The following blog was being updated from the Press Box at New Meadowlands Stadium during the Jets/Packers game on Sunday, October 31.
> Postgame: I spoke with Greg Jennings, Aaron Rodgers, AJ Hawk, Clay Matthews, Mason Crosby, Nick Mangold and Jason Taylor. Interviews will be posted on ScottStanchak.com and the story right here.
> Fourth Quarter: 9-0 Packers - Having no challenges came back to haunt the Jets in the end. At 10:34 in the fourth, the refs said Sanchez’ pass to Dustin Keller was intercepted by Packers cornerback Charles Woodson. Replay clearly showed Keller down on the play, but the Jets had no more challenges to use. In the end, Crosby — kicking in the same direction as his miss — netted a 41-yarder to give the Packers a 6-0 lead.
The Jets countered with a drive that featured a 40-yard connection between Sanchez and Keller. On the Packers 35, New York went for it on fourth down, but couldn’t convert. That gave the Packers the ball with the clock ticking down from 4:12.
NFL sack leader Clay Matthews came up huge on the Jets second-to-last offensive series. On third down, he hit Sanchez for the first time for a 6-yard loss. Then, on fourth down, he pressured Sanchez into making an errant throw down the field. That gave Green Bay the ball on their own 23 with more than 2:30 to work with. After running the clock down to 0:32, Crosby booted a 40-yard field goal for the 9-0 lead and win.
> Third Quarter: 3-0 Packers - The biggest play of the game thus far for both teams was a 49-yard pass by Sanchez to Cotchery with 5:37 left in the quarter. New York’s first trip to the redzone proved unsuccessful, even for Nick Folk, who missed a 30-yard field goal. His kick was on the same side of the field that Crosby missed his.
Packers wideout Donald Driver is likely not going to return to action this game. He went down with a quad injury this quarter.
> Second Quarter: 3-0 Packers - The first play of the second quarter did not go the Jets way. Running the wildcat, Brad Smith took the direct snap, ran to the right side and fumbled. Green Bay’s Frank Zombo recovered the ball on their own 29. Rodgers couldn’t get anything done so the turnover didn’t come back to hurt the Jets.
Two drives later, Sanchez hit Jerricho Cotchery in coverage against Packers cornerback Tramon Williams. Cotchery caught the pass, but Williams wrestled the ball out of his hands. The Jets thought Cotchery was down before the transaction took place, but Rex Ryan’s challenge was overturned. The Packers couldn’t convert a 3rd-and-19 and brought out Crosby to attempt a 45-yarder. His kick into the wind, however, went wide left, keeping their lead at just three.
The Jets defense has two sacks this quarter. David Harris got his first of the year and Dwight Lowery picked up his second.
> First Quarter: 3-0 Packers - Mark Sanchez has a favorite receiver today: Santonio Holmes. The two have connected three times for 43 yards. Tomlinson is the only other Jet with a reception.
New York pulling some tricks out from their playbook this Halloween. They were facing 4th-and-18 deep in their own territory and instead of punting, Steve Weatherford ran a fake. Initially, the refs ruled he just passed the first-down marker, yet Mike McCarthy challenged the play. Upon further review, Weatherford’s foot slipped out of bounds avoiding a tackler, just short of the marker. That gave Green Bay the ball on the Jets 37. Rogers hit Greg Jennings for a 30-yard pass on the Packers’ first play from scrimmage. They’d settle for a Mason Crosby field goal.
Credit both teams’ defenses for starting off the game strong. Each forced their opponents to 3-and-outs on their first two drives. During those four possessions, Sanchez and Rodgers were close to being picked off four times.
> Preview: The Jets have had anything but an easy time to get to 5-1 this season. Their first-place ranking in the AFC East has come through tough matchups and a spotless record in the division. But the Jets have one more formidable opponent before taking on sub-.500 teams in three of their next four games.
The Green Bay Packers come to New Jersey for the first time in nearly 10 years. The two teams last squared off on Dec. 29, 2002, when the Jets trounced the Packers, 42-17, in front of a season-high 78,733 fans at Giants Stadium.
Oh, how the years have flown by. The Packers quarterback back then was Brett Favre, who later became the Jets quarterback for one season. Now they’re commanded by one of the top-rated men in the business, Aaron Rodgers. New York cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie will definitely have their hands full with this pass-first offense. Rodgers has the potential to throw for close to 400 yards a game, especially with Greg Jennings and Donald Driver on the outside.
The Green Bay defense isn’t ranked inside the Top 10 in any of major category, which bodes well for Mark Sanchez and his receiving corps. What doesn’t is knowing Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, who leads the NFL with 8.5 sacks, is gunning for you.
New York will be looking for a rebound performance after narrowly getting by the Denver Broncos thanks to a last-second pass interference call near the goal line. They are coming out of their bye week so everyone should be fully rested, including LaDainian Tomlinson (490 yds., 5 TD), who has been the star of the Jets offense thus far.