Mike Keith: Believe In The Jets
The View From The Voice January 5, 2003

Ok, it's not the first time in my life that I've been late to the party.

I just started drinking Diet Coke regularly in the last year.

I really got into Seinfeld during its eighth season on TV.

I learned to use a PC when I was 29 years old.

Now, I believe fully in the New York Jets. Last week, I still did not.

I was the only man in America who was picking the Indianapolis Colts to go to the Meadowlands and beat the Jets this past weekend. I just thought that the Jets would be out of gas after two very emotional must-win games that got them into the playoffs. I also didn't think that the Jets could score with the Colts.

As you now know---and so do I---it was the Colts who couldn't score with New York. Heck, the Colts couldn't score at all.

I'm in shock that the Jets beat Indy, 41-0. I just never saw that coming.

Now, that doesn't mean that I hadn't been impressed with the New York Jets during the second half of the season. I certainly have been.

After a 2-5 start, the Jets got an entire lift from quarterback Chad Pennington. Pennington's play lifted New York's entire team, not just their offense.

Pennington's decision-making in the West Coast offense helped a previously-anemic Jets offense begin to score. He got the ball to Laveranues Coles, helping Coles to post the best year for a Jets wideout since the great Don Maynard donned the green and white: 89 catches for 1264 yards and five touchdowns. Pennington also spread the ball around to veteran Wayne Chrebet (nine touchdowns), fullback Richie Anderson (45 catches), emerging star wideout Santana Moss (30 catches) and tight end Anthony Becht (five touchdowns).

Pennington's passing helped to get battered tailback Curtis Martin over 1000 yards rushing (1094 to be exact) for the eighth straight year to begin his career. Martin also caught 49 passes.

Chad Pennington's passer rating of 104.2 was the best in the league, but you want the most telling stat on Pennington's year? Inside the opponent's 20 yard line, Pennington threw 18 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. For the season, Pennington had 22 touchdown passes and just 6 interceptions. He hasn't thrown an interception since December 2. He didn't throw one against the Colts last Saturday as his line was what has become typical Chad: 19 of 25 for 222 yards and three touchdowns.

Not bad for an old Knoxville boy, huh?

But now back to the 'entire lift' thing. Obviously, Pennington's play has meant many more points for the Jets. Since scoring points is the object of the game, it goes without saying that Pennington is really doing his job. Pennington has helped the Jets' defense with his decision-making, as well. By not turning the ball over, New York did not put its defense in horrible positions any more. It gave the Jets' defense a chance to grow into coordinator Ted Cottrell's system.

Defensive end John Abraham (10 sacks) made his second straight Pro Bowl. Former Titan Josh Evans (6 sacks) and former Vol Shaun Ellis (2.5 sacks in the last three games) has added punch to the Jets defensive line.

The Jets linebacker corps came together at mid-year with former Bill Sam Cowart (team-high 154 hits), Marvin Jones (148 hits) and three-time Pro Bowler Mo Lewis (114 hits). New York lost starting cornerbacks Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman to the Houston Texans in the expansion draft. The Jets replaced them with former Jaguar Aaron Beasley and former ETSU and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Donnie Abraham. It took awhile, but Beasley (two interceptions) and Abraham (four interceptions) got going during the season's second half.

No longer behind all of the time or put in bad spots consistently, the New York Jets defense got a lot better. Chad Pennington was a big reason for that.

He also added a youthful spark on the sideline. It has been fun to watch Pennington bounce from man to man, providing encouragement and talking strategy with his teammates. There is an energy and an enthusiasm to these Jets that Pennington has given them.

They are having fun. That's probably what makes them most dangerous next week as they travel to Oakland in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game. The Jets lost at Oakland on Monday Night Football on December 2, 20-13. It was a game that came down to the final play. This one probably will, too.

The New York Jets will be underdogs at Oakland, but many believe that they can win. A week ago, I wouldn't have believed that the Jets stood much of chance.

As of now, I do believe.

That will be some game, as will Pittsburgh at Tennessee. Whoever wins the AFC Championship is going to be one hot team. They'll have to be.