't agree with the way the Miami Dolphins (0-2) are using tailback Reggie Bush. The Dolphins are not getting Bush in the open field. Instead, they appear steadfast on running him between the tackles, which is not his strength. Miami also is being too cautious with Bush not to wear him down. He got six carries and one reception in Sunday's loss against Houston. Here is some free advice for the Dolphins: Give Bush more chances in the open field and also let him return kicks. He's the most dynamic player the team has. Let Reggie be Reggie.
• Miami's defense does not defend tight ends well. That's on the linebackers and safeties. Through the first two weeks, opposing tight ends have caught 16 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns against the Dolphins. Texans tight end Owen Daniels didn't get many opportunities but was efficient. He caught three passes for 25 yards and a touchdown.
• Speaking of tight ends, New England's pair of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez is playing at an extremely high level. Without a doubt, quarterback Tom Brady helps. But both tight ends are making few mental errors and are consistently getting open. The big asset is their ability to score in the red zone. Gronkowski and Hernandez, who are big targets, each had red zone touchdowns Sunday against the Chargers.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:

Handling Hali: Something to watch carefully when Buffalo visits Kansas City is how the Bills handle linebacker Tamba Hali. If left alone, he will torment Bills left tackle Demetrius Bell. If Buffalo designates a tight end next to Bell to assist with Hali or assigns a running back to chip him, that leaves the rest of Buffalo’s protection scheme vulnerable against pass-rushers Justin Houston, Glenn Dorsey and Wallace Gilberry. Kansas City also has a strong secondary. I have a hard time believing that Buffalo will have much success through the air this week. One guy who could really help their cause if used properly is running back C.J. Spiller.

Inexperienced Cowboys: Dallas visits the Jets on Sunday night. This is a terrible matchup for the Cowboys’ offense. Instead of older, heavy-footed road graders up front, the Cowboys' offensive line has an influx of athletic, but very young, starters. This could pay off in time, because they should be much better equipped to pass-block and get out on the screens and draw plays that favor Felix Jones. But for now, I expect huge growing pains. Ultra-talented Cowboys first-round pick Tyron Smith will not play because of a knee injury. I expect Dallas’ protection schemes to have plenty of breakdowns. That is an awful situation against a defense coached by Rex Ryan. Compounding matters for the Cowboys are the matchups on the perimeter. Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are as good a pair of starting wideouts as you will find. But Austin isn’t 100 percent healthy, and Darrelle Revis will shut down whichever wide receiver he covers. Antonio Cromartie is a very good man-to-man cover man who thrives against bigger wide receivers like Austin and Bryant. However, it should be noted that New York’s third-down defense last season gave up too many big plays.

Test for New England: New England travels to Miami for the early "Monday Night Football" game. Although it struggled this preseason, particularly against the Lions, I still consider New England’s offensive line one of the very best. But they will be tested in a huge way on the road. In the Miami heat, the fatigue factor will favor the home team. Miami has an extremely physical and deep 3-man defensive line. Led by Cameron Wake, the Dolphins’ edge pass-rushers are a real handful for any protection scheme. New England might be without starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, so we might see first-round pick Nate Solder in his first action.

Pressure from Patriots: When Miami has the ball, I expect Bill Belichick to dial up a lot of front-side pressure. Chad Henne is not very mobile, and he can struggle with pressure right in his face. Jake Long returns, after missing the preseason, to man his left tackle spot. I worry about the right side of the Dolphins’ offensive line, particularly starting right tackle Marc Colombo. He should be out-manned by players such as Shaun Ellis and Jermaine Cunningham, let alone the added front-side pressure. Compounding the problem, right guard Vernon Carey has little experience at guard. Anthony Fasano is an excellent blocking tight end and will have to spend much of his time on the right side, but the Miami running backs are either small and lacking physicality (Reggie Bush) or lacking experience (Daniel Thomas) in protection.

Stopping the run: The Bills' defense was awful against the run last season, but I am betting that it improved with the drafting of Marcell Dareus and some other additions. I expect the run defense to be particularly stout up the middle, where Dareus, Kyle Williams and Nick Barnett play. However, the changes might not pay off big against the Chiefs because Jamaal Charles is such a great runner outside the tackles. I also expect Dexter McCluster’s role as a ball carrier to increase.

WHAT IT MEANS: So the New York Jets captured the Snoopy trophy as the winner of the first annual MetLife Bowl against the New York Giants. Yawn. Based on the way his team played, Rex Ryan should punt the trophy. Forget about the final score, 17-3; the Jets’ starters were badly outplayed in the first half, out gained 209 to 61. The offense was a disaster and the Jets made dumb penalties. Basically, they played like they didn’t give a hoot about the preseason.

WOE IS O: Mark Sanchez & Co. was brutal. Can you say “regression”? In seven possessions, the Jets’ starting offense punted five times, lost a fumble (Sanchez) and, somehow, saved face with a touchdown -- a 17-yard pass to Santonio Holmes. They probably wouldn’t have scored the touchdown if it weren’t for Antonio Cromartie, who set up the offense at the Giants’ 35 with a 70-yard kickoff return.

Sanchez (8-for-16, 64 yards) was off his game from the outset, appearing indecisive as he made his reads. But this mess wasn’t all his fault. The pass protection was shoddy and his receivers, namely Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason, couldn’t gain separation against the Giants’ cornerbacks. That could be something to watch, as Burress and Mason -- 34 and 37, respectively -- aren’t the fastest guys around.

The starters won’t play in Thursday night’s finale against the Eagles, which means the No. 1 offense scored only three touchdowns in 5 1/2 quarters for the preseason. Blech!

DUMB & DUMBER: The Jets were undisciplined, committing five major penalties. The biggest blunder came from rookie defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, who was ejected in the third quarter after taking a swing at running back Brandon Jacobs. Jacobs swung back, so he, too, was tossed. Wilkerson, whom the Jets are counting on to be a starter, deserves an earful from Ryan. That is unacceptable behavior.

But Wilkerson wasn’t the only guilty Jet. Right taclke Wayne Hunter (unsportsmanlike conduct), safety Brodney Pool (chop block on a punt), safety Emanuel Cook (facemask) and cornerback Donald Strickland (unnecessary roughness) all committed 15-yard penalties. Shame on them.

All told, the Jets had seven penalties for 79 yards, including a holding call on wide receiver Courtney Smith that nullified a touchdown run by backup quarterback Greg McElroy.

THE PLAX EFFECT: Burress doesn’t need to touch the ball to have an impact on the game. You saw that on Holmes’ touchdown reception. Burress lined up in the right slot, with Holmes on the outside, against the Giants’ three-by-two coverage. Safety Kenny Phillips rolled toward Burress, leaving Holmes in man-to-man against cornerback Corey Webster. Phillips tried to get back, but it was too late. Holmes ran a post route and got open in the back of the end zone.

Aside from that contribution, Burress’ anticipated matchup against his old team turned out to be a big zero -- as in zero catches. Burress, coming off his sensational debut against the Bengals, was targeted four times. In fact, Sanchez completed only four passes to his wideouts.

OPPORTUNISTIC D: For a team with a very good defense, the Jets made an alarmingly low number of interceptions last season (12). So far, they seem to be reversing the trend. Safety Jim Leonhard and linebacker David Harris intercepted two of Manning's passes, giving the Jets six picks in three games (two by Leonhard). Leonhard’s interception was set up by Harris, who came on an inside blitz and slammed Manning.

BEND BUT DON’T BREAK: Aside from the interceptions, the Jets’ No. 1 defense did some nice things in one half of play, holding the Giants to 2-for-8 on third down and 0-for-1 in the red zone. But -- and this is a big "but" -- they were pushed around between the 20s. The Jets allowed 209 total yards in the first half, uncharacteristic for a Rex Ryan-coached defense. Their conventional pass rush was nowhere to be found and there were a couple of missed tackles in the open field, including a big one by linebacker Bart Scott.

THE NEW BRAD: The Jets finally unveiled their 2011 version of the Wildcat, with rookie wide receiver Jeremy Kerley -- no surprise -- taking the direct snap and playing the role of Brad Smith. The Jets ran it four times, resulting in 39 yards. Kerley ran twice for 13 yards, handed off to Joe McKnight for eight and threw a pass -- yes, a pass! -- to Matt Mulligan for 18. That will give the Cowboys a little extra to think about as they prepare for the season opener.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Rex Ryan said it his first day on the job, and he’ll keep saying it until it actually happens -- the New York Jets are going to the Super Bowl.

Early on, Ryan’s bravado was a breath of fresh air. Now, after two consecutive losses in the AFC Championship Game, the brash coach will be perceived as a windbag if the Jets don’t get it done in 2011.

One more miss and the honeymoon is over.

“This is the best roster we’ve had since we’ve been here,” Ryan said.

That’s debatable. The Jets are older and slower at wide receiver, depth is a concern at some key spots and they have middle-of-the-field issues in pass coverage. That said, they have a young quarterback on the ascent -- Mark Sanchez -- and improvement in his play could compensate for other deficiencies.

Win or lose, the Jets are a marquee team. HBO’s “Hard Knocks” show isn’t around this summer to record every word and action, but the team still is generating national news -- Sanchez’s GQ cover, Plaxico Burress' return to football, Ryan’s brash quotes, etc.

You’re just not hearing the R-rated language.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can Mark Sanchez become a four-quarter quarterback? He already has won four playoff games in two seasons -- impressive stuff -- so you know he can win big games. His problem is consistency, playing well from week to week and quarter to quarter in the regular season.

Yes, quarter to quarter. The Jets didn’t score an offensive touchdown in the first quarter over their final 15 games (counting playoffs), and a lot of that falls on Sanchez. Part of that could be attributed to inexperience, needing time to adjust to defensive wrinkles, but a lot of it stemmed from his inaccuracy. He completed only 55 percent of his pass attempts, about six or seven points below where the Jets want him to be.

If Sanchez can eliminate the inconsistencies and settle down -- he led the league in dropped interceptions -- the Jets will have a real chance to do something special. We already know he can make plays in the fourth quarter, but now he has to play the first like the fourth. Problem is, he lost 75 percent of his receiving corps before camp opened, putting the onus on him to familiarize himself with a new group. That takes time.

2. Can the Three Amigos (Egos?) co-exist? On paper, the Jets have one of the best receiving corps in the league: Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason. They’ve combined for more than 1,700 receptions and 24,000 yards, not to mention two Super Bowl-winning catches (Holmes and Burress). But now there will be a transition period, especially for Burress and Mason.

Not only are they learning a new system, they’re adjusting to life as secondary options. That’s not always easy for a receiver accustomed to being No. 1. Naturally, they’re all saying the right things, insisting they’re in it for the team, not themselves. We’ll see. Holmes is the No. 1 guy in these parts, and his new teammates will have to deal with that. If not, it will put a lot of pressure on Sanchez, who realizes he has a lot of mouths to feed.

That Burress missed two weeks with a sprained ankle really slowed the process.

3. Do the Jets have a pass rush? This question really bugs Ryan because, as he likes to point out, the Jets finished eighth in sacks (40). Not bad, right? But sacks don’t mean everything, as coaches like to point out when it benefits their agenda. For instance: The Jets led the league in most big plays allowed on third down, and the primary reason was the lack of a consistent pass rush.

The Jets didn’t acquire anyone to help the pass rush, unless you count first-round defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, but he’s really not an edge rusher. He’ll be more of a first- and second-down run defender than a pass-rusher in the sub packages. If anything, the Jets lost some pass rush because they released Jason Taylor and didn’t replace his five sacks.

What to do? Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine are masters of the blitz, designing clever pressure packages that confuse quarterbacks. They manufacture pressure, and sometimes simulate pressure, to rattle quarterbacks. For the most part, it works, but it’s a dangerous way to live, as the Jets discovered last season. They have fantastic cover corners in Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, which makes it possible to employ that kind of scheme, but sooner or later the lack of a big-time rusher will catch up to them.

The Jets took a flyer on former Bills No. 1 pick Aaron Maybin, signing him to a minimum contract, but let’s be honest: He’s not the answer. It’ll be an upset if he makes the team.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

The Jets parted ways with two of their longest-tenured players, defensive end Shaun Ellis (Patriots) and wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (Steelers). They were two of the most respected players in the locker room, players you always figured would retire as Jets.

Cotchery, unhappy in his role as the No. 3 receiver, requested his release. The Jets didn’t handle it well, cutting Cotchery before securing Mason, but it worked out in the end. They offered Ellis a one-year deal for the minimum salary, which he found insulting. He wound up signing with the rival Patriots, a PR hit for the Jets.

It makes them look cold, but the Jets evidently felt it was time to move on. The Cotchery decision could come back to bite them because he’s 29 and still can be an effective player.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

After a 20-month prison sentence that cost him two seasons, Burress needs practice more than anyone. But he missed the first two weeks of camp and the first preseason game with a sprained ankle, a significant setback as he attempts to regain his form and learn the Jets’ offense.

The Jets hope Burress, who's 6-foot-5, can cure their red zone issues, but he and Sanchez are having trouble connecting in practice. This is going to take time. Don’t be surprised if Burress is a part-time player in the first month of the season.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Revis is having the best camp of his career. Yes, it’s true, this is only his third, holdout-free training camp. But know this: He’s locking down receivers with the same determination he did in 2009, when he shut down No. 1 receivers on a weekly basis. This bodes well for the 10 players around him.
• Burress is making most of the headlines -- Plax this, Plax that -- but the real prize of the offseason shopping spree is Mason. Ryan gets excited about reclamation projects, but let’s be honest: Burress hasn’t played in two seasons because he was in prison, and now he expects to come back to the pre-prison Plaxico. Whoa, let’s hold everything. Burress might turn out to be a good pickup, but it’s going to take time. Give him a few games into the season. In the meantime, they’ll ride Holmes and Mason.
• You may not know this name -- Rob Turner -- but the Jets will miss him. He backs up at center and guard, plays tight end in the “jumbo” package, lines up on defense in goal line and blocks from the wedge on kickoff returns. In short, he does everything but mop the floors. Unfortunately for the Jets, Turner broke his leg in the preseason opener and will be lost for at least two months. It’s a big loss, even though the average fan might not think so.
• The Jets are going to be vulnerable in the middle of the field in pass coverage. The safeties have suspect speed and the front seven also is short on the quicks. Opponents with athletic tight ends and crafty slot receivers are going to cause major issues for the Jets.
• The run defense could be vulnerable up the middle. Dependable nose tackle Sione Pouha is hobbled by a sprained knee (not serious, but a nuisance) and inside linebacker Bart Scott is taking some time off with what’s believed to be a high-ankle sprain. Again, it’s not serious, but when two of your inside guys are hurting, it’s never a good thing.
• Aside from Sanchez, the key player is running back Shonn Greene, the new feature back. No doubt, Greene has the talent to be the No. 1 tailback -- and he is -- but what about his durability? That always has been a question that dogs Greene. He’ll have to bring his A game every week -- assuming he recovers soon from a skin infection on his right foot. When you’re a ground-and-pound team, you need a workhorse -- and LaDainian Tomlinson, 32, probably is too old to be that guy.
• Remember this name: Jeremy Kerley. He’s a diminutive receiver/kick returner from TCU, and he will bring a lot of electricity. He’s only 5-foot-9, if that, but he has tremendous acceleration and change of direction. He’ll be an immediate factor on punt returns and, if needed at receiver, he has the ability to make plays from the slot.