The most commonly used statements used when discussing the New York Jets home game in Atlanta was the fact that the Jets simply did not have enough talent to compete with the Falcons. Matt Ryan and his high powered offense were quote on quote "too desperate" to lose this game, being 1-3 and down several games to the streaking New Orleans Saints in the divisional race.
No one told Geno Smith that the Jets had a lack of talent. After a tough loss in Tennessee, Rex Ryan and his boys came to play. The offense seemed as though it would be depleted, missing Santonio Holmes, having Stephen Hill recovering from concussion like symptoms and Bryan Winters getting his first NFL start at left guard for the turnstile known as Vladimir Ducasse. Geno and the offense looked anything but depleted, as he completed 16 of 20 passes, for 3 touchdowns, with the most crucial statistic of the day being zero turnovers.
The mold for the Jets is simple; play efficient turnover free football and the Jets can likely compete with any team they come into contact with. Many would think that the Jets would struggle to score a many points as an offense that features star NFL receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White. Antonio Cromartie stuck like glue to Julio Jones for most of the game outside a 46-yard reception late in the game.
Geno Smith and the offense received help in some unlikely spots. Antonio Allen blocked a punt early in the game which setup the offense with great field position, as well as a forced fumble by Muhammad Wilkerson in the 3rd quarter that once again set the Jets up with great field position. The defensive front looked impenetrable, yielding only 64 yards on 22 attempts good for a mere 2.9 yards per carry.
After a phantom holding call on DeMario Davis occurred late in the 4th quarter, Geno and the Jets saw themselves down a point 28-27, with 1:54 and surprisingly enough for a Rex Ryan team; multiple timeouts left. Poised as ever, Smith lead the Jets right down the field completing 4/4 passes en route to his 3rd game winning drive of the season and his young career. His overall leadership was marked early in the week, when the young man apologized to every member of the defense for his multitude of turnovers in the previous game against Tennessee. Then he comes out and posts a 147.7 quarterback rating (highest in the NFL this season) and another game winning drive for the very defense he apologized to. One cannot be happier to see that the Jets may finally have found a quarterback who can do everything a big time quarterback can do, as well as be a leader of this franchise at such a young age.