NIAGARA FALLS, NY: Happy Monday. We will be celebrating Veterans Day this week, so I want to thank all who serve, and appreciate all that they’ve done for this country. With that said, today’s topics are: Rangers’ Review, Knicks’ Review, New York Football State of Mind.
Rangers Review
The Rangers had a really good week. They beat the Blues 3-1 in a goalie duel, then came back from 2-1 down against the Flyers to win 3-2, and then dominated the Seattle Kraken in Seattle, holding off a furious rally in a 4-3 win. So it looks like the team is back in their groove. They’re doing the right things with time and space, and it may be enough to keep management at bay. Maybe they’ll sign another veteran backup, but I don’t think they’ll be making a trade for a big name.
Knicks Review
The Knicks had a fantastic week. They beat up on the Nets, who are not a very good team. They beat up on the Bulls, who are rebuilding and not a good team. Then they took on the Cavs, who are a good team.
It’s still early but getting one game above .500 has them in the middle pack of the standings—not that it matters at this juncture. But it’s just good to see this team start getting back in the swing of things and looking like one of the better teams in the East. Adding Dalton Knecht to the rotation seems to have been a benefit by adding another shooter. And the defense has tightened up to what they were able to do last year, with stretches of actually shutting down the opponent and the Knicks going on double-digit runs.
New York Football State of Mind
Buffalo Bills
The The Bills play tonight as they face Angry Ward’s suddenly-human Minnesota Vikings. The Vikes haven’t had steady play from the quarterback with Kyler Murray -so they are giving Carson Weintz the ball. They have a good record at 6-1, based mostly on defense and running the ball. The Bills are also 6-1, hoping to keep it going and get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
NY Jets
The J-E-T-S lost to the Chiefs. It was close at the half, 14-12, but again it’s situational football.
The Jets were able to get to the Chiefs’ 5-yard line, then settled for a field goal. They got a turnover on the next drive and had to settle for a field goal. In the second half, the Chiefs turned it on and the Jets couldn’t keep pace, as the offense wasn’t making plays and they were actually giving up six or seven sneaks—something they hadn’t been good at stopping all season.
It’s the same old thing: situational football. Making stops when you need to make stops, and getting turnovers when you need to get a turnover. and the Jets’ offense and defense just can’t seem to make the key plays. Can you play as needed and be clutch when the team needs a clutch play? They can’t. Because of that, they keep losing.
Halfway through Year 2 of the new plan, I would say the idea of being more competitive is being reached, even though it’s not leading to wins.
I don’t know if Aaron Glenn has a three-year plan, but in this second year you’re supposed to be here being competitive, and they just definitely aren’t.
Come back tomorrow for The Big Aristotle.
