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Camp Countdown:...
by: CHRIS ZERVOUDIS

After A Long Wait,...

Fan-Demonium: Eagles...
by: TOMMY LAWLOR

Jets quarterback Chad Pennington got the matchup he wanted. Too bad cornerback Sheldon Brown knew what was coming.

In film study and practice leading up to the Eagles-Jets game on Oct. 14, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson stressed the importance of his unit's play in the red zone.

With the ball at the Eagles' 4-yard line in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, the Jets needed one yard for a first down or seven points to tie the game. Linebacker Takeo Spikes made a pair of nice plays to help thwart rushing attempts on second and third down. On fourth down, the Jets lined up in shotgun formation. Matched up against Laveranues Coles on the left side of the field with no safety help, Brown forced an incomplete pass on a fade route and the ball turned over on down to the offense, which ran out the final 3:27 to preserve the 16-9 win.

From the onset, this game appeared as though it might be a shootout. Jets running back Thomas Jones rushed for 47 yards on the first two plays from scrimmage to set up Mike Nugent's 30-yard field goal. The Eagles answered back three plays into their first possession. Quarterback Donovan McNabb changed the play at the line of scrimmage, took a three-step drop and connected on a quick slant to wide receiver Kevin Curtis, who beat cornerback Andre Dyson. Curtis broke a tackle by safety Eric Smith and raced 75 yards to give Philadelphia a 7-3 lead.

The Eagles offense managed little the rest of the way, as four trips to the red zone netted only nine points, all off the foot of kicker David Akers. The defense, gashed on the opening drive because they overpursued and did not contain the edges, made the necessary adjustments. Jones finished with 130 rushing yards, but had only 36 in the second half. The Eagles improved their record after a regular-season bye to 9-0 under head coach Andy Reid.

- CHRIS McPHERSON

69:

The percentage of time the Jets had scored a touchdown when inside the red zone entering the game against the Eagles.

0:

The number of touchdowns the Jets scored against the Eagles in four trips inside the red zone.

"We talk all the time about stepping up to the challenge, and this was a challenge. The Jets were the second-best team in the NFL in the red zone, and our guys accepted that as a great challenge. I like the way we played all day. We were very aggressive and we made some plays."
- Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson

Brian Westbrook broke through a hole opened up by right guard Shawn Andrews and picked up 21 yards on a third-and-3 with 55 seconds remaining in the game. It was the second third-down conversion on the drive, which ate up the game's final 3:27. Westbrook rushed for 50 of his 120 yards in the final two minutes.