Jets at Raiders
Network Associates Coliseum
Oakland, Calif.
Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002
AT A GLANCE: Both clubs lost last week to teams that had
no postseason plans — the Jets fell to the Bills, while the Raiders were knocked off
by the Broncos. This game has huge playoff implications for both teams.
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| OVERVIEW: With both teams in the middle of the
postseason picture, a win in the season finale would go a long way toward allowing the
dust to settle in the AFC playoff race. The Jets are fighting for their playoff lives
and have looked shaky ever since a 24-0 win over Miami back in Week 10. They still can
advance to the playoffs if they lose to Oakland, but they would need help. With a win,
they’re in.
The Raiders, meanwhile, weren’t able to take advantage of opportunities in the
battle for home-field advantage with Pittsburgh over the past month. They’re coming
into this contest losers of two in a row and three of their last five. Even in wins over
the Chiefs and Chargers in Weeks 13 and 14, respectively, Oakland failed to resemble the
team that was once firing on all cylinders at 8-2.
When the Jets have the ball:
RB Curtis Martin is the focal point for much of what the Jets do offensively. He enters
this contest with seven 100-yard rushing games to his credit. Martin also teams with FB
Richie Anderson to play a key role in the Jets’ passing game. One important factor
with Martin is he hasn’t worn down as the season has progressed like he has in years
past, and that is a credit to the new coaching staff.
The Jets have been criticized for being too conservative offensively. While QB Vinny
Testaverde has done a decent job of taking care of the ball and making good decisions, he
has thrown four interceptions in the past two games. The Raiders shouldn’t expect the
Jets to attack downfield much in the passing game, as Testaverde has had only three
200-yard passing performances this season, and two of them were in the past two weeks,
when the Jets were playing mostly from behind. |
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| Network Associates Coliseum |
| Oakland, Calif. |
| Date: Sunday, January 6, 2002 |
| 1:15 p.m. Pacific Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
| |
New York Jets |
9-6-0 |
| |
Oakland |
10-5-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
New York Jets |
7-8-0 |
| |
Oakland |
7-7-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
New York Jets (R) |
6-1-0 |
| |
Oakland (H) |
5-2-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
New York Jets (R) |
5-2-0 |
| |
Oakland (H) |
3-4-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
New York Jets |
6-6-0 |
| |
Oakland |
8-4-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
New York Jets |
4-8-0 |
| |
Oakland |
5-6-1 |
|
| The WR tandem of Laveranues Coles and Wayne
Chrebet will make the tough catches, and Coles’ speed can be a nightmare for
opponents if he gets loose in the open field. Rookie Santana Moss, who also serves as the
team’s punt returner, has been quiet since his return from a knee injury in Week 12.
TE Anthony Becht is a solid red-zone threat. The offensive line, boasting standouts
Kevin Mawae at center and Jason Fabini at left tackle, has been extremely productive as a
whole and hasn’t allowed a sack since Week 12.
While the Raiders seem to have tightened some of the screws with their porous run
defense, they still leave a lot to be desired. DT Grady Jackson has been a powerful and
consistent force, and his quickness and strength at 325 pounds help him disrupt things in
the offensive backfield. Darrell Russell, Jackson’s cohort in the middle, has taken
his game to another level over the past month. The Raiders still need larger contributions
from their defensive ends and safeties, but CB Charles Woodson doesn’t seem to be
hampered by his turf-toe injury.
When the Raiders have the ball:
QB Rich Gannon bounced back with a 313-yard passing outing in a loss to the Broncos, a
game in which he completed 71.4 percent of his passes. While he was extremely accurate
last week, he has thrown at least one interception in five straight games.
RB Charlie Garner has assumed the lead role in the backfield, but the Raiders have been
much more reliant on the passing game than they were in 2000, when they led the league in
rushing. RB Tyrone Wheatley has had little impact since returning from a knee injury.
The Raiders’ offensive line has played well but figures to limp into this game and
beyond. C Adam Treu has exceeded expectations, and OLT Barry Sims has managed to hold his
own against some impressive pass rushers, despite a broken bone in his foot. But nagging
injuries to OG Mo Collins and ORT Lincoln Kennedy have had an impact.
WR Tim Brown’s productivity has dropped off a bit of late, but Jerry Rice
continues to defy Father Time and make the big play when the Raiders need it most.
Veteran CB Aaron Glenn returned from a three-week layoff due to injury to play in
passing situations last week, and he’s expected to return to the starting lineup vs.
the Raiders. That should provide a big boost for the Jets’ secondary.
The Jets would love to have their young defensive ends, John Abraham and Shaun Ellis,
return to the level they were playing at earlier this season to help bolster the pass
rush. OLB James Farrior is playing at a Pro Bowl level, but the Jets are lacking at the DT
position, where they have yet to find a combination that works well.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Dec. 30. |
Offense |
| WR |
87 COLES, 81 Hatchette, 84 Yeast |
| OLT |
69 FABINI, 67 McKenzie* |
| OLG |
71 JENKINS, 79 Loverne |
| C |
68 MAWAE, 63 Machado |
| ORG |
77 THOMAS, 63 Machado |
| ORT |
74 YOUNG, 67 McKenzie*, 65 Goodspeed |
| TE |
88 BECHT, 48 Dearth* |
| WR |
80 CHREBET, 82 Swayne*, 83 Moss |
| QB |
16 TESTAVERDE, 10 Pennington, 11 Woodbury, 7 Tupa |
| RB |
28 C. MARTIN, 34 Jordan*, 26 Morton |
| FB |
20 R. ANDERSON, 33 Sowell |
Defense |
| DLE |
92 ELLIS, 99 Ogbogu |
| DLT |
98 BURTON, 91 S. Martin |
| DRT |
91 S. MARTIN, 93 Reed* |
| DRE |
94 ABRAHAM, 95 Lyle |
| LOLB |
57 LEWIS, 58 Farrior, 56 J. Glenn* |
| MLB |
55 JONES, 50 Moses*, 56 J. Glenn* |
| ROLB |
58 FARRIOR, 51 Darling |
| LCB |
24 MICKENS, 23 Henderson*, 31 A. Glenn |
| RCB |
42 COLEMAN, 23 Henderson*, 27 Scott, 29 Rooths |
| SS |
21 V. GREEN, 25 N. Ferguson |
| FS |
22 ROBINSON, 30 C. Hayes |
Specialists |
| P |
7 TUPA |
| PK |
9 HALL, 7 Tupa |
| H |
7 TUPA, 10 Pennington |
| KR |
84 YEAST, 34 Jordan*, 26 Morton |
| PR |
26 MORTON, 84 Yeast, 31 A. Glenn |
| LS |
48 DEARTH*, 77 Thomas |
* Rookie |
|
|
Offense |
| WR |
81 BROWN, 82 Jett, 83 Knight |
| OLT |
65 SIMS, 74 Stinchcomb, 73 Myles |
| OLG |
76 WISNIEWSKI, 73 Middleton, 65 Sims |
| C |
62 TREU, 74 Stinchcomb |
| ORG |
73 MIDDLETON, 79 Collins, 65 Sims |
| ORT |
72 KENNEDY, 77 Ashmore |
| TE |
86 R. WILLIAMS, 89 Fulcher, 87 Brigham |
| WR |
80 RICE, 84 Porter |
| QB |
12 GANNON, 8 Tuiasosopo*, 16 Peete |
| RB |
25 GARNER, 47 Wheatley, 42 Kirby, 28 Jordan |
| FB |
32 CROCKETT, 40 Ritchie, 34 J. Williams |
Defense |
| DLE |
91 UPSHAW, 99 Taves, 95 Grant* |
| DLT |
90 JACKSON, 75 Cooper*, 92 Ioane |
| DRT |
96 RUSSELL, 57 Coleman, 99 Taves |
| DRE |
94 BRYANT, 99 Taves |
| OLB |
59 THOMAS, 50 Barton |
| MLB |
54 BIEKERT, 55 Brooks |
| OLB |
58 ALEXANDER, 53 Smith |
| LCB |
24 WOODSON, 20 James, 39 Jennings |
| RCB |
21 ALLEN, 20 James |
| SS |
37 HARRIS, 49 Pope, 26 Gibson* |
| FS |
33 DORSETT, 37 Harris |
Specialists |
| PK |
11 JANIKOWSKI |
| P |
9 LECHLER |
| H |
12 GANNON |
| PR |
81 BROWN, 84 Porter |
| KR |
42 KIRBY |
| LS |
62 TREU |
* Rookie |
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