The "H" Factor

The impending Monday night matchup between the Jets and the Patriots is being trumpeted as the "game of the year" in the National Football League, a game of Pacquiao-Mayweather proportions. The story lines are endless and the anticipation is palpable in Jets nation as many experts are calling this the most important regular season game in franchise history. However; the one story line that is being over-looked is the impact of Santonio Holmes' presence in the Jets offensive lineup. The acquisiton of Holmes is arguably one of the biggest steals in league history; how many former Super Bowl MVP's in their prime have been traded for a only fifth-round draft pick.

Holmes has been the "X factor" in the Jets current four-game winning streak making big plays in clutch situations like it's a bodily function. The Jets offense has seemingly been unstoppable when offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer dials up the quick slant to Holmes over the middle; a play that is directly responsible for road wins against Cleveland and Detroit. Let's not overlook his role in the heart-stopping come-back victory over Houston, when he caught the game-winning touchdown on a fade route to the corner of the end zone. Holmes presence alongside Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards provides the Jets with one of the most dangerous and dynamic receiving corps in the NFL. In the Jets 28-14 win against the Patriots in week two, Holmes was still serving his league mandated four game suspension for violating the substance abuse policy. New England's young, inexperienced secondary had a tough time stopping the Jets' passing attack without Holmes, now with the insertion of Holmes into the lineup, the Patriots 32nd ranked pass defense will be pushed to its limits. Holmes' presence does not only help the Jets passing attack but it opens up the running game as well, taking a defender out of the box to cover him on the outside.

For years, the Jets have lacked a dynamic home-run hitter at wide receiver and they received an early Christmas gift when the Steelers' and their "morals" had enough of Holmes. Many experts argued that many of the off-season moves General Manager, Mike Tannenbaum had made would blow up in his face, at 9-2 Tannenbaum is looking smarter each week. All week we have been hearing how hard it will be for the Jets to contain Tom Brady's weapons when we should be hearing what the Patriots shoddy secondary will do about the Jets "Flight Boys." If Schottenheimer lets Sanchez and the Flight Boys loose against the Pats the only thing Rex Ryan and the Jets need to worry about it is playing defense. Holmes and Edwards are also auditioning for a job, in the final year of their respective contracts which could explain why "Edwards Scissor-hands" has seldom dropped a pass this year. With the looming NFL labor dispute Edwards and Holmes are playing for more than just "W's," aren't walk years great?