Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J.
File Under: Chad Pennington, David Bowens, Vince Young, Craig Hentrich
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12/23 — Score at the start of the quarter remains:
Titans 10, Jets 6
The Jets let the Titans get further out of that hole that Justin McCareins (!) created with his downed punt at the TT-2 when Vince Young zips a pass over the middle to Roydell Williams for 19 yards on third-and-12.
Then just as quickly RT David Stewart is caught and called for clipping away from Young's scramble to his left. First-and-25. Then a false start. Second-and-26. Then a short pass to Justin Gage and it's third-and-long again, specifically third-and-21. This time they don't get away as David Bowens closes on Young and takes him down as he starts to scramble.
But Craig Hentrich gets a great roll on a short punt that Leon Washington can't get to, so the Jets, with 10:01 left, will need an 81-yard TD drive to take the lead at LP Field.
Chris Baker makes another of his spectacular catches with a reaching-back one-handed grab for 18 yards to rescue the Jets from first-and-15 at their 14.
But the Green & White need rescuing again when Kyle Vanden Bosch, having a stellar game, rips past LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson to execute a blindside strip-sack on Chad Pennington — KVB's third sack of the game. Ferguson recovers the loose ball, but it's third-and-10 at the Jets 32. They call their first timeout with 8:12 left in the game.
Pennington gets off a fine third-down pass but Brad Smith drops it downfield. Another opportunity lost, time running out.
CBS analyst Randy Cross has just said this game is a microcosm of the Jets' year. "It's been a season of almosts," said Cross.
But the defense slows Tennessee's offense down, another Hentrich punt rolls dead inside the Jets 20 and now the visitors have 4:37 left to go 84 yards for a possible game-winning TD.
Pennington goes 5-for-5 on short passes as the Jets move to the Tennessee 45 to get to the two-minute warning.
This time Baker can't make a big third-down catch, so it's play-of-the-game time, Jets fourth-and-4 at the 45, 1:56 to go. And it ends as DT Tony Brown loops around on a stunt, comes through the Jets' left side of the line (Robert Turner is at LG, Brick at LT) and sacks Pennington. With one timeout left, 3-12 beckons.
The Jets call that timeout, then LenDale White barges up the middle for 7 yards on third-and-6. Vince Young kneels, and CBS' Dick Enberg sums it up: "For the seventh time this year, the Jets have lost a game by a touchdown or less."
I'll post my locker room Radar entry as soon as I can, which may not be until we get back to JFK from Nashville.
Fans Respond
Here's your chance to tell Randy what you think! Add a Comment | Hide All Show All (22)jarrett Said:
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 7:02pm EDT"Come on Jets; your my favorite team and I'm starting to like the Gaints more then the u guys. Just do better next year"
ramataz Said:
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 7:07pm EDT"RandyCross said 15x what I said after the 1st game , its the OL. We dont need McFadden/Ryan, we need an OL, the Jets did their ususal stuck in the mudd offense today . We have a lot of needs and it all starts up front, on both sides of the ball. We will trade down because we need so much, trade down and get 3 picks in the top 35, many teams will want FA, when have we payed big for FA? not tani?"
Drew Said:
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 7:07pm EDT"I know the OL is horrible but Chad cannot throw those 2 picks. The 1st was way underthrown and the pick in the endzone was a really bad throw. Chad did what I expected...he played okay.....Go draft Jake Long and move Fergie to RT. I will be yelling this for the next 4 months........ The D is not far away. Pouha is a stud. This guy eats up blocks and lets Harris and Barton run to the ball. "
Drew Said:
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 7:14pm EDT"I cannot kill the OL all that much. Mangini threw some young players into the fire today. New LG New RT alot of switching against a monster front of Tenn is tough. Draft Jake Long!!"
jetslove Said:
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 7:29pm EDT"I REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY LEON WASHINGTON IS NOT USED IN THIS OFFENSE BESIDES KR. IF I WERE HIM I WOULD WANT OFF THE JETS!"
Vinnie Said:
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 7:45pm EDT"Another classic Jet loss! Pennington will again get blsmed for this loss.Randy Cross was finally right about something the Jet's "O" line is terrible! Baker has GREAT hands and should be used more but when you really need him to make a play he drops it.What is up with Nugent?Pennington and Cotchery are the only clutch players on the field.I will miss Chad when he leaves after the season!"
Jeremy Said:
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 7:48pm EDT"Are the JETS the worst RED ZONE OFFENSIVE in the league? Randy any STATS for that? How about stats for running up the middle for no gain on first down every posession? So predictable is pathetic! JETS need to fire Shotty, the most predictable play calling and horrible production--the guy needs to step down if not get the boot! Worst red-zone offense Shotty should be ashamed!"
SCJoe Said:
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 7:58pm EDT"Same ol story. OL played it's usual horrific game, play calling filled with those four to five yard outs and flares, even on third and twenty, defense plays good enough for win. Can someone tell our OC that screens and draws are legal in the NFL."
Duartea729 Said:
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 8:24pm EDT"Hello Randy. What happened to Jacob Bender? No one is commenting or writing any stories about him. I see Montgomery and Clarke switching roles at LG but I see his profile and the games he has played, and he has played a little bit these last few weeks. "
Wayne Said:
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 8:31pm EDT"Randy, said it all year, we have no OL & maybe thats why offense is so predictable. Even the great Tom Brady couldn't win with this group. We lack talent on offense & the D isn't much better. P Kendall could have made a huge difference for the O and made a HUGE difference in so many of these close losses. The O & D lines are so underrated but are the KEY to winning football games. Don't you agree?"
Vaughn Said:
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 9:11pm EDT"Wow.......wow. I have honestly been in denial about D'Brick, but he was HORRIBLE today. Just watch the highlight reel on the front screen of the website and you'll see him getting pushed back, getting beat, getting pushed around. That's not the kind of play I expect to see at the end of the season when I'm preparing for next year. This line needs a make-over, last week Clarke, this week D'Brick?"
Don't blame HERM for this Losing record Said:
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 11:44pm EDT"JETS are CURSED! And please JETS fans don't have the Nerve to BOO HERM EDWARDS next week. Not when the JETS have a worst record than KC and HERM took the JETS to 3 playoffs. If Eric is so smart while calling all of those ON SIDE kick calls,and the Jets have a 3 and 12 record. Mangini has too be held accountable for this terrible record. Because at least HERM had a reason for HIS losing last season"
Howard Said:
Mon, December 24, 2007 - 12:07am EDT"geez its nice we played hard,CAN WE WIN,we need cluch players b smith dropping a 3rd down pass in his hands late in the 4th qtr.passes thrown behind c baker great catch on the first 1 chad under throws jc on the side line when he has 2 steps on the defender,(1st int) and just get an offensive line please congrads. to TJ god knows how he got 1000 yds behind this line,and get a speed rec."
Steve Said:
Mon, December 24, 2007 - 8:24am EDT"I wonder if Mangini shuffles the O-Line had Clemens been playing (Dont think so) ?? He is playing out the string and if he gets a QB killed it will be Chad. Now Tangini goes against Parcells and Belichek. We have lost ground this yr. to Bills,Pats and yes Fins. Brick is no LT what quality FA will want to come here and we will lose our team leaders LC and CP. Next yr will be a repeat.Dump Tangini"
Vikram Said:
Mon, December 24, 2007 - 9:35am EDT"Never take pts off the board!! Doesn't matter how aggressive you're trying to play-by the 2nd Qtr it was evident this would be a game decided by one score.I was hoping Mangini would decline the leverage penalty and keep the 3 pts on the board.Pennington played well,but his end zone interception was terrible.Need to improve all facets of the game."
Larry Said:
Mon, December 24, 2007 - 11:03am EDT"OK where are all the CP fans?I dont care about stats. Never mind int #2 if not for int #1 it wouldve been NY6-Ten3. I dont want to hear 1 more person say CP IS AS GOOD AS KC. youre comparing an 8 YEAR VET TO A ROOKIE. Put him on the team plane to Kansas after the game Sunday. The only thing that shocked me about the outcome of this game is that Mangini didnt punt on 4th down with 1:50 left."
razmataz Said:
Mon, December 24, 2007 - 1:42pm EDT" I saw most of the games this week, and there are a lot worse QB's than CP, We have soo many holes to fill, that I believe with a new OL next year KC/CP can get it done for us, pay chad 3/12mil, and promise 2let him compete with KC behind a new OL, then trade down and try to get a vet. OL/DL and still have a mid 1st rounder(or xtra pick), 70% issues solved ,our past top 5 picks all busts. "
Doobie Said:
Tue, December 25, 2007 - 1:45am EDT"its so amazing how all these cp fans still keep saying cp is the best thing for us lets be real he cant even throw an out pattern come lets be real w/ our selves i guess the ol made him throw 2 picks .its okay to like cp but keep it real"
Mike Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 12:16pm EDT"CP was one of the best in the league when we had a real OL and Running game. get that for him again and we are easily in the playoffs. "
razmataz Said:
Wed, December 26, 2007 - 1:14pm EDT"Next years schedule looks like 8-2 is possible outside the division, Tangini please fix this mess, you guys created, and turn this around, the schedule is favorable! Help us (long suffering jet fans), end our misery. Now (after this sunday) is the time to step up to the plate and show us what Parcells/Belichek saw in you 2."
Jim Fraser Said:
Sun, December 30, 2007 - 4:46pm EDT"I see you never added my comments regarding our great offensive coordinator. You can only protect him for so long."
Randy Lange Said:
"Jim, your recent comment was not posted because you called the New England head coach a name. No name-calling. "
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Tim Said:
Sun, December 23, 2007 - 6:59pm EDT"So whats everyone doing next year? I heard the Jets might go down to AA so they get some wins. Heard another rumor about switching up to a soccer team too.........What a sad season for us Jets fans......"
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