Biased Banter: Jets vs. Saints

Josh Alper is a Jets fan. Tom Mantzouranis is a Saints fan. With New York and New Orleans facing each other on Sunday they decided to mock each other over e-mail.

Tom Mantzouranis: I learned in my required public speaking class in college that, when in a debate, it's best to disarm your opponent by making one of his points before he can. In hindsight, that seems like awful advice, but here goes: yes, the last time the Saints played a Rex Ryan defense (in 2006 against the Ravens), Ryan ate Sean Payton's lunch. Five turnovers for the Saints, four interceptions (three by Drew Brees), and only 35 yards rushing in a 35-22 Ravens' win that wasn't nearly as close as the score indicates.

That's not just eating Payton's lunch, that's eating his lunch AND making eyes at his woman.

Don't expect the same result. Payton's a much better play-caller, and this is a much better, fuller, more balanced offense. That was proven last week when the Saints "struggled" on offense yet put up 27 points against a physical opponent by beating them at their own game -- on the lines and with the rush. Ryan's work with the Jets' defense so far has been admirable, but this ain't Kerry Collins we're talking about. This is Drew Brees and Co. in the Superdome.

Josh Alper: And this ain't (insert name of overmatched Bills/Lions/Eagles defensive player here) we're talking about. The Jets may not have faced an offense as good as the Saints yet this season, but the Saints also haven't faced a defense half as good as the one coming to town on Sunday either. As good as they are offensively, as deep, talented and prolific as any team in the league, we don't know how well they're going to respond to getting smacked in the mouth.

The Jets took some smacks the last two weeks, offensively and defensively, and showed that it won't slow them down. That's good to know when you're walking into a tough road game, especially when you know that there doesn't seem to be anything short of a paternity suit capable of rattling Mark Sanchez three games into his NFL tenure. TM: Agreed, this is the toughest defense the Saints have played all year, and in the past they've struggled with physical defenses (hence the debacling they suffered at the hands of the Ravens in '06, and the many tough losses they've taken since then). But this isn't merely the finesse team they've been in the past. If you smack them, they're going to smack you back.

The way to get to Drew Brees is with pressure up the middle, but good luck getting a push on Carl Nicks or Jahri Evans, the team's young, beastly guards. These guys are strong and intimidating, Evans' Woody Allen-esque glasses aside. Kris Jenkins isn't going to be enough.

And all I've heard about this defense lately has been about Darrelle Revis. He's good, no doubt about that. But if you take away Andre Johnson or Randy Moss you've effectively nullified the passing attacks of their teams. Revis may indeed shut down Marques Colston, but who's going to step up and stop Devery Henderson, Jeremy Shockey and Robert Meachem? And if you've got all of those guys covered, how are you going to stop Heath Evans and Pierre Thomas? Something's going to have to give for the Jets defense.

As for Sanchez, let's not rush, borrowing an infamous saying of Payton's, "to eat the cheese." He's three games into his career, and he's been good, very good. But while most are tripping over themselves to praise Sanchez for winning that game against the Titans, let's not forget how awful he looked for more than half the game, in between the strong start and finish. The Titans proved he can be rattled. Gregg Williams didn't overwhelm Matthew Stafford or Kevin Kolb with blitzes, preferring to give them enough noose to hang themselves. Against Trent Edwards he showed how large and varied his repetoire of blitzes can be, and I think he's going to unleash even more against Sanchez.

JA: Sorry, didn't hear anything after Pierre because Rex Ryan's laughter is blanketing the city. He's a good back, no doubt, but Rexy isn't a Francophile.

Let's see, they'll stop Shockey by sending a couple of girls to his room the night before and knock him out with "dehydration." They'll stop Meachem by weighing him down with expectations and then take their chances with the rest. Look, if the Jets don't get to Brees and make him rush his throws they are going to struggle. The point is the pass rush and if you handle Jenkins, then who is going to stop Bart Scott, David Harris and Bryan Thomas? And Vernon Gholston? What a beast!

All kidding aside, the Jets defense/Saints offense debate is going to wind up being a circular one because both units have plenty to crow about. Sanchez is going to have a lot to do with how this game gets won. You're right, of course, that the backs of his ears are still dripping from Hollywood hot tub parties, but it's a bit of a mischaracterization to say he looked rattled against the Titans. He started hot, the Titans adjusted and then Sanchez adjusted to find another way to beat them. That's life in the NFL and, regardless of age, that's going to happen to quarterbacks. The big difference between Sanchez and the three guys the Saints have faced so far is that he's shown he's able to do that.

The Jets don't have the depth in skill players that the Saints have offensively, but the guys they have are well suited to bust a blitz. Dustin Keller and Leon Washington are hell on opponents on hot routes, Jerricho Cotchery is strong enough to shield any Saints corner on a quick slant and Sanchez has shown the elusiveness to make plays down the field when things get hot. He's being overhyped because that's the nature of the New York beast, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have the goods.

And, since Washington came up, the Jets have made a lot more plays on special teams to help themselves thus far this season than the Saints. I know that before Reggie Bush became a reality show sidekick he had some punt returning skills, but they haven't been in evidence yet this season. The Jets, per Football Outsiders, have the best special teams in the league while the Saints are at the back of the pack. That could prove to be a big edge


TM: Rex Ryan's tummy is blanketing the city.

/fixed

Special teams is an admitted concern, but the Saints have made some huge plays there, as well. Malcolm Jenkins has been ridiculous, forcing two fumbles, recovering one of them, and drilling Ellis Hobbs in the open field for no gain on what could have very well been a punt returned for a touchdown. That group is like the defense -- they're going to give up a couple of big plays, but they're going to make enough to offset them.

We haven't even brought up the forgotten storyline in all of the hype about this game -- Jonathan Vilma playing the team that drafted him. Thanks for that, Mangenius. I don't care how good the Jets' linebackers are, they let an amazing one get away and New Orleans was fortunate enough to have him fall into its lap. How many guys have the talent, brains, and character of Vilma? Sure, he was an injury risk at the time, but the Saints took a chance on Brees when he was hurt and look how that turned out.

The bottom line, in my mind -- the Saints aren't losing to a coach who looks like King Hippo straight outta Mike Tysons Punch-Out.

Actually, come to think of it, Brees does resemble Mac ...

JA: Funny, to me he looks like Glass Joe with a birthmark.

I like Jonathan Vilma and he was certainly a nice buy-low addition for a defense that needed it, but can't say that he's missed. For one thing, he's a 4-3 middle backer through and through and, more importantly, David Harris is an absolute beast right now, the Mr. Sandman of the NFL if we're going to continue the Punch-Out analogy. He's made big play after big play this season, a lot of which probably has to do with having someone like Bart Scott. All of which adds up to Vilma being missed about as much as the coach that sent him packing.

Right now the Saints resemble a college football team that's beaten up on Division II opponents to build their confidence entering conference play. Those opponents hung with them for a while but didn't have a second gear to deal with things when they needed to. The Jets aren't going to fold like the Eagles and Bills did. To beat the Punch-Out meme into the ground, they'll find the cheat codes and secret punches they need.


TM: A college team that's beaten up on Division II opponents to build their confidence? You probably don't know this, but the Saints have been confident since minicamps -- it's been obvious for a while that they see themselves as a true Super Bowl team, and after this Sunday the whole nation will be down with that idea too.

But your cockiness is cute, it's obvious that the coach's bravado has trickled down to his player and even to Jets fans. But keep this in mind.

"Confidence is the food of the wise man but the liquor of the fool."

Sleep tight Saturday, but don't sleep too tight. You don't want to look a fool on Sunday evening.

I suppose we should wrap this up. Here's how it goes down: Brees has a modest but respectable day, Sanchez throws for big yardage but has two intercepted. Both teams embark on long, rolling drives that eat a lot of field but produce little points. The Saints win a physical, entertaining game, 27-23.

JA: Oh, I fully admit I'm drunk right now and Thursday's news that the Saints are going to be protecting Brees' blind side with somebody named Zach Strief has only made me drunker. His name is an anagram for strife, which is what he's in for on Sunday.

Since we're throwing around quotes all fancy style here's a nugget from Winston Churchill. He was accused of being drunk by a woman one boozy British evening and replied: "And you, madam, are ugly. But in the morning, I shall be sober."

Unlike Churchill, I may actually still be drunk come Monday but the Saints are going to be 3-1.

I'm with you on the long drives and physical, entertaining game. The killer turnover is going to come from Brees, though. Jets 24-21.

TM: Sir, despite this heated debate, I respect you and your team. Good luck Sunday, here's to no injuries.

JA: And to you, sir. Would bring me great joy to do it again come February.