Rex Starts Laying It On Thick

[SoFlaJets]

Rex Ryan starts the hype for looming Jets-Patriots clash

By MARK CANNIZZARO

November 26, 2010

Let the hype begin for Jets-Patriots, December 6, at New England, essentially for the AFC East division title.

And who better than Rex Ryan to light the fire?

“It's the marquee game of the year,’’ Ryan said. “When you look at both teams at 9-2, it's not going to get much bigger than that. So the fact that it's a divisional game, I guess the only way it would be better if it was the last game of the regular season. But this is pretty good right here. Obviously, the team that wins it is going to have to play fantastic. We're just hoping it's us.

“They're extremely confident. They should be. Their offense is moving the ball up and down the field on everybody. They got the best coach in football on their sideline (Bill Belichick), but I think our team is just as confident as New England is.’’

JETS COACH REX RYAN

Ryan, speaking to reporters this morning, just hours after his Jets beat the Bengals 26-10 at the Meadowlands to get to 9-2 and set up the showdown with the 9-2 Patriots a week from Monday, said he feels the general public believes the Patriots are the best team in the league.

He plans on changing that perception.

“They earned that, but we have the same record and we beat them once (28-14 earlier this season at the Meadowlands),’’ Ryan said. “I don't know if we're looked at in that light or whatever, but, you know, that's OK. The great thing is we get to prove it on Monday Night Football in their place.

“We'll see. I know I feel confident with that football team. I know everybody in our locker room believes we'll win. We know what New England represents, how good a football team they are, how well-coached they are, all that kind of stuff. But, again, as much as we respect them, we also think we can beat them. I think we proved that this year.

“Nobody's beaten them in 25 games. They've won 25 straight home games (with Tom Brady as starting quarterback). We've won eight straight road games. This is going to be a heck of a game.’’

Because the Jets have already beaten the Patriots, a win on Dec. 6 would put them more than the mere game in the standings ahead of New England.

“We'll have a tiebreaker over New England,’’ Ryan said. “So it's basically a game-and-a-half over them. It would be huge for us if we can pull this thing off. It's not going to be easy. I know we're confident going anywhere to play. They're certainly confident playing at home in particular, but, hey, it's going to be, in my opinion, the best two teams in football squaring off against each other and we'll see what happens on the field.’’

****

Ryan called Thursday nights performance the defense’s best of the season. The Jets held the Bengals to two first downs and only 34 yards of total offense in the second half.

He also said RT Damien Woody (sprained right knee) came out of the game fine and that he expected WR JErricho Cotcery, who’s missed the last two games with a partial tear of his left groin, to return for the next game as well as CBs Dwight Lowery (concussion) and Marquice Cole (hamstring).

[SoFlaJets]

Time for the 2010 Hype Bowl

Updated: Nov 26, 2010 03:22 PM

By Roderick Boone

When the Jets knocked the Patriots back in Week 2, Rex Ryan figured there would be a wee bit of significance to their Dec. 6 rematch in Foxborough, Mass.

"I think clearly I expected that we would have probably the best two teams in football," Ryan said today. "I expected the Colts to be there, the Ravens and Pittsburgh. This is tough, but you knew going into this one that this is going to be a huge game. The NFL, when they put the game together, was probably anticipating the same thing. I mean two 9-2 teams squaring off on Monday Night Football, it's going to be huge.

"We'll see what happens. They're extremely confident. They should be. Their offense is moving the ball up and down the field on everybody. They got the best coach in football on their sideline, but I think our team is just as confident as New England is. So we'll see what happens."

Both teams are technically tied atop the AFC East standings, but the Jets hold the current tiebreaker given their triumph over the Patriots earlier this season. So if they can win, they'd have essentially a two-game lead over New England with games left against Miami, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Buffalo.

But the Patriots are as hot as can be. They've won 25 straight regular-season games at home with coverboy Tom Brady as their quarterback, and are coming off a convincing 45-24 pasting of the Lions yesterday. Brady threw a season-high four touchdown passes -- all in the second half -- leading the Patriots back from an 11-point deficit late in the second quarter.

"First off, I watched that game yesterday," Ryan said. "Obviously, they're playing great. They're making big plays on defense, but their offense, that's where you start with. They seemed at times, almost looked like they were unstoppable. I'm pretty confident where our team is right now. We’ve got the exact same record. There's a reason why both our teams are 9-2, tied for the best record in football.

"Again, we're going down there and we'll see what happens. I know it's going to be a huge challenge, but our guys, I think, are looking forward to the challenge."

Just like he's looking forward to going against Bill Bellichick.

"Yeah, no question," Ryan said. "You always want to put yourself against the best. That's what we get to do every time we go up against them. There's a lot of really good coaches in this league, but there's only one guy that's the best. I like a challenge. It motivates you. It's like anything else, almost like going up in a championship fight, you're going to have to fight the best guy. I pride myself on being a good football coach. With the guys that I have around us, I feel confident. But I'm still not in Bill Belichick's class, and I know that. But I know one thing, he's going to get my best shot."

Ryan added: "I know everybody in our locker room believes we'll win. We know what New England represents, how good a football team they are, how well-coached they are. But, again, as much as we respect them, we also think we can beat them. ... This is going to be a heck of a game."

[Larz]

He also said RT Damien Woody (sprained right knee) came out of the game fine and that he expected WR JErricho Cotcery, who’s missed the last two games with a partial tear of his left groin, to return for the next game as well as CBs Dwight Lowery (concussion) and Marquice Cole (hamstring).

thank you thank you thank you

[Vudu]

There is no doubt in my mind the Jets will win this game.

it's gonna come down the wire, last second TD to Holmes or Braylon Edwards.

[JiF]

I <3 Rex Ryan.