Jets and Giants both struggle in NY vs. NY clash

JETS 17
GIANTS 3

This was ugly.

Sure it is preseason, but by the looks of it, neither the Jets nor the Giants are ready for the regular season. Typically the third preseason game is the dress rehearsal for Week 1, and after tonight neither team can look at this game and feel confident about where they are.

Let's begin with the Giants.

Their offense was sloppy all night long. Five time in the first half, the Giants were faced with third down inside Jets territory, and each time, they failed to convert. Then, when they went for it on fourth down, they were either short or called back for a penalty.

This has been a pattern all summer. The Giant inability to cash in on third down has cost them points at the most inopportune times. Last night's exhibition against the Jets was an embarrassment for the Giants mainly because Gang Green was not doing anything to stop them through the air; Eli Manning threw for 200 yards in the contest.

Defensively, the Giants did a solid job against the Jets passing attack. The D neutralized Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes downfield, holding Burress to zero catches in fact, and forced Mark Sanchez to check down all night long.

So while there are concerns about the Giants secondary after the number of injuries they have endured, they did a very nice job against the Jets to give their fans some confidence heading into the season.

And then there is this: Brandon Jacobs. Does Brandon Jacobs have to treat an NFL football game like it's MMA? Really!? How many times was Jacobs seen taking shots at Jets players; it was embarrassing. It even got to the point that he was ejected from the game for taking a punch at Jets rookie Muhammad Wilkerson; moreover,it has reached the point with Jacobs that the Giants have to decide to keep him or to cut him loose. He took a pay cut to be in the team, and he's not even the number one back anymore. More stupidity from Jacobs and he is going to hurt this team in a big way.

Now for the Jets. Where was the offense? Sure the Giants did a great job in coverage, but the Jets looked like a team that hadn't practiced in weeks. Their big, physical receivers couldn't get off the ball and couldn't get separation. The running game was non-existent; they racked up only 43 yards on the ground in the first half, and 73 yards of total offense in the first half. It was humiliating, like watching Paul Hackett's offense again. Dink here, dunk there, then punt.

Still the Jets showed fans a reason why they can be explosive. After the Giants grabbed a 3-0 lead, Antonio Cromartie's 68 yard kick return reminded you that the Jets do have an dynamite kick returner not named Brad Smith. Then Mark Sanchez's 17 yard rope to Santonio Holmes for the go-ahead touchdown was the lone highlight of the night. It displayed the kind of power the Jets offense possesses and how quickly they can score at any point in a game.

Defensively the Jets bent but didn't break. The Giants chewed them up for yards, including a bone headed play by Bart Scott, who had a clear shot at Ahmad Bradshaw in the backfield but missed him. Bradshaw chugged down field for 29 yards. Yet, when the Jets needed to make plays defensively, they did. They knocked passes away inside the red zone, and, in the third quarter, the Jets second string defense did a great job in a goal line stand against the Giants first string offense, forcing Big Blue to turn the ball over on fourth and goal.

So overall, an uneven display by both New York teams. Are they ready for the regular season? NO!