Jets' running game Saturday:
Shonn Greene: 21 rushes, 135 yards, TD
Thomas Jones: 15 rushes, 34 yards, TD

Rookie Shonn Greene made a big time showing Saturday, trouncing the veteran Thomas Jones for more carries and over a hundred extra yards in the Jets' win over the Bengals. Greene went from a complimentary running back most of the season to the featured guy on Saturday. I'm sure Modell's is now ordering "Greene 23" jerseys by the truckload.

It's hard to criticize a move that was so effective. But I'm going to try, because I'm kind of perplexed by this sudden changing of the guard, especially during the playoffs.

Here's my question: Why would you tinker with the NFL's number one running game during the postseason? It worked on Saturday, but I'd be nervous if this lasts into the San Diego game, like a lot of fans want.

Shonn Greene is flashing plenty of potential, but he's had a fumble problem (3 this year in limited play, and had a 4th on Saturday taken away thanks to a penalty) and he's probably still benefiting from simply being a rookie and opposing teams not having a chance to break him down yet. If you play Greene more, not only do you run a higher risk of causing a turnover, but you also cut down on Greene's surprise element.

Thomas Jones has been phenomenal this season, with a career-high 1,400 rushing yards during the regular season. He's durable, won't make mistakes and he's good enough for a team that relies on its defense. He'll get you enough points for the win if your defense does what it's supposed to do, and I'd rather put the game in the defense's hands rather that the offense's. Greene's got better numbers in many categories, but I wouldn't want to give a guy with a fumble problem too many more carries, especially in the playoffs. So for me, in Jones you must trust, Jet fans.

I'd still like to see it be a combination of the two, but with Jones still getting the heavy bulk of the carries. I'd like to see Greene get around 10 carries a game and Jones get the other 20 or so. This way, you can still feel confident about giving the ball to Jones while having a solid change-of-pace option to bring in and keep the defense honest. But I think even a 50-50 split of the carries could be asking for trouble and cut down on Greene's effectiveness.

Are the Jets are going Greene? And yes,
        double pun absolutely intended.

Are the Jets trustworthy in a close game yet?

Just another thought for you people still making your picks for Sunday's Jets-Chargers game: what happens if the game comes down to the wire?

In what could've been the game that kept the Jets out of the playoffs had other results not gone their way, the Jets' defense played great all game against Atlanta week 15, only to give up a late touchdown to the Falcons on a 4th and goal. The Jets' defense also played poorly in the 4th quarter during losses to Jacksonville against Miami twice. Maybe it's a Florida thing, but it's certainly a cause for concern. The Jets have to be able to win close games.

They won comfortably in Cincinnati last weekend, blew out the Bengalsthe week before that, and easily beat a hapless Indianapolis the week beforethat. So while the Jets are proving themselves to be a good team, theyhaven't proven the ability to win tight games yet.

The Jets won by an average of nearly 18 points during their nine regular season wins, but they lost by an average less than seven points in their seven losses. When the won, they won big, but when they lost, they lost tightly. For me, the final hurdle the Jets have to prove is the ability to win the close one.

And while the Jets are certainly playing great right now, the Chargers haven't lost for three months, and they're at home Sunday. I think the Jets would be fortunate to be in a close game against San Diego, and I don't trust the Jets if it's within a touchdown either way in the 4th. They haven't proven that all-important clutch ability yet. But if they can indeed close a tight one at San Diego, it'd be tough, at least for me, to pick against the J-E-T-S the rest of the way.

Also:

-The 2009-2010 New York Jets may have one of the most colorful collection offirst names on the planet. How many organizations can say they employ a D'Brickashaw, Shonn, Jerricho, Aundrae, Kenwin, Ropati, Sione, and Marquice?

-Hey Braylon Edwards, catch the ball.