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Reasons to Believe1. Trust In Defence – The Jets have had a top five defence the past three years under Ryan and theres no reason to expect anything but another year near the top for that unit. All three position groups are solid and the cherry on top is Darrelle Revis deciding to forego his rumoured holdout and showing up to training camp on time.2. Strong Blocking – There are certainly some questions at quarterback for the Jets, but at least the five players charged with protecting the quarterback will give him a chance. With DBrickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold leading the way, the O-line is a top unit, with right tackle being the lone question mark.3. Rebirth of Maybin – After the Vernon Gholston nightmare, it seemed odd the Jets were willing to give another first-round bust, former Bill Aaron Maybin, a chance. The risk paid off as Maybin, who had zero sacks in two years in Buffalo, picked up six as a Jet. Reports have the defence looking revitalized heading into 2012, and Maybin could be spurred on to improve his sack numbers even further.Reasons to Doubt1. Tebow Time – Tim Tebow will be an asset as a running quarterback in certain packages and possibly on special teams as well. But his detriment comes from his popularity. The second Mark Sanchez shows any signs of struggling, Jets fans will be screaming for Tebow, and the young Sanchez may struggle more trying to tune them out.2. Circus Atmosphere – The possible quarterback controversy is part of a bigger circus atmosphere Ryan has cultivated in New York. The Jets are full of talented personalities, perhaps none bigger than Ryan himself, but with a collection of characters theres always the chance of a meltdown. It happened last year and there were even signs of chemistry issues with the team throughout training camp.3. Wide Margins – CB Antonio Cromartie proclaimed himself the teams second best receiver near the start of training camp. While it probably wasnt a good idea to make his thoughts public, Cromartie may have been on to something. Behind Santonio Holmes on the depth chart is inconsistent second-rounder Stephen Hill and a number of less than impressive veterans.What to ExpectThe Jets have the talent to earn a Wildcard spot in the AFC, but there will be more challenges to second place in their division than in previous years. With the Bills improving and looking ready to contend for the post-season, combined with a possible season long distraction stemming from the quarterback position, the Jets could find themselves falling just short for a second straight year. Ravens jersey .As assistant coach with the mens national team, Tony Fonseca literally had a front-row seat on Canadas humiliating exit from World Cup qualifying last month in Honduras. Montell Owens Jersey . They acquired a new catcher, very possibly annoyed a catcher they already had, and wound up with a doubleheader split. http://www.officialpatriotsteamshop.com/autographed-brandon-bolden-jersey-gz-65.html .ca NFL Editor Justin Boone runs down the top waiver wire pickups with a focus on the coming week and the rest of the season. Customized Lance Moore Jersey .S. Anti-Doping Agency report that paints the American as a longtime drug cheat.The UCI received USADAs 200-page report last week and has until the end of the month to decide whether to ratify USADAs decision to strip Armstrong of his seven Tour victories or appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Customized Amini Silatolu Jersey .Steven Stamkos and P.K. Subban are scheduled to lead teams of locked-out NHLers during a charity game on Dec.DETROIT -- Matthew Stafford stayed cool and calm after the shakiest first half of his career.Stafford threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Smith with 10 seconds left, lifting the Detroit Lions to a 27-23 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.The No. 1 pick from the 2009 NFL draft had three interceptions before halftime for the first time.The Rams scored 13 points off Staffords turnovers, including Cortland Finnegans 31-yard return for a TD that gave them a 13-7 lead late in the first half, but they couldnt stop him in the end.Stafford led an 80-yard, nine-play, game-winning drive that included three passes of at least 18 yards and was capped by enough patience in the pocket to connect with a wide-open Smith."Kevin was the last option on that play, probably behind throw it away because he was part of the play action and protection," Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said. "The head coach was on the headphones, Throw it away Matt, throw it away! It shows you what a good quarterback Id be."Stafford finished 32 of 48 for 355 yards.Detroits All-Pro receiver Calvin Johnson caught six passes for 111 yards, including an 18-yard grab just before Smith was left alone for his second TD of the game. On the pivotal play, the Rams double-covered Johnson and linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar seemed to lose sight of Smith."I knew in that formation Calvin would get all of the attention," Stafford said. "Thats exactly what happened."Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick a year after Stafford, directed a go-ahead drive that set up Greg Zuerleins 46-yard field goal to put the Rams ahead 23-20 with 1:55 left.St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher, who is leading a franchise coming off the worst five-year span since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, put together a conservative game plan that almost worked."Our plan was to try to hold them to field goals ... and then take your shots offensively," Fisher said. "Get your points and have a chance to win the game at the end."Bradford was hit by defensive end Cliff Avril on the games last play, leading to some pushing, shoving and shouting that didnt get out of hand in part because the officials separated the players. The replacement officials included line judge Shannon Eastin, who became the first woman to officiate an NFL regular-season game.Steven Jackson gained just 53 yards on 21 carries for an offence that couldnt take enough time off the clock on its next-to-last drive to prevent Stafford from getting the ball back."Give the Lions credit, they made the big plays they neededd at the end of the game," Finnegan said.dddddddddddd "We did some really good things, but weve got to learn how to finish. That will come."St. Louis reshaped offensive line lost two starters during the game. Offensive tackle Rodger Saffold was carted off the field with a neck injury in the fourth quarter and centre Scott Wells had a foot injury.Fisher said Saffold was alert and had strength in his arms and legs."This is more of a precautionary deal," Fisher said. "Theres a chance hell come home with us."Bradford was 17 of 25 for 198 yards with a TD, a 23-yard pass to Brandon Gibson early in the fourth quarter that put the Rams up 20-13."We gave ourselves a chance to stay in the game and win it at the end," Fisher said. "I think we got better as a team."Early on, it looked like Stafford had taken a step back after throwing for 5,000-plus yards, 41 TDs and 16 interceptions last season to help Detroit end an 11-year post-season drought.Rookie Janoris Jenkins jumped a route and intercepted Staffords pass on the goal line to end his first drive, Dunbar stepped in front of another attempt and picked it off. Finnegan took advantage of an ill-advised throw across the field and returned it for a TD in his Rams debut."We did a ton of film study on Stafford, and we knew what he likes to do," Finnegan said. "Our coaches gave us a great game plan ... We just needed to make one more play."Stafford, though, was the one who came up with the clutch plays to avoid an upset in the opener for both teams."It wasnt like he was just having a bad day," Schwartz said. "He had a couple of bad plays."You have to have a demeanour that allows you to come back from that."NOTES: Replacement official Paul Caldera left the game in the third quarter with an apparent leg injury. He was replaced by alternate Curtis -- a replacement for the replacement. ... Detroit WR Titus Young was called for unnecessary roughness after he head-butted Jenkins. "It was right in front of me the whole time," Schwartz said. "It looked like he was going to walk away and do the right thing and then he made a dumb decision." ... Fisher hired Schwartz in 1999 to be on his staff at Tennessee and promoted him two years later to the Titans defensive co-ordinator, a job he had until Detroit gave him his first shot to be a head coach three years ago. ... Lions rookie CB Bill Bentley left the game with a concussion. ... St.
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