Jets Lose Shootout to Bears, Still Headed to Playoffs Anyway

CHICAGO – Given all the emphasis and attention placed on foot fetishes this past week, it would be trite to say the New York Jets shot themselves in the foot in Sunday's 38-34 loss to the Chicago Bears.

But karma has a funny way of turning things around in literally a footstep, no pun intended. No sooner did a disconsolate Jets coach Rex Ryan begin talking to the media about how disappointed he was in the loss to the Bears, and how the Jets would have to play their way into the playoffs in the season finale against Buffalo, a huge roar came from within the adjacent Jets locker room at Soldier Field.

Bears 38, Jets 34: Quick Hits | Recap | Box Score

"We're in, we're in," came shouts from the other side of the door.

And with that, Ryan's demeanor did an immediate 180-degree turn. Instead of continuing to fret and frown, a previously somber Ryan broke into a huge grin.

"Uh, by the way, I think we're in the playoffs," Ryan quipped. "It ain't the way I wanted it, but I'll take it. Whew, my goodness."

While the Jets may have gotten off on the wrong foot against the Bears, losing their third game in the last four and dropping to 10-5, they ended up leaving Soldier Field on the right foot, knowing that they had lost the game but still managed to backpedal into the postseason nonetheless.

For that, they have the Washington Redskins to thank -- for upsetting the favored Jacksonville Jaguars right after the Jets' loss Sunday -- paving the way for New York to qualify for the playoffs.

"I'm a huge Redskins fan," Ryan said with a laugh. "I can tell you that right now and I appreciate it."

"I'm a huge Redskins fan. I can tell you that right now and I appreciate it."
- Rex Ryan For two teams that were known for their tough defenses, neither the Bears nor the Jets' looked sharp in defending their opponents. The Bears allowed the Jets to rack up nearly 400 yards on the ground and in the air, including three touchdowns and a fourth score on a 20-yard interception return by Jets cornerback Dwight Lowery.

Conversely, the Jets' defense spotted the Bears 322 yards of total offense, including three touchdown passes by Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler, plus a fourth score on a two-yard run by Cutler and a fifth TD on a 22-yard run by Matt Forte.

The game had some strange moments indeed for the Jets, particularly in play calling. Early in the third quarter and on a fourth-and-three play from the Jets' 40-yard line, Ryan called for a fake punt. Quarterback Mark Sanchez took the snap instead of punter Steve Weatherford and threw to receiver Brad Smith, but Chicago's Rashied Davis batted the ball right out of Smith's hands at the last second, turning the ball over on downs and giving Chicago tremendous field position.

On the next play from scrimmage, Cutler lofted a 40-yard score to Johnny Knox, tying the game at 24-24.

"We worked it all week and felt good about it," Ryan said of the fake punt. "It's just one of those things where we thought that play was there, and we knew that play was there. We have to execute that play."

And then within the final 5:33 of play and trailing by what would prove to be the final score, the Jets punted twice – including once from the Bears' 35-yard-line – rather than go for a first down and what potentially could have been a game-changing score. They had one last chance with less than a minute of play, but Sanchez was intercepted, sealing the win for the 11-4 and NFL North-champion Bears.

"On one hand, you're frustrated and upset because you just threw the ball to the other team on the last play and lose the game," Sanchez said. "And then on the other hand, you make it to the playoffs and everything got accomplished that we needed to get accomplished today except winning. It's bittersweet, I guess. ... To lose and still make the playoffs is pretty rare."

Added Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, "Obviously, the loss is disappointing, but Washington helped us out and we're in (the playoffs). The goal we had going into the game we accomplished, not by our doing, but by someone else's doing. We're happy to be in the playoffs, but we realize we have some work to do."

The change in the look on Ryan's face during his post-game press conference after learning the Redskins helped the Jets reach the playoffs not only changed his outlook and lessened the pain of the loss, it also quickly changed his thoughts on Sanchez's lingering sore right shoulder.

A moment earlier, Ryan was lamenting how his preseason prediction of the Jets being a Super Bowl-quality team was on the line at Buffalo: "We have to make the playoffs first. That would probably be a good thing. Or, we will be watching like everyone else."

But once the Buffalo game became a moot point about whether or not the Jets would make the playoffs, Ryan quickly switched gears and said he was considering resting Sanchez against Buffalo to allow his lingering shoulder soreness more time to heal and be all the more stronger and ready for the playoffs.

"This might be a way to get some guys that are banged up a little rest," Ryan said. "We will really look at Mark Sanchez and not playing him this week."

Sanchez took Ryan's comments in stride. While he would prefer to play against Buffalo, he knows that a week's rest will only help the team in the playoffs.

But it's not just about his shoulder, either. The whole team needs to come together in all phases of the game if the Jets are to go as far as they did last year (the AFC Championship game) ... or further.

"We've done it in spurts, in different phases," Sanchez said. "One week it's special teams. One week it's offense. One week it's defense. We're all going to have to do it at the same time if we're going to want to make a run like we did last year. We know we're a tough matchup for some people."

Even with the loss, the Jets still got what they came for in Chicago: a spot in the playoffs. They may not have accomplished it the way they wanted to, but the main thing is that – fetish or not – they left the Windy City with their feet pointed in the right direction nonetheless.

"We're in the tournament now," Ryan said. "That's two years in a row and that's where you want to be. We're in the tournament and a lot of teams can't say that."

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