First of all don’t laugh. Now, the Super Bowl in two weeks will cap off a horrific year for the Jets. The 8-8 season was incredibly disappointing and now fans and players alike have to watch as either the New England Patriots or the New York Giants win the Super Bowl we have been craving for over four decades. Kermit the Frog once said “It’s not easy being green,” and he was right. This year the football God’s have found a way to stick the knife in deeper, instead of letting us off easy with a cut from Rex Ryan’s lap band surgery, we got stabbed in the heart.

So while some people will throw themselves into mock drafts, and find reason for optimism in the toxic waste that was the Jets season this year, or just survive by saying “Wait ‘till next year for however long it takes, I think it is best to go back into the past. From the old stadium to this year, for those of us who can remember Kyle Brady, and Rich Kotite, to those who like me, grew up watching Curtis Martin, we can take comfort in picking and choosing the memories of the past. Here’s one.

December 29th 2002-The Jets Win The AFC East

http://www.hulu.com/watch/124203/team-highlights-new-york-jets

Everybody should watch this trubte to that year, including highlights from that game. The Jets entered week seventeen of the 2002 on the outside looking in. With Cleveland clinching the wild card berth the Jets had to pray for a New England Patriots win over the Miami Dolphins, and then had to beat Brett Favre and the Packers. As the Jets game started at the Meadowlands the Patriots were trailing Miami. Then they mounted a late fourth quarter comeback and stunned Miami in overtime 27-24. I was at the Meadowlands that day and what I remember most was the absolute silence in the upper deck, as the few guys with transistor radios gave play by play updates, which were spread through the crowd a la the Occupy Wall Street Human Megaphone. The crowd erupted during a random timeout when Adam Vinatieri hit the field goal, and all the Jets had to do was beat the Packers and they were AFC East champions.

The Jets dominated. Chad Pennington threw for four touchdowns. Wayne Chrebet had two touchdowns. Curtis martin ran for a 5 yard touchdown. Brett Favre had an interception (some things never change!) and the Jets were guaranteed a home playoff game. All was well it Jets Land. We should remember that today.