Jets-Eagles: Fourth Quarter

Randy's Radar

Jets-Eagles: Fourth Quarter

Published: Thu, August 30, 2007 - 9:55pm EDT
Randy Lange

By Randy Lange

Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J.


File Under: Chansi Stuckey, Marques Tuiasosopo, Mike Nugent

08/30 — And the Jets are on the board! Marques Tuiasosopo, flushed up in the pocket by the Eagles' outside rush, tucks the ball and takes off. No slide here — Tui fights his way through two defenders burst into the end zone. Even 12 Eagles on the field don't prevent Mike Nugent's extra point, and it's 10-3, Jets, seven seconds into the final period.

Sorry, technical difficulties there for a few minutes. But now the Eagles trying to drive for a tying TD — or maybe, if they score, they'll go for two as a few other coaches have done this preseason in similar situations, to avoid overtime and to work on their deuce formation.

It's fourth and less than a yard and less than 5 minutes to go. Ilaoa converts and the Eagles move to third-and-2 at the Jets 35. But Kolb gets the first down on a pass to TE Brent Celek, then the touchdown on a pass to Zac Collie down the left sideline into the end zone for 31 yards. Then Kolb rolls right, looks, looks — and finds Ilaoa for the two-point conversion with 2:57 to play.

Does the 11-10 score sound familiar? That's what the Phillies beat the Mets by in the afternoon, just across Pattison Avenue.

Tui has his own two-minute drill here and he's moving the offense. He hesitates, then hits Stuckey over the middle for a first down, then swings another completion out to Joe Kowalewski, then scrambles to the Eagles 46 before calling the Jets' first timeout with 1:15 to go.

Tui keeps on third-and-1 and keeps the drive going, although apparently the Jets burned their second timeout when there was going to be a measurement. Then Joe Kowalewski caught a pass — or did he? No, he didn't, since his left foot came down on the sideline. Incompletion. So It's second-and-10 at the Eagles 44.

But Tuiasosopo gets it to Stuckey for a first down at the 31, then he spikes. They're in Nugent territory with 44 seconds left. Then it's Tui-to-Stuckey again, with Chansi reeling off another of his spin moves for some extra YAC to the 21, and another spike. A Tutt positioning run, then the Birds call their third timeout with 19 seconds left. Then Tuiasosopo with a keeper toward the left hashmark, then the Jets' final TO.

Nugent, who had his first game-winning FG try as a pro last year on Christmas night in Miami, succeeding for the 13-10 win, is trying another from 35 yards out with 3 seconds left. It's Dearth to Graham, juggling slightly, but he gets it down, Nugent puts it through, and the karma from earlier in the day in South Philly is busted.

Final score: Jets 13, Eagles 11

... as time expires to finish 3-1 in the preseason. Ready or not, here comes the regular season. I'll be back in a short while after the locker room session.

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Joe Said:

Thu, August 30, 2007 - 11:53pm EDT

"Nice drive by Tui, but my guess is that he doesn't earn a roster spot. The Jets are going to take advantage of B. Smith's versatility and use the roster spot elsewhere. Tui gave it a good shot, but I think that he's a fringe NFL QB at best. Brad will always be a slash player, he's no NFL QB either."

Fred Said:

Fri, August 31, 2007 - 12:10am EDT

"Well Randy I just returned from the game & I think Tui deserves the 3rd qb spot & have Brad Smith focus on being mr. everything- except qb.I think CJ Mosely made the best of his start tonight & has a spot , but there will be some tough cuts made concerning the DL LETS GO J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!"

Ira Said:

Fri, August 31, 2007 - 8:29am EDT

"Tui looked good and now its going to be do they want the roster spot or not? I think they should trade him if possible if not keep him. Smith is not the answer if they're affraid of injuries. I have said it all summer, Stuckey could be the steal of the draft. Fitting end for the summer, Nugent's FG."