Tough Week at Home...

Well, sometimes you get what you ask for whether you want it or not – and that’s what happened to Bad Dog and Bad Pup this weekend. Thanks to a 31-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets fans need their NYJetsTherapy now.

But before we get to the post-game comments, let’s take a quick look back at some choice comments they had pre-game.

Both Dogs were feeling a little uneasy. “The Jets have a history of letting people down,” said the Bad Dog. Bad Pup was concerned about stopping the Bills from running rough-shod over them and whether or not the Jets would be able to keep pressure on the QB to give their somewhat suspect secondary a fighting chance. Bad Dog continued his love for Huston, the emerging “half-back of the future” for the Jets and said, “Mangini’s my man!”

Later on, in a rare solo pre-game rant, Bad Dog had a few things to say about the New York press. “They don’t understand football,” was the opening salvo. Bad Dog really had it in for Newsday and what he felt was a very flawed “Top 100 New York Sports Figures” list that included Jason Fabini, a guy who, according to Bad Dog, had half a good rookie year and that’s it. After switching from right to left tackle, Bad Dog goes so far as to ponder if Fabini didn’t, “murder more people than that guy in Iraq.” Bad Dog summed up is feelings by saying the Newsday sportswriter should switch to something more his speed, like the fashion beat or maybe just a delivery boy. He also would like to see the Post’s Paul Mushnick sent to Siberia. “He’s a lamebrain, this guy!”

Before signing off and heading for the game Bad Dog predicted the Jets by 8…

Post-Game Wrap-Up

Well, it wasn’t quite like Bad Dog predicted. And, sadly, he watched it in person. As for Bad Pup, she says, “I’m mad, I’m sad, I’m sick, I’m pissed.” But, as Bad Dog says, that’s why they have the show. Time for some NYJetsTherapy.

Bad Dog opens up the show with some questions about Chad Pennington. With only a handful of really good games this season, Bad Dog wonders if he isn’t really a backup QB. He also wonders about this blogger’s favorite Jet (in name only) D’Brickashaw. But he liked how the center, Mangold and RB Leon Washington looked. And, as a capper, Bad Dog uses some 20/20 hindsight and asks if maybe the team should have gone for QB Matt Leinart in last year’s draft.

Bad Pup was more willing to defend Pennington, reasoning that most of the current starting QB’s in the league are having their ups and downs.

Back on my man D’Brickashaw, Bad Dog did not like that he ended up on his back two or three times over the course of the game and both Dogs agree that he needs to put on some pounds if he is really going to compete in the pros.

Bad Pup brought things back to Pennington and continued to defend him, complaining that the WR’s were having trouble getting open though she was willing to admit he didn’t look great out there today. She also stood up for D’Brickashaw, saying that LT is the toughest spot on the line and you need to give the rookie a full season before judgement.

Moving on, RG Brandon Moore got a nice shout-out from Bad Dog, “He’s a tough kid. He’s making some blocks,,” as well as a nice shout out for your very own blogger’s little “Mangenius” cartoon from last week’s entry. Though Bad Dog goes on to say that Mangini had a “bit of a brain concussion today,” especially as to the 4th-and-inches call that went all wrong. Bad Pup agrees and feels that the type of on-the-edge coaching that got the Jets so far this year was not on display today. Not having faith that your team can move that ball a foot does not send a strong sign of confidence. Bad Dog was also a little displeased that he’d given Marty Shotenheimer, the Jets’ offensive coordinator, such glowing pre-game commentary.

Next up, a closer look at the box scores. Bad Dog starts with LB John Vilma who was good for only a single tackle, even though Bad Dog thinks he is a fine player. The blame, he proffers, falls at the feet of the Man-genius for not using him properly. Vilma’s got to be involved or be yanked. Something has to change.

Bad Pup takes a look at total plays run and finds the Bills ran 52 while the Jets ran 70. The reason for the discrepancy is that the defense got burned for a couple of very big plays and the offense coughed up the ball in their own territory twice. Not exactly how you win games.

Both Dogs wanted to know how a supposedly injured Willis McGahee was able to run the ball so well against the Jets.

There was a bit of a disagreement over who to blame for the Bills’ Lee Evans’ big grab. Bad Pup feels David Barrett simply got burned on the double-pump while Bad Dog thinks some of the blame should lay with Kerry Rhodes for not backing up Barrett properly. Both agree that Rhodes is having a Pro-Bowl year.

Even with the loss, Bad Pup had some biscuits to hand out to Hobson for his 2 sacks, Thomas for his sack and general hard play and Justin Miller for all-around solid play. Bad Dog didn’t argue and even credited Justin Miller for his return game.

All in all, it was poor execution on all fronts and it lead Bad Dog to make a dire pronouncement – the Jets will NOT make the playoffs! Though Bad Pup thinks he’s being too grim and is holding out some hope for a wild card. Bad Pup gives her Jets fans some much-needed therapy as she paints a little silver trim around a rather grey cloud.

We’ll find out one way or the other next week in Minnesota.