New York Jets logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

All week people were asking me what I thought would happen Monday night when the NY JETS visited the Falcons in Atlanta.  I told them I didn’t this this would end well for the Green and White.  The Falcons have been a quality team the last few years making the playoffs with a young tough offense led by Matt Ryan and a pretty decent defense.  Here they were sitting at 1-3 after a couple of really tough losses, several games behind the powerful front running Saints in their division.  Another loss and their season could be over before it even started.  I expected them to come out breathing fire with a huge major effort firing on all cylinders to try and save their season.

Logo, ESPN Monday Night Football (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After watching the JETS stumble and bumble through a loss to the Titans last week,  I was sure the chances of the JETS pulling this one out were not good.

Then Geno Smith decided to play a complete and under control game. The game was eventually  won on Nick Folk‘s 43-yard field goal as time expired but it was Geno Smith who led the Jets on an eight-play, 55-yard drive with 4-for-4 passing after the Falcons had taken the lead on a couple of long Matt Ryan led touchdown drives. Geno Smith played one of his best games of his very young  career with three touchdown passes, no turnovers and 16-for-20 passing for 199 yards. His passer rating for the evening was a startling 147.7. Anyone who thinks this kid can’t play doesn’t know much about football. But he’s a rookie and needs time to develop and grow. A couple of his throws were esxtraordinary spirals with power and accuracy.  And then there were a few behind the receivers and over the head shots in the flat.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan at a road game against the Oakland Raiders. The Falcons won 24-0. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The JET defense that has looked so dominant in recent games was spotty and up and down all night stuffing the running game on some plays and giving up large chunks of passing the next.  All in all they kept the Falcons from over powering the visitors until the very end when the Falcons managed a great drive to take the lead.

Enter young Smith who once again did just enough to put kicker Folk into position to win it with no time left on the clock.  Nick Folk has become one of the premier kickers in the league as he notched his 7th game winning kick during his tenure with the JETS. Haven’t seen a kicker this consistent since Pat Leahy many moons ago. John Hall had some dramatic moments during the Parcells years,  but Folk has shown he’s consistently money in the bank inside the 50.

Next up a pitiful Steeler team searching for answers…another wounded animal that could rise up and spoil a Sunday afternoon.  Hopefully the JETS won’t fall into the trap as they try to reach closer to the division lead.

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• Geno Smith’s Instant Fantasy Reaction After Week 5 Performance vs. Falcons (bleacherreport.com)
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• Geno Smith hot early, Jets up 17-7 (schufootballreport.wordpress.com)
• Turnover-free Geno gets Jets past Falcons with late drive (cbssports.com)