Jets Starters Look Good Inspite of Loss To Giants

GIANTS 31
JETS 16

Even though the Giants third and fourth stringers beat up the Jets fourth stringers in the fourth quarter, the Jets were the team that left the lasting impression on this the opening of the 2010 pre-season as well as the opening of New Meadowlands Stadium.

Questions abound about how the Jets number 1 ranked defense would fair without Darrelle Revis, and right now its Jets 1, Revis 0. The Jets harrassed Eli Manning and the Giants offense all night, holding Manning to a putrid 77 yards passing; keep in mind, Manning and the Giants starters played the entire first half.

Antonio Cromartie did a great job in coverage of Hakeem Nicks, holding him to just one catch. Cromartie came close to picking off Manning twice in the game.

The Jets then held Brandon Jacobs to just 2 yards rushing, and Ahmad Bradshaw to -1 yard rushing. If the Jets starters remained in the game on defense they probably would have destroyed the Giants.

Offensively, Mark Sanchez looked sharp. Inspite of an early interception, that was really a deflection into the hands of Antrelle Rolle, Sanchez picked apart the Giants secondary. He was 13-of-17 for 119 and a touchdown to Brad Smith.

Ladainian Tomlinson showed the nation that he still has something left in his legs, as he ripped off a 14 yard catch to convert a key third down. And Santonio Holmes looked great, leading the Jets in receiving with four catches for 53 yards.

The Giants starting defense was so porous that they even made Kellen Clemens look good. Clemens was 7-for-10 for 84 yards, most of which went to Holmes.

So even though Brandon Jacobs said after the game, "We beat the Jets, the Hard Knocks Jets. Now we know who the stadium belongs to." It was clear that the Jets outclassed the Giants on the field.