truebluefan

Jets have a tough Lion to tame

It only seems like Roy Williams has as many opinions as he does catches.

But it's no exaggeration to say the Lions' wide receiver, and Detroit's passing game in general, will pose a stiff test for the Jets (3-3) Sunday. Yet even with all the attention on him, Williams thinks it should lie elsewhere.

"The X-factor on this team is (running back) Kevin Jones," Williams said yesterday. "I believe if Kevin Jones rushes for over 100 yards that this team can't be beat, in my opinion."

So far, Williams is right. Jones ran for 127 yards in this past Sunday's 20-17 win over the Bills. The Lions' first victory marked the first time this season Jones has exceeded 100 yards.

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truebluefan

Under new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, the Detroit Lions' offense hasn't reached the heights of the "Greatest Show On Turf " teams Martz had in St. Louis.

Martz, the former Rams head coach, led his team to a pair of Super Bowl appearances behind a state-of-the-art offense that most opponents still haven't figured out. He turned quarterback Kurt Warner from to pauper to a Super Bowl MVP and made wideout Torry Holt a star.

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truebluefan

Roy Williams has emerged as one of the NFL's go-to wide receivers. But the Detroit Lions' mouth that roars would not go to the guarantee quotes for Sunday's rendezvous with the Jets' defense in the land of "The Great Guarantor," Joe Namath.

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truebluefan

On Sunday, the Jets will see what might have been.

Shortly after renegotiating Chad Pennington's contract last March, the Jets, in the market for a starting-caliber veteran to compete with Pennington, aggressively pursued Jon Kitna. They brought him to New York on the first weekend of free agency, but he wound up receiving a more lucrative offer from the Lions - a four-year contract that included a $3.5 million signing bonus.

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truebluefan

The Jets catch a significant break Sunday with not having to face Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, who's not only nursing a knee injury but yesterday was suspended for four games by the NFL for violating the league substance abuse policy regarding steroid use.

The Jets' running game, ranked 21st in the NFL, can use all the help it can get.

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truebluefan

Quarterback Chad Pennington knows he's going to get Lions defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson's best shot on Sunday at the Meadowlands.

Henderson, in his first season with the Lions, spent the previous two seasons as the Jets' defensive boss, earning a reputation as a no-nonsense taskmaster who preaches tough, aggressive, blitz-happy football. He didn't leave the Jets under the best of circumstances after being passed over for the head job in favor of Eric Mangini.

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truebluefan

Cedric Houston appears on the verge of returning from an injured left knee that has kept the Jets' running back sidelined the past two games.

Jets players are not allowed to discuss their injuries and the team never fully disclosed Houston's exact diagnosis. He was carted off the Giants Stadium turf after gaining a team-high 49 yards on 12 carries in a 31-28 loss to the Colts on Oct. 1.

The second-year pro is listed as questionable for Sunday's home game against the Detroit Lions. But Houston indicated the Jets were relying on his own progress report.

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truebluefan

To Victor, the spoils

Some NFL players get the footballs that they scored touchdowns with painted in bronze for display in home showcases.

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