Somehow someway, the Jets managed to pull out of Detroit having comeback to beat the lowly Lions. With all of the awful penalties and turnovers this game was one of the more difficult to watch games in recent history. It wasn't just that we were losing to the Lions, but it was the way that we were losing to the Lions. Until the last 4 minutes or so of the game, the Jets looked like a team that had no business being considered a Super Bowl contender.
However it was those last 4 minutes and change in OT that proved why the Jets are a Super Bowl Contender. They have as muchas if not more talent on their roster than any other team in the NFL. They have had a few quality wins like the wins over the Patriots, Dolphins and Vikings and one game where they simply dominated the Bills. Those games are great and all but it was there two ugliest wins that are what really proves that they are a Super bowl Contender.
Coming into the season one of the biggest knocks on the Jets was that not many people thought that Mark Sanchez had the ability to lead the Jets from behind to a victory in the 4th quarter. Well he has now done it twice. First against Denver, although the biggest play in that game winning drive was an extremely legitimate pass interference call at the goal line. This week Sanchez truly led the team down the field on three straight drives in the last four minutes of regulation and the first drive of overtime to win the game. The first drive he ended by making it into the end zone by himself. The second which featured a lot of LT out of the back field ended with a Nick Folk field goal as time expired. The last drive featured a beautiful pass to a streaking Santonio Holmes who then made a move and continued on until he was caught from behind after a 52 yard gain. Two plays later Folk kicked another field goal and the miracle was complete, the Jets escaped Motown with an OT win against the lowly Lions.
Although most will think of this as just another ugly Jets win to get them back into first place in the AFC east and into another tie for the best record in football. I however look at it a little bit differently. I see it as a win that could prove to be a signature win for the Jets this year. The reason why is that Sanchez now has the confidence that he can in fact lead his team back from a double digit fourth quarter deficit and win. This is something that can and in my mind will make a huge difference for the Jets when they are in the playoffs and fighting to achieve what they've been talking about all year. Being Super Bowl Champs!
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