After an off-season of boisterous talk, the Jets realized that they would actually need to play some football before the Vince Lombardi trophy is handed to them and with the way that game went last night, they might have to put the award ceremony on indefinite hiatus.

An “Offensive” Showing (Ha!)

The Jets did nothing on offense last night. It was so putrid that I can’t honestly recommend starting any Jet player until we see at least one week’s worth of improvement. What was the one silver lining of their performance, you ask? They’ve forced me to admit that, shockingly, LaDanian Tomlinson might be worth owning this season.

For Shonn Greene owners—I don’t mean to pile it on, but apparently the Jets plan on giving the majority of the carries to a running back that I just assumed was washed up. For a RB which most owners had to reach on in the second round (Greene), last night was devastating. He managed only 18 yards on 5 carries with two fumbles—one of which was lost. There is always the possibility that the Jets were just simply playing the Ravens—a historically great defense for the past decade–but the Ravens have plenty of holes right now (did the Jets not get the injury report regarding the Ravens secondary?) and they chose not to exploit any of those.

Shonn Greene looked like a classically boring back; he either ran into the line, netting a yard or two, or he fumbled. He should have better weeks against weaker opponents, but this backfield looks more like a timeshare than anyone thought it would initially. If you took a flier on Tomlinson in the later rounds of your draft, then pat yourself on the back. I still don’t expect him to put up consistent starter numbers (last night: 11 carries, 62 yards, 16 receiving), but you at the very least seem to have outsmarted your fellow owners who grabbed Greene waaaaay too early.

The Chiefs Did What?

In the first half of Monday’s final game, the Chiefs put up 21 points. At the start of the second half, they braced for the incoming onslaught that was an angry Philip Rivers, but somehow managed to hold on.

It looks like Antonio Gates will unsurprisingly see the majority of targets in San Diego this season, and I expect him to have his regularly-scheduled Top 5 year for tight ends. What will be interesting is if other teams note how the Chiefs basically shut him out in the second half—devoting at times THREE guys to guard him alone. The Chargers WRs weren’t able to take advantage of the coverage shift for the most part (save one long bomb to a wide open Naanee), and it still remains to be seen which WR (if any) will step up in the absence of Vincent Jackson.

Jamaal Charles needs a lot more than 11 carries; especially when he does for 92 yards and a TD with those limited touches. This guy started the season better than I could have even hoped for, but it could have been even better still. Every time he touched the ball, it seemed like he was picking up a lot of positive yardage, so why not feed him? Thomas Jones is consistent and dependable, I get it, but he just doesn’t have the burst and play-making abilities that Charles possesses.

On another note, if you were one of those owners who bought on Dwayne Bowe’s supposed improvement, then it looks like you’re in for a long season. Rain or no rain, this guy is a professional athlete and he should be able to catch a football.

It doesn’t look like he can.

Players I Love/Hate Score-Tracker

Jamaal Charles: +1
Arian Foster: +1
Kevin Kolb: +1
Larry Fitzgerald: 0 (Not very good, not bad though)
Brandon Marshall: +1 (Exactly what I said–lots of catches for little yards/no TD)
Chris Johnson: -1
Justin Forsett: -1
The Rams: -1 (some fantasy relevancy)
Joe Flacco: 0
Tom Brady: -1 (he put up the numbers that I thought he would, but no other QB really did as well)

Current standing: 0.

Broke even thanks to the big-play-waiting-to-happen that is Jamaal Charles.