Lost Pride: Hofstra Discontinues Football Program After 72 Seasons

by Mike Trovato

Hofstra Pride football has finally made a dent in local headlines. Unfortunately, it's not the kind of notoriety anyone looks forward to. After 72 years, Hofstra University has made the decision to cut its football program, a financial decision influenced mainly by heavy costs, as well as a lack of interest and poor attendance.

Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz, a guest today on WFAN's Mike'd Up, told host Mike Francesa that Hofstra, which averaged just over 4,000 fans per home game, could no longer justify the $4.5 million in expenses given the return produced by the program. To those who choose to remain, the school will honor all scholarships given to its football players. Others will likely transfer; those players will be immediately eligible to play for their new schools.
http://image.cdnl3.xosnetwork.com/pics22/200/LY/LYAYXAMXVTYAYHP.20090722185224.jpg
The Pride won their final home game of the season- and ever- on Saturday, November 21st, a 52-38 victory over UMass. In front of a minuscule crowd of 2,549, Hofstra amassed 599 yards of total offense to finish the season at 5-6. Quarterback Cory Christopher accounted for 484 of the Pride's 500 yards passing, going 38-for-50 with 3 touchdown passes. Christopher connected for one score with junior wideout Aaron Weaver (right), who set career-highs with 15 receptions and 191 yards, his second straight 100 yard receiving game.

In light of the university's decision, there has been an outcry from Hofstra students, particularly through Facebook pages, such as "Help Keep Hofstra Football," just hours after the news broke this morning. Ironically, the group's 3,300+ (and growing) members equals over six times the average student turnout for home games. I myself am a Hofstra alum, and the news was sudden and unforeseen. However, I cannot say I'm the least bit surprised.

My dad is a Hofstra alum, and he began taking me to Hofstra sporting events- mainly football and basketball- when I was in elementary school. I remember going to my first Hofstra football game 11 years ago with my dad. Coincidentally, Hofstra, then the Flying Dutchmen, played UMass, and lost 40-35. I was just 12 years old, but the experience of Hofstra sports remained with me through high school, when I ultimately decided to attend Hofstra as an undergrad back in 2004.

In my eight semesters living on Hofstra University's campus, I can attest to the limited buzz surrounding the football team. Despite being a sports fan, despite being entitled to a free ticket at every home game, I rarely attended. The culture on campus not one of a student body that got hyped up its football games, not the same way Hofstra students got excited over home basketball games. This is likely a result of both the advertising on campus, as well as the on-field product the Pride was putting forth.

Under Coach Joe Gardi in the 90's, Hofstra football achieved great success, establishing itself as a ranked Division 1-AA power. From 1997-2001, Gardi guided the Flying Dutchmen to the 1-AA playoffs in four out of five seasons, amassing a 46-15 record and reaching the 1-AA quarterfinals in 1999 and 2000, with teams that ranked #5 and #7, respectively. In 2001, Hofstra again ranked in the top 10 and were crowned co-champions of the Atlantic 10 conference.
http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/84623644.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19346E4C5E9CA0732618C62CAF4A4DFE8D526FD13ED7B73D4BC
Hofstra and Gardi parted ways after the '01 season, and despite producing pro players like Stephen Bowen and Kyle Arrington, as well as NFL stars Willie Colon (above, left) Marques Colston (below, left), Hofstra's football program has struggled mightily since Gardi's departure. Over the last 8 seasons, the Dutch/Pride (2004) have posted six sub-.500 seasons, a 43 percent winning rate in going a combined 40-53.
http://sportsroids.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/
Today's news comes as a shock, mainly because there was no news or public speculation leading up to the decision. However, I cannot honestly say I'm too surprised. As a Hofstra University alum, of course this news is upsetting, as Hofstra athletics has been a part of my life since I was a kid. But honestly, as a student, how many of us actually went to the games? Yes, the on-campus advertising of the team was not the greatest, but the fact is that there is more support for the team now that it's gone than there was when it was still here, which is unfortunate.

Hofstra University has 13,000 undergrad students alone, yet the turnout for home games was about 500 students per game, a mere 3.8 percent. Let's flip that around: 96.2 percent of students essentially showed no interest in the team, at least not enough to find the time to attend the games, and I fall into that grouping. I'm a huge sports fan, aspiring sports writer, and even I didn't go to the football games, and the tickets are free to students.
http://greenpinstripes.com/images/20chr.jpg
No Division 1-AA program can get by on 3.8% support from its student body. For the school to invest $4.5 million on a product that brings in $400 thousand is absurd. Would you invest a dollar only to see 8 cents of it back? No. Now multiply that by 4.5 million. This decision, as upsetting and controversial as it is, is for the immediate future, a financially responsible one by Hofstra, which will now redirect their funds towards merit-based scholarships and its more profitable athletic programs. The University will be putting measures in place to help its 84 football players, who are now faced the decision of whether to remain at Hofstra, or to continue their NCAA Football careers elsewhere. For some, the decision will be easy, for others it will not; best of luck to all of those young men, wherever they choose to land as a result of this shakeup.
http://allthingsfootball.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/chrebet.jpg
In the shadow of nine local professional sports franchises, just a half hour train ride away from New York City, the biggest consumer market in the world, Hofstra football fell by the wayside. In its heyday, the Hofstra Flying Dutchmen were a force in Division 1-AA football, producing New York Jets legend Wayne Chrebet (above right). Willie Colon is a Super Bowl Champion, the starting offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, protecting Ben Roethlisberger's right side. Marques Colston has been an overwhelming success, elevating himself from 7th round draft pick to elite NFL Wide Receiver in a matter of 3 1/2 seasons. Now, with the discontinuation of the program, the Pride of Hofstra football lies on the shoulders of Colston and Colon.

http://www.hofstra.edu/images/sports_ath_shuartstadiumnew.jpg

Week 11: Quick Picks

by Mike Trovato

Unfortunately I haven't had the time to put a regular post up this week, so instead, here are some quick picks of the week:

Atlanta Falcons (5-4) vs. New York Giants (5-4)
In a game with playoff implications written all over it, the New York Giants will finally snap their four game losing streak at home against the Atlanta Falcons. The winner of this contest will catapult themselves right back into the playoff picture, and with Dallas and Philly failing to gain ground last week, the "playoff picture" could mean more than just the wildcard for the Giants. The Falcons haven't had a road loss to the G-men since 1979, but with the bye week to prepare, Tom Coughlin's troops will be ready to go. Matty Ice hasn't been as efficient as he was in his rookie campaign. Ryan has already surpassed his interception total from last year nine games into 2009. Without Michael Turner, the Falcons offense should be heavily focused on getting the ball to Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Pierce will be missing from the middle linebacker spot, out indefinitely with a bulging disc in his neck. Still, with time to rest, Eli Manning and Brandon Jacobs should have success against the Falcons 25th ranked defensive unit.
Giants 24, Falcons 16

New York Jets (4-5) vs. New England Patriots (6-3)
A curious fourth quarter play call has the New England Patriots in a role reversal, with Bill Belicheck being the center of criticism and controversy. Last week, with the lead in hand against the undefeated Colts, Belichick risked going for it on 4th and 2 late in the fourth quarter, rather than punting the ball out of Patriot territory. The move backfired, giving Peyton Manning one-third of the field to do what he does best- win games. The call caused quite a buzz, which I'm sure relieved the New York Jets, who suffered a bad loss themselves at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars.The Jags also stirred up some controversy, with Jack del Rio instructing Maurice Jones-Drew to take a knee at the Jets one, rather than score the go-ahead touchdown with just under two minutes remaining. Though the call worked out, del Rio was questioned for risking a missed game-winning field goal rather than 6 points on the board.
Circumstance and controversies aside, what remains is the fact that the formerly 3-0 Jets are now 4-5, "not dead yet" but "barely breathing," according to Rex Ryan. Ryan made his own headlines this week, shedding tears in an emotional post-game locker room speech. Coach "Cryin'" may have more to be upset about by day's end on Sunday; the Patriots will be out for blood, and have enough venom in them to make this game ugly. As though Belicheck's hatred for Gang Green wasn't enough- last week's mishap, Jim Leonhard playing through a recovery from thumb surgery, along with the week 2 manhandling of Tom Brady by the Jets D- all of these could very well add up to a beatdown of the visiting Jets. Even recognizing their flaws, I've given the Jets the benefit of the doubt just about every week, until now. When Rex Ryan starts crying and Bart Scott stops talking, it's pretty clear that the Jets issues are more than an aberration, they're a concern.
Patriots 38, Jets 17

And then there was one...
Two undefeated teams remain in the NFL, the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. Both sit at 9-0, both looking for win number 10 this weekend. Both teams, however, are coming off scares- the Colts having barely beaten the Patriots thanks to Belicheck's questionable confidence on fourth down, while the Saints fended off the lowly Rams in a 28-23 game that, like their four previous games, shouldn't have been as close as it turned out. The Saints play the 1-8 Buccaneers this week, a Tampa team that put up one heck of a fight at Miami last weekend. The 5-4 Ravens will follow their 16-0 Monday Night blanking of the Browns by hosting the Colts in Baltimore. My prediction: when the dust clears, only one 9-0 team will come out still undefeated.

Bottom Feeders
The Detroit Lions looked like a team with some fight in them when they beat the Washington Redskins in week 3. Since then, three different Lions quarterbacks have been the team's single game passing leaders in passing, including Drew Stanton. No Detroit running back has come close to 100 yards on the ground since Kevin Smith ran for 101 in that lone Detroit victory.
That changes this week.
As miserable as Detroit has been over the last two seasons, the Cleveland Browns are apparently trying to one-up them- in terms of being awful- and I think they may have a case. This week, we'll find out. Brady Quinn has overtaken Derek Anderson behind center, if you can even call it overtaking. If the Lions running backs have had it rough, here's one better- neither Browns QB has passed for over 100 yards since week 6 (WEEK SIX?!?!) when Derek Anderson put up 122 yards on the Steelers. Interestingly enough, JaMarcus Russell is now riding the bench on Oakland, and an NFL without JaMarcus Russell means the Browns may now have no competition for worst collective passer rating in the league.
Quinn may crack triple digits, which should be enough to keep Brett Ratliff on the bench... but who really cares? Rack up another post-game celebration with the fans, the Lions will take this one, and I'll figure something wacky into the final score. Let's go with a safety for Cleveland, because again, who really cares? It's just a prediction.
Lions 16, Browns 8

Week 10 Preview: Jets vs. Jaguars

by Mike Trovato

Week 10- November 15th, 2009
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) vs. New York Jets (4-4)
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ







The New York Jets will kick off the second half of the season a bit healthier than they were at the end of the first half of it.

Coming off of their second defeat at the hands of the division rival Miami Dolphins, Rex Ryan gave the troops the entire week off leading up to last week's bye. The extra rest could be beneficial to a Jets squad that has been a bit banged up; Jerricho Cotchery, the team's leading receiver, should finally be close to 100% after missing 2 games and part of another. Cotchery will start opposite from Braylon Edwards, and for the first time since the Jets traded for Edwards one month ago, Mark Sanchez should have the services of his top 2 wideouts for a full game .

The 4-4 Jets host the 4-4 Jacksonville Jaguars in a matchup that figures to be a confusing pick, to say the least. The Jags have been about as inconsistent as any team in the league, having defeated the Houston Texans while also falling 41-0 to the Seattle Seahawks and 30-13 to the then Tennessee Titans, who were 0-6 at the time. Which Jags team will show up will be the big question here.
http://forum.jaguars.com/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=5607
Maurice Jones-Drew (left) leads all NFL running backs with 11 touchdowns on the ground, and is 6th in the league in yardage with 737. However, Thomas Jones is no slouch either, just 33 yards behind Jones-Drew, and has 7 rushing TD's of his own. Both the Jaguars and Jets have stood up to the run, having allowed 5 and 4 scores on the ground respectively through the halfway point of the season. That being said, the outcome of this game may very well be determined by the arms of the quarterbacks.

Mark Sanchez has regressed after becoming the first rookie ever to start the season 3-0, and has just 4 touchdown passes to 8 interceptions in five games since the undefeated start. Yet, Sanchez has played turnover-free football in two consecutive games following his 5-pick Week 6 performance against the Buffalo Bills. As for David Garrard, he has just one touchdown pass over his last four games, though despite 6 turnovers by their QB, Jacksonville managed to go 2-2 in that span.

Ultimately, as tough as it is to figure out the Jaguars, the Jets have been just as puzzling. Here are some interesting numbers on both teams: The Jets 4 wins are against opponents with a combined record of 15-18. Jacksonville has beaten teams with a combined record of 18-14, while their losses have come at the hands of teams with a combined record of 9-24. The Jets have been beaten by teams with a combined record of 17-15.

New York has proven that not playing well in one facet of the game is enough to cost them. Mark Sanchez wasted two solid defensive performances, gift wrapping games against the Saints and Bills. The defense coughed up a victory at Miami, allowing Ronnie Brown to slip through the cracks in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter. In the last meeting between the Jets and Dolphins, the defense allowed just 104 yards, but Ted Ginn, Jr. made a mockery of Mike Westhoff's usually stellar special team unit. Ginn returned back-to-back kickoffs for touchdowns en route to 299 return yards.

http://www.newyorkjets.com/fan_zone/download/photos/15428

As unclear as the future is for these teams, one thing that is clear is that both can flat out run the ball. Jacksonville's 13 scores on the ground are second best in the NFL. The Jets, on the other hand, are running away from the competition, literally, as their 177.6 rushing yards per contest is 16.6 yards per game better than the second ranked Titans. The next closest margin is 9.9 yards per game, the difference separating the 31st ranked Cardinals running game (79.5) from the league-worst Chargers (69.6).

Prediction: Given everything mentioned above, it's tough to pick a winner here. The success of the running games of both teams will challenge their stout rushing defenses, which have given up a mere 9 TD combined. That being said, the key to this game could very well be through the air.
http://forum.jaguars.com/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=5596
Mike Sims-Walker (left) has benefited from the presence of veteran receiver Torry Holt. Sims-Walker's 36 receptions, 554 yards and 4 TD catches leads the Jags in all three categories. As much as his success is a plus for the Jags, it is concerning that he has accounted for two-thirds of David Garrard's touchdown passes. Marcedes Lewis (2 TD) is the only other player with a touchdown reception for Jacksonville. Maurice Jones-Drew can only do so much, and should see less running room than he's used to. That being said, the Jaguars receivers may need to break their relatively unproductive trend, and some other wideout must step up. Torry Holt, that's your cue.
http://www.newyorkjets.com/fan_zone/download/photos/15437
As for the Jets, they are healthier than they have been in weeks, which could have Mark Sanchez a little bit overanxious. The rookie will need to turn in his third turnover-free game, and he has the weapons to do so. Dustin Keller (right) finally woke up, compiling 76 yards and a touchdown while matching a career high with 8 receptions in Week 8. Don't be surprised if Keller finds the end zone again. Likewise, don't be surprised if Mark Sanchez puts up his first career 3-touchdown game.

Jets 34, Jaguars 24

NFL Preview: Week 8 Picks

by Mike Trovato


Miami Dolphins (2-4) vs. New York Jets (4-3)
The Dolphins are coming off of a brutal 46-34 loss at the hands of the undefeated New Orleans Saints in a game Miami once led 24-3. From that point on, the Saints went ballistic, scoring a touchdown with 0:02 left in the half, then unleashing hell after the break. New Orleans put up 36 points in the second half, including 22 in a fourth quarter in which Miami went scoreless. The Wildcat was still productive overall; the 'Fins scored four rushing touchdowns as Ricky Williams broke loose for 3 touchdowns and 80 yards on just 9 carries. Chad Henne came back down to earth after his crisp performance against the Jets two weeks ago, going 18 for 36 (50%) with two interceptions and no touchdown passes. Miami allowed 414 yards of total offense to the Saints, putting an abrupt halt to their two game winning streak.
The Jets' week 7 was the opposite of Miami's as New York put a stop to their three week nightmarish losing streak. The Jets posted a W on the road, forcing 3 turnovers in their 38-0 rout against the lowly Oakland Raiders. It was only a matter of time before JaMarcus Russell got benched; Bruce Gradkowski took over Oakland's sputtering offense with 5:45 remaining in the first half, without much better results. The Jets ran wild for the second straight week, falling two yards short of matching their 318 yard romp against Buffalo. Rookie Shonn Greene filled the void created by the devastating loss of Leon Washington, who is done for the season with a compound fracture of his lower right leg. Greene exploded for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns, one-upping Thomas Jones' 121 yard, 1 TD day. Mark Sanchez had a modest afternoon, but a much better showing than his previous three contests. His 9 for 15, 143 yard, 1 TD performance generated less noise than his impromptu fourth quarter hot dog snack, though one could argue that both were needed.
The Dolphins are 0-2 on the road, and the Jets will look to make that 0-3, retribution for the Monday Night Football loss handed to them down in Miami. The Jets have the best rushing attack in the NFL, and I expect them to persevere with that approach. Rex Ryan will need to be more creative in stopping the Wildcat, which burned the Jets to the tune of 151 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground the last time around. I can't foresee Henne having the same success as he did three weeks ago, nor can I foresee Rex Ryan pocketing his timeouts on any late game Dolphins drive with the assumption that Miami won't score. A costly learning experience in the national spotlight, the Jets should make up for it in front of their home crowd. Expect similar numbers from Sanchez, but take the under on hot dogs eaten on the sideline, no matter how low the number is.
Jets 28, Dolphins 20


Denver Broncos (6-0) vs. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)
When the Denver Broncos started the season 3-0, it seemed they were pulling off wins with the help of some smoke and mirrors. Then they beat the New England Patriots. The same magic Josh McDaniels worked on Matt Cassel, the Belichick disciple is at it again, turning Kyle Orton into one of the league's top 10 passers. Orton's 9:1 touchdown to interception ratio is best in the league, and his 100.1 passer rating ranks him 7th, positioning him snugly between Brett Favre (102.2) and Tom Brady (99.9). Running back Knowshon Moreno is emerging from his slow start, and leads all rookie backs with 381 yards on the ground.
Joe Flacco's rookie season was spent handing the ball off to the three-headed rushing attack of Willis McGahee, Ray Rice and LeRon McClain. This season has been a different story. Baltimore can still run the ball, top 10 in the NFL with 124.8 yards per game. Flacco, however, after throwing for 2,971 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, has 11 touchdown passes through the first 6 games of 2009. The second year QB out of Delaware is on pace to pass for over 4,400 yards. In spite of their success on offense, the Ravens aging defense is sorely missing playmakers Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard, who defected to the Jets following Rex Ryan. Once a formidable force, the Ravens are allowing 21.7 points per game, are middle of the road (16th) in sacks with 14, and are in the bottom third of the league with 31 passes defensed. Denver's D, the surprise of the season, has looked more like the typical Baltimore defense, tops in points allowed (66) and second in sacks (21).
Broncos 24, Ravens 16


Houston Texans (4-3) vs. Buffalo Bills (3-4)
Houston is riding a two game winning streak after alternating losses and wins through the first five weeks of the season. Buffalo has a two game winning streak of their own, and Ryan Fitzpatrick has given them a boost since taking over for the concussed Trent Edwards against the Jets. The Texans have scored 21 or more points in every game but one, their 24-7 loss to the Jets the first week of the season. Buffalo's pass defense is 10th in the league, but they are last against the run. Steve Slaton has been heating up a bit, though much of his recent production has come through the passing game. This is just the matchup he needs to finally break out of his sophomore slump. Houston's offense should be able to cover the points their mediocre defense will allow.
Texans 28, Bills 20

Cleveland Browns (1-6) vs. Chicago Bears (3-3)
Don't ask me why, but I feel this game will end up being closer than it really should be. The Browns are absolutely terrible, but the Bears are struggling at the moment.
Bears 14, Browns 9

Seattle Seahawks (2-4) vs. Dallas Cowboys (4-2)
Both teams have been inconsistent, but the Cowboys have found a playmaker in Miles Austin, and have the edge in their building.
Cowboys 31, Seahawks 27

St. Louis Rams (0-7) vs. Detroit Lions (1-5)
This game will be like looking in the mirror, as this year's Rams are last year's Lions- maybe worse. St. Louis has put up 60 points all season; the Patriots put up 59 against the Titans, in snow. Detroit not only doubles their win total here, they do it big.
Lions 27, Rams 7

San Francisco 49ers (3-3) vs. Indianapolis Colts (6-0)
Alex Smith burst back onto the scene last week, coming off the bench to throw three touchdown passes to tight end Vernon Davis. The 49ers fell a field goal short of a complete comeback against Houston, but Smith earned himself the starting job back after nearly a year-long stint on the bench. This has upset potential, but the Colts defense is much better against the pass than the Texans, and Peyton Manning is still the better QB in this matchup.
Colts 27, 49ers 22

New York Giants (5-2) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)
The Eagles are off the hook for their brutal loss to the Raiders, though last week's win did come against the Redskins, which in my opinion is one of the worst 5 or 6 teams in the league. Philadelphia will be without running back Brian Westbrook, who sustained a concussion last week in Washington. As for the Giants, after a 5-0 start, Big Blue was handily beaten by the New Orleans Saints, then by the reigning NFC Champion Cardinals last week at home. There's cause for concern here, and one has to wonder if Eli Manning's plantar fasciitis is more of an issue than he's letting on. Manning will play, though how well will be a question. Ahmad Bradshaw will also play, risking worse injury to the cracked bone in his foot. It's hard to see the Giants dropping three straight, but that may be the case if the Eagles D-line can hassle Eli.
Eagles 17, Giants 16


Oakland Raiders (2-5) vs. San Diego Chargers (3-3)
Let's cut to the chase here, the Raiders plain stink. LaDanian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles should run wild against an Oakland defense that just allowed 316 rushing yards to the Jets.
Chargers 34, Raiders 9

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3) vs. Tennessee Titans (0-6)
The Jaguars have been an enigma this season, and already have a win under their belts against their division rivals. Vince Young will make his first start since Week 1 of 2008. The Titans are playing at home, and may use a healthy dose of Chris Johnson and LenDale White to ease Young back into the flow of the game. Jeff Fisher has had two weeks to prepare his team, a veteran squad, for this contest.
Titans 20, Jaguars 17

Minnesota Vikings (6-1) vs. Green Bay Packers (4-2)
This game should be a classic, and a full story may be coming on this one sometime this week, but for now I'll keep it simple. Brett Favre's return to Lambeau will be a bittersweet one, as the crowd that cheered him for 16 strong years will be split between Favre loyalists and Packers die-hards, who will boo him out of the building. Bottom line here, the Vikings defense has 25 sacks, Green Bay has allowed 25 sacks.
Vikings 17, Packers 13

Carolina Panthers (2-4) vs. Arizona Cardinals (4-2)
Jake Delhomme is not the quarterback he used to be. Kurt Warner may not be either, but the Cardinals have rediscovered their running game with the emergence of Beanie Wells, who seems to have surpassed Tim Hightower in the pecking order. The Panthers are mistake-prone, but regardless, the Cardinals are simply more talented.
Cardinals 21, Panthers 13

Atlanta Falcons (4-2) vs. New Orleans Saints (6-0)
If the win against the Giants wasn't convincing enough, last week's massive comeback against the Dolphins should be all the reassurance that you need. The Falcons are good, but Saints are the real deal.
Saints 31, Falcons 17

World Series Preview:Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees

by Mike Trovato

2009 World Series

Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees

http://dealbreaker.com/2009/09/03/new_yankee_stadium.jpg
The stage is set for the 2009 World Series. After four days of waiting after clinching their second consecutive National League pennant, the Philadelphia Phillies finally have a World Series opponent, the $208 million New York Yankees. The Series begins Wednesday night at the brand new Yankee Stadium.

That $208 million number is not an exaggeration, in fact it's an understatement. In typical Steinbrenner fashion, the Yankees 2009 payroll totaled an astronomical $208,097,414. That's more than the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres and Oakland A's combined, more than the combined salaries of the Twins and Angels, the two teams the Bronx Bombers beat en route to their 40th World Series appearance.

Although a Yankees-Dodgers World Series would have been ratings friendly- the underlying Joe Torre/Manny Ramirez storyline, not to mention the storied history between the two franchises- the Philly-New York tilt has its own intrigue.

Historically, there are many differences between these two clubs. On the surface, the mascotless, overpaid Yankees with their clean-shaven babyfaces, their nameless jersey backs are the embodiment of class and tradition, or, depending on your perspective, pomp and arrogance. The Phillies are a cockier bunch, calling out division rivals in the preseason and making flat out predictions on television, but backing it up on the field, all while their mascot disrespects stereotypes of opponents between innings. Each team has their legendary voices. Derek Jeter is introduced by a recording of Bob Sheppard, the only Yankee who actively honors the voice of the Yankees. The Phillies hang a suit worn by the late Harry Kalas in their dugout during every game, and have an HK decal on the left-center field wall at Citizens Bank Park.

Beneath the surface, the way they go about their business sets them apart, and historically that shows as well. The New York Yankees are the winningest franchise in the history Major League Baseball, both in terms of championships and winning percentage. The Philadelphia Phillies, on the other hand, have the worst winning percentage of any franchise, discounting two younger clubs- the Tampa Bay Rays (1998) and Texas Rangers (1961). Yet, in all that separates the Phils from the Yanks, the similarities between them- their fans, their fields, and their play on those fields- cannot be denied.

True fans from both New York and Philadelphia are outspoken die-hards whose passion is unmatched by fans from any other baseball town. No matter how small the confines of Citizens Bank Park or New Yankee Stadium are, the fans came without fail; only the Dodgers put more local bodies in the hometown seats in 2009. The teams they came to see did not disappoint either, both winning their respective divisions, both leading their respective leagues in home runs, extra base hits, and slugging. Perhaps it's only fitting then that the defending champion Phillies are looking to become the first team to win back-to-back World Series since who else? The New York Yankees.

The similarities don't end there. In fact, there is an eerie similarity between the individual performances this season. Here's how the Phillies and Yankees match up stastistically:

PHI 1B Ryan Howard- .279 BA, 45 HR, 144 RBI, .931 OPS
NYY 1B Mark Teixeira- .292 BA, 39 HR, 122 RBI, .948 OPS

PHI- 2B Chase Utley- .282 BA, 31 HR, 93 RBI, .508 SLG
NYY- 2B Robinson Cano-.320 BA, 25 HR, 85 RBI, .509 SLG

PHI- SS Jimmy Rollins- 100 R, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 31 SB
NYY- SS Derek Jeter- 107 R, 18 HR, 66 RBI, 30 SB

PHI- RF Jayson Werth- 36 HR, 99 RBI, 20 SB
NYY- 3B Alex Rodriguez- 30 HR, 100 RBI, 14 SB

PHI- LF Raul Ibanez- .272 BA, 34 HR, 93 RBI
NYY- DH Hideki Matsui- .274 BA, 28 HR, 90 RBI

PHI- SP Cliff Lee- 7-4, 3.39 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, 0.8 HR/9
NYY- SP C.C. Sabathia- 19-8, 3.37 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 0.7 HR/9

PHI- SP Joe Blanton- 12-8, 4.05 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 30 HR allowed
NYY- SP A.J. Burnett- 13-9, 4.04 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 25 HR allowed

Phillies- 119 Stolen Bases, 81% Stealing, .987 Fielding Pct.
Yankees- 111 Stolen Bases, 80% Stealing, .985 Fielding Pct.

The Phillies led the Majors with 116 home runs on the road. The Yankees were second, with 108.
The Yankees hit 55.7% (136) of their 244 home runs at home.

Phillies Bullpen- 3.91 ERA, 1.38 WHIP
Yankees Bullpen- 3.91 ERA, 1.25 WHIP

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/article/2009-10-22/marino-rivera-ryan-franklin-named-sporting-news-2009-relievers-year
The knock on the Phillies throughout the regular season and into the postseason has been their "weak" bullpen. However, in looking at the numbers it appears that the Philadelphia bullpen, though not what it was last year, is not as bad as people think. Many will point to the Phillies' blown saves, Mariano Rivera (right), likely the best closer ever to play the game, converted a remarkable 44 of 46 save opportunities, while Brad Lidge was the polar opposite of his perfect 2008 stats, blowing 10 saves with a 7.21 ERA. On the season, the Yankees blew just 15 saves to Philadelphia's 22, but New York's relievers led the majors allowing a whopping 72 home runs to the Phillies' 46.

Head-to-head this season, the Phillies took 2 out of 3 games from the Yankees in New York, which is impressive given the Bombers outstanding 57-24 home record. More impressive was th "troubled" Phils' bullpen, which without Brad Lidge's numbers was perfect, allowing 0 runs and just 5 base runners in 7 innings. Lidge was the lone disaster, giving up 4 earned runs in 1.1 innings of work, 3 of which came in a blown save that gave the Yankees their only win of the series.

Many analysts give the Yankees starting pitching the edge for the Fall Classic, but if the 3-game regular season series is any indicator, they may want to re-crunch those numbers. The Phillies faced New York's top 3 arms- Sabathia, Burnett and Pettitte- during the regular season, tagging them for a total of 12 runs in 21 innings. Philly put 26 men on base against the $37 million worth of Bombers starters, including 10 in 6 innings against A.J. Burnett. The Phillies 3 starters- Hamels, Happ and Myers- walked a grand total of 0 Yankees, yielding 20 hits in 20 innings for a collective WHIP of 1.00.
http://lasemanadeportiva.com/semana/uploads/noticias/images/item/pedro-martinez-phillies.jpg
Granted, when the Phillies came to Yankee Stadium back in May, things were very different. The Yankees were in third place, a game and a half beind the first place Toronto Blue Jays, while the Phillies held just a 1.5 game lead over the second place New York Mets. The Yankees ended the regular season on an absolute tear, winning over 70 percent of their games (52-22) after the All-Star Break, and didn't lose more than 9 games in any month after June. The Phillies were not quite as hot, but made several huge acquisitions over the summer, trading for the reigning American League Cy Young Award Winner Cliff Lee and signing Pedro Martinez (left) at the bargain bin price of $1 million.

Both Lee and Martinez have been brilliant in Philadelphia; Lee contributed three complete games with a ridiculous 74 to 10 strikeout to walk ratio, posting a 7-4 record with his new club. Martinez, a 3-time Cy Young Award Winner, went 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA in 9 starts for the Phils, were the only team willing to take a chance on him. That chance has paid massive dividends, adding not just depth, but quality depth to the Phillies pitching staff, along with a terrific presence in the clubhouse. After being unsigned for half the year, Martinez now finds himself back at the top of a World Series rotation, and will start Game 2 on Thursday for Philadelphia.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/poll/2009/oct/28/yankees-phillies-world-series-baseball
Both teams have their aces. The Yankees have Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter (right). The Phillies have their own solid home-grown nucleus. Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher, two Yankee catalysts during the regular season, have struggled in the postseason. The same goes for the Phillies Raul Ibanez and Jimmy Rollins. Center fielders Melky Cabrera (.314, 4 RBI) and Shane Victorino (.361, 3 HR, 7 RBI) have been spectacular. Ryan Howard (.355, 2 HR, 14 RBI) has been on a tear throughout the playoffs. Alex Rodriguez (.438 5 HR, 12 RBI) has been even hotter, breaking his career-long October slump. In all of the fanfare surrounding those stars, perhaps the most overlooked player on either side has been Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz has batted .346 with 7 runs batter in, adding 7 walks for an absurd on-base percentage of .500. Only A-Rod has reached base at a higher rate (.548).

So, when the question "Who will win this year's World Series?" arises, the response is about as hard to determine as it is for a Mets fan to determine which to root for without jumping off of the Brooklyn Bridge. Here's how I see it playing out:

Game 1: Cliff Lee vs. C.C. Sabathia- A faceoff between the last two AL Cy Young Award Winners is a fitting way to kick off the 2009 World Series. The Phillies haven't played in a week, and while I think the rest will does well for Cliff Lee's arm, the Phillies bats may have a bit of waking up to do. C.C. gets the better of his former Indians teammate.
Yankees (1-0 NYY)

Game 2: Pedro Martinez vs. A.J. Burnett- Martinez returns to the "Who's your daddy?" chants at Yankee Stadium, and relishes in it. Since losing his father, Pedro has been brilliant, and is again brilliant in Game 2. Burnett struggles and with Molina in the lineup, Posada or Matsui get the short end of the stick.
Phillies (1-1)

Game 3: Andy Pettitte vs. Cole Hamels- Hamels, he 2008 World Series MVP, has had a down year. The trip back to the Fall Classic may rejuvenate him, but Pettitte has had a solid postseason and pitches better in 6+ innings here. However, anything less than 7 innings means Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes, spelling a come from behind Phillies rally, a pivotal turn in the series.
Phillies (2-1 PHI)

Game 4: TBA, Sabathia vs. Lee- Down 2-1, Girardi takes no chances and turns to C.C., while Manuel retaliates with Lee. This time around the Phillies bats are alive and well, and Lee outshines the Yankees ace in Philadelphia.
Phillies (3-1)

Game 5: TBA, Burnett vs. Happ- As much as I'm inclined to think the Phillies would like to stick to their order and follow Lee with Martinez, I believe Charlie Manuel will throw lefty J.A. Happ at home, preserving Martinez for a more pressure-filled road start, if necessary. I do like Happ, but I can't see the Yankees going down yet, not without more of a fight.
Yankees (3-2 PHI)

Game 6: TBA, Martinez vs. Pettitte- To go against Pettitte at Yankee Stadium seems crazy. To think Pedro Martinez will win 2 games on the road may be just as crazy. Call me crazy.
Phillies (4-2)

Phillies in 6
World Series MVP: Pedro Martinez

Week 7 Preview: New York Jets at Oakland Raiders

by Mike Trovato

Week 7- October 25th, 2009
New York Jets (3-3) at Oakland Raiders (2-4)
Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA






Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets cannot wait for October to end. Month two of the rookie QB's season has unfolded very differently than month one, and as Sanchez' numbers have gone, so have the Jets.
http://www.buffalobills.com/media-lounge/photo-gallery/Week-6-at-NY-Jets/88e29149-306d-4e92-ab84-1cab45d07c38
In leading New York to an unblemished 3-0 September, Sanchez completed 49 of 83 passes (59 percent) for 606 yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, good for a QB rating of 87.7. He even added a gutsy touchdown run to his early season success back in Week 3. October has been a completely different story, putting an abrupt end to the storybook first chapter of the kid's brief NFL career. This month, Sanchez has been responsible for just one touchdown, while 10 percent of Sanchez' throws have been intercepted (8 picks in 80 attempts)- 5 last week against Buffalo.

It's never good when the opponent's defense catches half the amount of passes as your offense hauls in from your quarterback, but that's exactly what happened; 5 Sanchez landed in the hands of the Bills, while Jets receivers managed just 10 receptions. With that, number 6 doubled his interception total on the season to 10, en route to a JaMarcus Russell-esque completion percentage of 34.5 with a minuscule 8.3 QB rating.

Speaking of JaMarcus Russell, the Raiders signal caller has had more than his share of setbacks this year, but while Sanchez was stinking up the joint last weekend, Russell's season-best 224 yards on 17 of 28 passing looks solid by comparison. OK, so it's not really solid, but the only stat that matters is what shows up in the win column. In that regard, Russell succeeded, leading Oakland to a victory that would knock me out of my King of the Hill pool and cost me thousands of dollars.
http://www.raiders.com/media-vault/photo-gallery/Raiders-vs-Eagles/18995d7f-ecbe-4aa8-b487-5b20cb64289b
Bitterness aside, this week's Jets-Raiders contest may be closer than people on the east coast would like to admit. The Jets have officially slid from bandwagon Super Bowl Champs to a reeling middle of the road team with two divisional losses and a rookie QB with the second-worst quarterback rating of any player that has started every game this season. An ironic and minimal plus for Gang Green and Mark Sanchez is that there is one QB with as many starts and a worse passer rating: JaMarcus Russell (right).

Needless to say, this game is not likely to be a shootout, and for that reason the Jets should have an edge, at least on paper. New York leads the NFL with 978 rushing yards, one-third of which was accounted for with last week's 318 yard total. That stat, along with the fact that Buffalo lost its starting QB halfway through the second quarter further magnifies just how bad the loss to the Bills really was. Every third quarter possession for the Jets resulted in a turnover, leading to 10 unanswered Bills points to tie the game at 13-13. Had they not turned the ball over 6 times, what culminated in a 3-point overtime loss could very well have been a 10-point win. Not to mention, if Ben Hartsock had kept his hands to himself rather than committing a holding penalty that ultimately took the Jets out of what would have been game-winning field goal range... But a loss is a loss, right?

The silver lining here is that the formula for victory for Rex Ryan's Jets squad has become crystal clear- play a complete football game. The bad news of course is that the same kid that was just one month ago the football king of New York has morphed back into just that- a kid. Granted, I only have four months and five days on Mark Sanchez, but the growing pains that surprisingly eluded him against the Texans, Patriots and Titans caught up to him twofold against the Saints, Dolphins and Bills.

Oakland has historically given the Jets trouble, having won 20 and tied 2 of the 36 regular season contests between the two franchises, as well as ousting New York from the playoffs in consecutive seasons back in 2001 and 2002. The two former AFL teams faced off in Oakland during week 7 last season, and the Jets suffered the exact same result as last week- a 16-13 overtime loss. The challenge for Mark Sanchez will to be not to perform as Brett Favre did last season, throwing 2 interceptions with zero touchdowns on 21 of 38 attempts.

"The Black Hole" as it is called, is an opposing player's hell, essentially Halloween eight times a year. While the fans will certainly not be welcoming, perhaps Sanchez will feel somewhat more at home, being back in southern California where he played his college ball. It's a stretch, but perhaps this week will be a turning point for the former Trojan.

The bottom line is, a game that earlier this season seemed to be nothing more than a "trap" game has now become a must-win for the 3-3 Jets. Sanchez will be without two of his targets again this week, as Jerricho Cotchery (hamstring) and Brad Smith (quadriceps) will both be inactive. With Braylon Edwards facing coverage from Nnamdi Asomugha, Dustin Keller and David Clowney will need to step up in the passing game.
http://www.newyorkjets.com/fan_zone/download/photos/14849
On the other side of the ball, the pressure continues to mount as well. Not only will the defense have to worry about picking up the slack for the turnovers by the offense, but now they will have to do so without Pro Bowl Defensive Tackle Kris Jenkins (left), who is out for the season with a torn ACL. The loss of the 6'4," 360 pound D-tackle will put Rex Ryan's creativity to the test as the Jets will try to fill the massive void with the likes of Sione Pouha and Howard Green.

Pouha, now in his fourth year out of Utah, actually played well after Jenkins went down last week, contributing 5 solo tackles (9 total) off the bench. Pouha will now be forced to step up even more against an Oakland offense that is far from intimidating in either facet, running or passing. The Raiders' 88.5 rushing yards per game is not helped by their anemic passing attack, which at 125.3 yards per game is by far the worst in the NFL, though the Jets' 155.7 yards through the air is not much better.

Jets Key Stat of the Game: Rush-Pass Ratio
With Mark Sanchez struggling immensely, the Jets will need to keep the pressure off of him. Oakland's pass rush is nothing to scoff at, tied for 6th best with 15 sacks this season. However, the Raiders' run defense is 5th worst in the league, allowing 145.3 yards per contest on the ground. I'm no expert, but with three healthy backs, the Jets would be wise to finally deploy Shonn Greene (right) in a more expanded role.
http://hawkfantasysports.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/shonn-greene-1.jpg
I don't care if they go 3-and-out in each of their first few possessions, the key to winning is wearing down the defensive line to ultimately buy Mark Sanchez the time to make the smarter decisions if and when he is forced to make them. To do this, the Jets must neutralize veteran defensive ends Richard Seymour and Greg Ellis, who have four sacks apiece. The longer Sanchez holds on to the rock, the worse the outcome seems to be (see: fumble in own end zone at New Orleans Week 4.) The name of the game now becomes getting rid of the ball quickly, which means a lot of screens, a lot of quick slants and outs (Dustin Keller, where are you?), and a massive, massive overdose of hand offs.
http://www.newyorkjets.com/fan_zone/download/photos/14814
It may not sound sexy, and it may not be hugely effective early, but Brian Schottenheimer would be mad not to call a running play 7 out of 10 times in this contest. I'm talking a 20-15-10 Jones-Greene-Washington split, with Washington getting additional touches in an abridged passing game. For good measure, get Danny Woodhead in the mix. Woodhead (left) tore it up in the preseason, and although he was brought back as a wide receiver new number and all, let's not fool ourselves- whether it's out of the backfield or in the slot, he does have talent, talent that should be utilized immediately.

Prediction:
This game has ugly written all over it. I still have too much blind faith to give up on the Jets just yet, but after another stinker last week and the Raiders' upset victory over Philly, I'm concerned. The belief that they'll pull this one out is as much of an indictment of the Raiders offense as it is an endorsement of New York's. While the Raiders do have Michael Bush, Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden, their passing game does not command much respect despite JaMarcus Russell's big arm, and it has limited the potential of their backs. Provided they keep that big arm of Russell's in check and reduce him to the mistake-prone quarterback he's been thus far while reducing their own QB mistakes, the Jets should snap their 3-game losing streak.
Jets 17, Raiders 15

Week 6 Preview: Jets vs. Bills

by Mike Trovato

Week 6- October 18th, 2009
Buffalo Bills (1-4) at New York Jets (3-2)
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ







At the beginning of the season, many of their fans would have been content, if not excited, if the New York Jets began the 2009 campaign 3-2. Yet after a 3-0 start, 3-2 doesn't quite have the ring to it that it did back in the beginning of September. While one of the three on the left side of the ledger represents a victory over the hated New England Patriots, on the other side is a loss to the Miami Dolphins, not quite as bitter but still far from sweet.

The strengths of the New York Jets, just a few short months into the Rex Ryan regime, have been a healthy balance of quasi-conservative but effective offense and a staggering defense, quite similar to the Baltimore Ravens of last season. In games 1 through 3, Gang Green executed this "Flacco formula," if you will, to a T. With their own rookie QB leading the offense to 4 passing touchdowns and another 3 rushing on the ground, the defense took care of business, holding opposing offenses scoreless for 9 quarters before the Titans cracked the goal line in the second quarter of week 3.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/teams/photo?photoId=2355013&team=mia
Weeks 4 and 5 have been a different story, revealing a telling circumstance- for this team to succeed, they must play well on both sides of the ball. The defense held up their end of the bargain in week 4, holding New Orleans' high-octane offense to just 10 points two weeks ago, but Mark Sanchez handed 14 points to the Saints defense, committing four turnovers to seal the first Jet loss of the year. Last week against the Dolphins, Sanchez redeemed himself somewhat with a modest but efficient turnover-free performance, going 12-for-24 with a touchdown strike to newly acquired Braylon Edwards. Yet, despite a season high 27 point output, the defense also gave up a season high in surrendering 413 yards to the gimmicky wildcat offense, 151 on the ground led by Ronnie Brown's 2 touchdowns (above).

Leading up to Miami, the Jets had given up an increasing amount of rushing yards week by week, though Miami's running game actually totaled 2 less yards than the Saints did the previous week. Nonetheless, the more disturbing statistic involved the passing game. In just his fourth career start, Chad Henne compiled 241 passing yards, the highest of any quarterback against the Jets this season, more than Matt Schaub (145), Tom Brady (216), and Drew Brees (190). Schaub and Brady are 3rd and 4th in passing yardage this season, respectively.
http://www.buffalobills.com/media-lounge/photo-gallery/Week-5-vs-Cleveland/44aec600-adc4-49cf-aabf-e09353ffdcac
Following consecutive losses on the road- one loss apiece attributed to the offense and the defense- the New York Jets should be glad to return home this week to face a Buffalo Bills team that is reeling after an ugly 6-3 loss to the woeful Cleveland Browns, a previously winless team under the direction of a controversial and highly unpopular head coach who just traded away the best receiver on the roster. Nonetheless, in the midst of the hell that is the Cleveland Browns franchise, despite a miserable 2 for 17 performance by Derek Anderson, Buffalo found a way to lose. How they did it, I don't know, but frankly, it's beyond me.

The Bills have taken leaps and bounds- backwards- since their devastating week 1 loss to the Patriots. Buffalo's troubles began with Leodis McKelvin's fumbled kick return that allowed Brady to orchestrate a game-winning drive. Since then, the low-lights have continued steadily, with the Saints running game stampeding for 222 yards in week 3, followed by a 250-yard, 3-score debacle at the hands of the Wildcat in week 4.

One of the few pluses in Buffalo was the return of running back Marshawn Lynch, who has gotten off to a slow start after serving a 3-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Lynch has actually performed better in the passing game than when running the ball, though the team's leading receiver is Lynch's backfield counterpart Fred Jackson, who has caught 20 passes. The two backs have already connected with QB Trent Edwards just 5 less times than Buffalo's wide receivers. Lynch's 11 catches rank fourth on the Bills roster behind Jackson, Lee Evans and Terrell Owens.
http://www.buffalobills.com/media-lounge/photo-gallery/Week-3-vs-New-Orleans/a566b437-fa2d-4bcc-abc9-c97759a1e2fd
Owens (left) has been a major bust since joining "North America's Team" this offseason, and has just 12 catches for 202 yards and one TD through 5 games. His streak of 185 consecutive games with at least one reception came to an abrupt end in week 3, yet the controversial wideout has been uncharacteristically silent about his situation, at least with the media. Still, T.O. has been the center of trade rumors circling around the Bills leading up to Tuesday's upcoming deadline.

With From the firing of offensive coordinator Turk Schonert in the preseason, the lack of performance from the offense, and a defense that seems completely unable to stop the run, it's clear that the Buffalo Bills are in a state of disarray. This only bodes well for the Jets, who are 9.5 point favorites this week as a result.

Key Matchup: WR Braylon Edwards vs. CB's Terrence McGee/Drayton Florence
With Leodis McKelvin out for the season with a broken leg, Braylon Edwards (right) and the Jets receivers will be looking at McGee and Florence from across the line of scrimmage. Edwards performed well in his Jets debut, catching 5 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, with a potential second score ruled down on the 1 upon review. The former Brown could see more passes his way this week, having had more practice time with his new teammates, combined with the absence of Jerricho Cotchery, who will miss this contest with a hamstring injury. The 6'3," 215-pound Edwards has a clear height advantage against either corner; Florence is giving 3 inches and 15 pounds while McGee is even smaller at 5'9," 198.

http://www.newyorkjets.com/fan_zone/download/photos/14774

Key Matchup: Jets Pass Rush vs. Bills O-Line
The Jets defense, which has been solid in 4 out of its 5 games, is surprisingly tied for dead last in the NFL with 4 sacks. Trent Edwards has been sacked four or more times in three games this season. Only Aaron Rodgers (20) has been brought down more times than than the 18 sacks Edwards has sustained this season. Inevitably, something has to give here: Either Edwards finally gets some breathing room, or the Jets finally explode. Coming off a lackluster defensive performance from which Chad Henne emerged unscathed, I expect the latter this week.

Jets' Wildcards: TE Dustin Keller/RB Leon Washington
Both Keller and Washington are still waiting for a breakout game this season, and this week might be it for at least one of them. In 6 career games against Buffalo, Washington has averaged 6.1 yards per carry, adding on 7.9 yards per catch. He has never broken 85 total yards from scrimmage in any game against the Bills, but with the Jets down 2 receivers, Washington has the hands to pick up some of the slack, and the big play ability to do some damage.

As for Keller, I know he didn't deliver in the Superdome like I expected he would, and he was non-existent last week against Miami. However, Buffalo has yielded 21 receptions, 229 yards and 3 touchdowns to tight ends this season. Linebacker Paul Posluszny (broken arm) and Donte Whitner (thumb) should both be returning from their respective injuries this week, while injuries to the Jets receivers leave Wallace Wright as third on the depth chart. Keller is a far more viable target than Wright, and could finally have that big week as one of Mark Sanchez' top three options.

Prediction:
Without question, both teams have a lot to play for, albeit in very different terms. New York is looking to recapture their form from earlier this season that had people thinking playoffs, while the Bills are desperate to stop the bleeding and fend off a fourth consecutive loss, which would drop them into a three game deficit at 1-5.

Both teams are hurting, but again in varying respects. The Jets are hurting, both from injury and last week's insult at the hands of the Dolphins. Buffalo is hurting mostly from insult, having just lost to the Browns, a loss so bad that I must again point out that Derek Anderson completed 2 passes, total, just to emphasize how epic the loss was. Yet, as uneven as this week 6 matchup may seem (as I mentioned earlier, the spread is 9.5 points in the Jets favor) surprisingly the Jets and Bills are tied for 23rd in the league with their 4.9 yards per play.
http://www.buffalobills.com/media-lounge/photo-gallery/Week-5-vs-Cleveland/44aec600-adc4-49cf-aabf-e09353ffdcac
That being said, this game will likely come down to defense, and in that respect, the Jets undoubtedly have the edge. The Bills do have two solid running backs, but what they don't have is the Wildcat to cause confusion with their ground attack. Marshawn Lynch (left) busted out for 127 yards on 21 carries on the road against the Jets last season, but aside from last week's road bump, this year's defense is far different than anything Lynch is used to seeing from Gang Green. Rex Ryan will almost definitely have the D raring, and they'll be in a nasty mood after being embarrassed last week. I'd look for them to join the offense and return to the form we saw earlier this season.

On the offensive side of the ball, the timing of the injuries to Cotchery and Smith come with some potential for a silver lining; Gang Green is 7th in the league with 132 yards per game on the ground, and that average could be boosted against a Buffalo defense that ranks 29th in the NFL against the run. As for the Bills offensive attack, Trent Edwards has been less than inspiring, and if the rumors have any validity to them, "Who are the Buffalo Bills?" could wind up being the Jeopardy question to the answer, "The team with which Terrell Owens had his shortest tenure."

Yes, we will all be watching in great suspense T.O.'s 6th, and perhaps final game as a Bill. As loud as he has been in the past, this could be his quietest exit from any team he's played for, both at the mic and on the field; the Jets defense will be making the majority of the noise here.
Jets 27, Bills 12