Enjoy the Moment

Houston, TX (WFAN)  -- I feel like I spent an entire week hearing people talk about how the Texans were going to be a very tough team to play in the season opener and how good they were on the road and how nasty their offense was..etc. I must've missed something on Sunday because the Jets ran all over Houston who looked like a pee wee team in a 24-7 loss to the new look Gang in Green. And yes, I realize it is only Week 1 but the Jets defense looked just as advertised by "mouthy" Rex Ryan and Bart Scott. They held the 3rd most proficient offense in the league from last season in check and then some. Blitz, Blitz, Blitz, Blitz...that was the name of the game. No scores and only 183 yards of offense for Houston and even better only 4 catches by Andre Johnson after he led the NFL in receptions last season. Good morning, new look Jets defense! They pressured Matt Schaub all afternoon long. He was yelling at his offensive line at points (which I must say was quite comedic). David Harris led the way with 6 tackles, 5 assists and a sack and there was a Vernon Gholston sighting. No Lie!! He was very active and had 3 tackles. Oh, and for all of the questions involving Lito Sheppard and the secondary play; he had an interception and the group played well with Darrelle Revis locking down Johnson and limiting him to those 4 grabs for 35 yards. It was a great defensive team effort as they just made it difficult on Schaub and didn't allow the Texans to get into a rhythm offensively. Week 1 under Ryan was all about defense, just as we thought it would be.

Offensively: WOW! I have said since training camp how impressed I was with Mark Sanchez and how poised he was in practice and then in the preseason games. Well.....he lived up to all that hype in his first regular season game. It was the first victory by a rookie on the road in an opener since 2001. And who that game back in '01? He was a Heisman trophy winner who didnt have much of an NFL career - Chris Weinke. Sanchez finished 18-31 272 td, int. He was insane on 3rd down as was the team as a whole. The Jets were 10-18 on 3rd down conversions and 2-2 on 4th down. And for all the questions surrounding wide receivers..bah. They had plenty of weapons to catch passes. 2 guys had at least 90 yards receiving; Cotchery had 6 grabs for 94 yards and Dustin Keller had 4 for 90. Chansi Stuckey caught the one TD pass from Sanchez of the 30 yard variety and he finished with 4 grabs for 64 yards. As for the running game..just as advertised as well. Thomas Jones led the way with 107 yards on 20 carries and 2 touchdowns, both in the 2nd half. While Leon Washington carried the ball 15 times for 60 and he also had 4 receptions for 24 yards. Sanchez was a cool cucumber when he was pressured and except for one interception which resulted in a touchdown, he made great decisions and shook off dropped passes and came back to make big plays at big times. He did not look like a rookie. He looked like he had been doing this for years. He is for real. He might run into some speed bumps as a rookie, but this kid is a big time player and has the aura of a winner.

It was a complete team effort on both sides of the ball and a dominating one at that. It looks like this team has put it together nicely and could be in store for a surprisingly successful season. With the new coach, new QB and stiff defense all clicking in Week 1...it's a great sign of big things ahead for the 2009 Jets. Of course, we all know how quickly things can turn in this league. But for now...enjoy the moment.