Of course, I am rooting for the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets today, a stark difference from the feeling last Sunday, when Eagles fans chanted J-E-T-S, Suck, Suck, Suck as the Eagles blew away the visitors from North Jersey.
The esteemed Bo Wulf is with me in the nearly-empty press box. The televisions are tuned to the rest of the league, but the focus is on one game: New York vs. New York, a battle that impacts what happens at 4:15 p.m. (Philadelphia time) between the Eagles and Cowboys.
A Jets win keeps the Eagles season alive. Simple as that. A Giants win ends the Eagles' playoff chances and likely forces Dallas to rest some of its starters today. New York would then host Dallas next Sunday with the NFC East title on the line.
So we're rooting for the Jets, naturally. Below is the day in front of me ...
2:55 p.m. (Dallas time)
The silver lining: We don't have to root for Mark Sanchez every week (I stole that line from a Twitter user) ... A Jets bright spot goes for nothing when Plaxico Burress is called for offensive pass interference. And then on the next play Sanchez fumbles in the pocket. The guy is terrible and the Jets stink and Rex Ryan has a big mouth and why couldn't they beat the Giants!?!?!??
The Eagles still have a game to play here, and I'm going to enjoy the final road game of the season (barring a miracle Jets comeback) ...
2:34 p.m.
I'm so depressed. The Jets suck, suck, suck and the Giants have a 17-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter and everybody in this building knows the score. I would love to be more positive, but how can I be watching this awful Jets team?
On a bright note, I spent some time with former Eagles cornerback Bobby Taylor, who is attending his first NFL game as a fan. Taylor played nine seasons with the Eagles and still roots the team on. Taylor, always into fashion, is launching a clothing line soon. We caught up in an interview that you can watch in the Kickoff Show.
Meanwhile, did I mention that the Jets stink?
1:35 p.m.
Halftime in a very tight game. It's like a boxing match here between the Giants and the Jets. They are playing the game on the big board here that hangs over the field at Cowboys Stadium, so every player and every coach is going to know the result of the game. At least, every player and every coach knows where the game stands.
Boy, do the Jets stink. That offense is lousy, lousy, lousy. Who wins this game in the second half?
1:19 p.m.
Victor Freakin' Cruz ... The Jets can't play defense. Why are they not blitzing Eli Manning? It makes absolutely no sense, and their lack of pressure on Manning helps the Giants take a lead on the huge catch and run from Cruz.
Bummer. It's 10-7 Giants. I don't know if the Jets can score at all here, even against a lousy defense like the Giants have.
1:16 p.m.
This is painful to watch. The Jets have no explosiveness offensively. They are a nickel-and-dime offense and their defense is only OK. They need to force a turnover or two to score points against the Jets.
Watching games like this makes me appreciate more the entertainment value and the quality of play from the Eagles offense ... generally. The turnovers this season have hurt so much. If the Eagles don't turn it over today, they win. Simple as that.
Here we go ... Eli Manning throwing from his end zone ...
12:53 p.m.
Outstanding goal-line stand by the Jets, but I still wonder why Rex Ryan is not blitzing Eli Manning. Why would you give him time in the pocket? The Jets lead 7-3 early in the second quarter and our party is breaking up a bit. We all have work to do. The popcorn is on here in the press box and the ants (media) are scattering to get some.
The Jets are not a convincing team to me. I am not a Mark Sanchez fan. He just doesn't command the field. Can the Jets score enough points to win this game? They need 24, as I see it.
12:31 p.m.
What planet is tight end Dustin Keller on today? He's having a horrible game. He isn't turning to catch the football and one pass went off his facemask. The Jets lead the game and are winning the battle of field position. Good pressure on Eli Manning so far.
Merrill Reese is referring to Jets running back Shonn Greene as "My boy, Shonn." OK, we're all caught up in this Jets-Giants game. The party has expanded to me, Bo Wulf, Merrill, Ryan McCann from our PhiladelphiaEagles.com staff and a couple of beat writers.
And we're all watching the same thing. Dallas benefits from a Jets win as well. If the Jets win and the Cowboys beat the Eaglas, Dallas wins the division.
The latest on running back Felix Jones: He is expected to play, despite not having practiced all week with a tight hamstring.
12:17 p.m.
Outstanding drive by Mark Sanchez and the Jets offense, resulting in a touchdown for the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets. They are up 7-0 and that's a good thing. To see how Sanchez picked apart the Giants secondary -- a back-shoulder throw to Santonio Holmes, a slant to Plaxico Burress, a timely penalty ... now the Giants have to play from behind.
12:13 p.m.
Game on and the Jets hold on defense and now Mark Sanchez has the Jets moving into Giants territory. Bad throw from Sanchez on a bootleg to Dustin Keller, the fine tight end. Third and long for the Jets. Big play early in this game. Short completion to LaDainian Tomlinson, and now it's fourth and 3 and the Jets are going for it. Terrible call and terrible execution on a quick pass into the flat for Sanchez, but the Giants are penalized and the Jets stay alive!
11:59 a.m.
Merrill Reese is nervous as Jets-Giants approaches. "Do you ever want something so badly that it won't happen because you want it to happen so badly?" he asks. "C'mon Jets!"
On a side note, I made a change to one of my fantasy football teams, moving running back Kevin Smith into the lineup in place of wide receiver Stevie Johnson. I'm in the Final in one league and in the semifinal of another league. I'm not the genius, trust me.
Kickoff about to arrive. The Giants are wearing their white uniforms with red numbers. Strange to see ...
11:34 a.m.
The aura of Dallas Stadium is long gone, but it is still a remarkable building. It is beautiful, it is showtime and it is absolutely massive, three times the footprint of Lincoln Financial Field. I always worry walking around here by myself that somebody will remember my insanity moment in the middle of the field and ...
Merrill Reese walks over. "I will deliriously happy if this game means something," he said.
We all feel the same way. I'm quite sure the Eagles will play hard and play well no matter what, but it would be so fun to keep playoff hopes alive for this game. One more game. Stayin' alive.
That's the theme of the day.
