November Greetings

The Jets and Titans have a matchup to savor...and look past.

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Brett Favre and the Jets can't look ahead...but it's hard not to.

So this guy named Maurice Maeterlinck was big on mortality. Like most in his line of work, autumn held a special place in his heart, loaded with images of death. "Every year," he wrote, "in November, at the season that follows the hour of the dead, the crowning and majestic hours of autumn, I go to visit the chrysanthemums. They are indeed the most universal, the most diverse of flowers." (Yeah, the dude was a writer of sorts.)

When the Jets and Titans face off this weekend, keep this idea in mind. They'll be fighting for something greater, but also the time of year.

Distraction is a useful tool, in any vocation. The problem with football however, and with coaches in particular, is looking ahead is a detriment to success. "One game at a time," is more mantra than cliché. Yet I recall an addendum to the rule. It was offered by a bright, young assistant named Jeff Fisher, then the secondary coach of the 49ers. He would say: "It's what you do in November that gets you to January."

There's a lot of truth in this.

November is the cruelest football month. The injuries incurred in August have settled into the "nagging" category, which, if absored, can effect you. (When Fisher uttered those words, the ankle I sprained in training camp remained swollen until Thanksgiving, which is probably why I remember them.) But when reminded of the ultimate goal, focus can be instantly restored.

The New York Jets have already shown themselves to be among the league's most worthy November teams. Two weeks ago, in a 34-31 victory over the New England Patriots, they not only seized control of the parity-driven AFC East, they may have rid themselves of the demons which have haunted them in recent years. But slaying dragons doesn't come without a price. Whereas a normal game consists of about 50 plays for each team, the Jets defense had to weather an 86-play onslaught from Randy Moss and crew, the last few series all from an exhausting no-huddle format. Seven long minutes into overtime, the Jets finally had what they wanted.

The question is, do they have anything left for Fisher's Titans this weekend?

Jets free safety Kerry Rhodes thinks so. Rhodes considers those three extra days of recovery to be gold. "Normally you get those first two days to chill," says Rhodes about a normal week. "After Wednesday and Thursday, you're definitely ready to play on Friday. Yeah, you have to take care of your body, but it's a mental process."

For the Jets, the process is more about personal objectives than a final destination. The Titans are hoping to exit November without a blemish and move closer to a free weekend at playoff time, but the Jets seek something more than a composite record. On Sunday afternoon the Jets are seeking to define themselves, at least in part. "Everybody knows they're one of the best defenses in this league," says Rhodes. "But in many ways, we're just as good as they are."

"Everybody knows they're one of the best defenses in this league," says Rhodes. "But in many ways, we're just as good as they are."

This declaration is made with the knowledge that the Titans will run the ball. But of course every coach wants to run the ball. Running the ball is, for the most part, a low risk deal. And no matter how modern this game gets, no matter how nuanced offensive visions become, every coach has an inner Woody Hayes. Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger is no exception. The Titans' offense isn't built on downfield thrills. It's mostly running backs Lendale White, Chris Johnson and a couple of tight ends operating like stout appendages of the offensive line: decisive land grabs that eventually lead to the end zone.

This style, brutal in concept and physically taxing, eliminates the guesswork, making it easy to remain mentally sharp. Free safeties like Rhodes go from thoroughbred to thug, vacating the deep hash mark and creeping into that area right behind the linebackers. "You know what's coming," says Rhodes. "That's just their mentality. We expect them to run it at least 30 times. They run in every formation—in the shotgun, with one back, with two tight ends, with three tight ends. Like I said, you know what's coming."

That overtime loss to the Raiders in Week 7 has given the Jets some perspective. "Oakland may not be doing that well," says Rhodes." But they were the most physical team we've played this year."

I'll admit that I'm not big on stats. In fact, if you want to put me to sleep, replace violent collisions with a spread sheet. Numbers are skewed and easily misleading. Take the current defensive rankings, for instance. The Jets are in the top five against the run, but against the pass, they fall somewhere near the bottom of the list, below the Rams and even the winless Lions. But the truth is, when teams can't run the ball against you, they throw it. It's basketball: The more shots you take, the more land in the hoop. To date, the Jets' opponents have taken 356 shots against them. Fittingly, the Titans defense has withstood an identical number of attempts. Just 500 yards allowed separating the two squads.

"Yeah, this is a normal game," says Rhodes. "But we're trying to make a statement."

So in this somber march towards a Sunday in Tampa, maybe it's best to save the smelling of flowers for another day. In these final hours of the season, perhaps the crowning and majestic moments are found in the present. January can wait.

Let us savor November.

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