2007 New York Jets season

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2007 New York Jets season
OwnerWoody and Christopher Johnson
General managerMike Tannenbaum
Head coachEric Mangini
Home fieldGiants Stadium
Results
Record4–12
Division place3rd AFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersNone
Uniform

The 2007 season was the New York Jets' 38th in the National Football League (NFL), their 48th season overall and their second under head coach Eric Mangini. The team attempted to improve upon their 10 wins in the 2006 season, but only finished with a 4–12 record.

Offseason

Player transactions

Free agents heading into the 2007 season

Player name Position Tag type[note 1] Compensation[note 2] Date signed Team signed with
B. J. Askew Running back UFA[1] March 4[2] Buccaneers
Dave Ball Defensive end RFA[3] No qualifying offer March 26[4] Panthers
Anthony Clement
Offensive tackle
 UFA[1] March 19[5] Jets
James Hodgins Running back UFA[1]
Rashad Moore Defensive tackle RFA[3] No qualifying offer Patriots
Sean Ryan Tight end RFA[6] Fifth-round pick Jets
Wade Smith
Center
 UFA[1] March 10[7] Jets
Cody Spencer Linebacker RFA[6] Sixth-round pick Jets

Signings

The Jets signed defensive end Michael Haynes on March 22. Haynes played three seasons with the Chicago Bears, but was cut before the beginning of last season.[8]

Marques Tuiasosopo was signed by the Jets on March 23 after spending six seasons with the Oakland Raiders. He and Kellen Clemens will compete for the role of backup quarterback behind starter Chad Pennington.[9]

Among the more notable free agent signings during the offseason was the acquisition of

1998 NFL Draft, but had been out of football since 2000 — when he was cut by the Arizona Cardinals — due to several knee injuries and subsequent operations that kept him off the field.[10]

Departures

The Jets released backup quarterback

center during the regular season.[11]

Perhaps the most expected departure was the retirement of

Physically Unable to Perform list last season before being placed on injured reserve
in week 8.

Trades

The Jets addressed a need at running back on March 6 by acquiring Thomas Jones from the Chicago Bears. The Jets' rushing offense ranked among the bottom teams in the NFL in 2006. In addition to Jones, the Jets received the 63rd pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, in exchange for the Jets' 37th pick, which the Jets acquired from the Washington Redskins last year. Jones then signed a four-year, $20 million deal with the team.[14]

On August 23, the Jets agreed to trade disgruntled offensive lineman

center and played at that position in the Jets' preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on August 17. The experiment resulted in two botched shotgun snaps for the Jets, one of which was converted into a defensive touchdown for the Vikings.[17]

2007 NFL Draft

The Jets were granted the 25th pick in the first round of the annual

college draft.[18]
The draft took place on April 28 and 29 in New York City.

The team was especially busy on draft day, making two big moves to move up in the order.[19] First, they traded the 25th pick in the first round, along with their second (59th overall) and fifth-round (164th) picks to the Carolina Panthers for their first-round (14th) and sixth-round (191st) picks. They used the 14th pick on cornerback Darrelle Revis from the University of Pittsburgh. Later, they traded their other second-round pick (63rd) with their third (89th) and the sixth-round pick acquired from Carolina to the Green Bay Packers for their second (47th) and seventh-round (235th) picks. The four players taken by the Jets represent the smallest draft class in franchise history.[20]

2007 New York Jets draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 14 Darrelle Revis *  CB Pittsburgh from Carolina
2 47 David Harris  ILB Michigan from Green Bay
6 177 Jacob Bender 
OT
 Nicholls State from Tampa Bay
7 235 Chansi Stuckey  WR Clemson from New York Jets via Green Bay
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Revis initially did not attend the Jets’ training camp, as he was still in the midst of negotiating his contract. He eventually signed a six-year, $36 million contract on August 15, 21 days after camp had started.[21] Revis was the second-to-last first-round pick to sign a contract with a team, with JaMarcus Russell of the Oakland Raiders the only holdout remaining afterwards.[21] Revis was the first draftee not signed before training camp by the Jets since James Farrior in 1997, and had the longest holdout since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996.[21]

Staff

2007 New York Jets staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Sal Alosi
  • Assistant strength and conditioning/nutrition coordinator – Rick Lyle

Roster

2007 New York Jets final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 11 inactive, 8 practice squad

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 10 Atlanta Falcons W 31–16 1–0 Giants Stadium Recap
2 August 17 Minnesota Vikings L 20–37 1–1 Giants Stadium Recap
3 August 25 at New York Giants W 20–12 2–1 Giants Stadium Recap
4 August 30 at Philadelphia Eagles W 13–11 3–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap

Regular season

Matchups were determined at the end of the previous season through the league's

Herman Edwards' first game against his former team since leaving after the 2005 season, and visit the Tennessee Titans
.

The schedule was officially released on April 11.

Eastern time start to 4:05 p.m.; the game against the Chiefs was moved from NBC Sunday Night Football to a 4:15 p.m. start on CBS
.

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 9 New England Patriots L 14–38 0–1 Giants Stadium Recap
2 September 16 at Baltimore Ravens L 13–20 0–2 M&T Bank Stadium Recap
3 September 23 Miami Dolphins W 31–28 1–2 Giants Stadium Recap
4 September 30 at Buffalo Bills L 14–17 1–3
Ralph Wilson Stadium
 Recap
5 October 7 at New York Giants L 24–35 1–4 Giants Stadium Recap
6 October 14 Philadelphia Eagles L 9–16 1–5 Giants Stadium Recap
7 October 21 at Cincinnati Bengals L 31–38 1–6
Paul Brown Stadium
 Recap
8 October 28 Buffalo Bills L 3–13 1–7 Giants Stadium Recap
9 November 4 Washington Redskins L 20–23 (OT) 1–8 Giants Stadium Recap
10 Bye
11 November 18 Pittsburgh Steelers W 19–16 (OT) 2–8 Giants Stadium Recap
12 November 22 at Dallas Cowboys L 3–34 2–9 Texas Stadium Recap
13 December 2 at Miami Dolphins W 40–13 3–9
Dolphin Stadium
 Recap
14 December 9 Cleveland Browns L 18–24 3–10 Giants Stadium Recap
15 December 16 at New England Patriots L 10–20 3–11 Gillette Stadium Recap
16 December 23 at Tennessee Titans L 6–10 3–12
LP Field
 Recap
17 December 30 Kansas City Chiefs W 13–10 (OT) 4–12 Giants Stadium Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

AFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(1) New England Patriots 16 0 0 1.000 6–0 12–0 589 274 W16
Buffalo Bills 7 9 0 .438 4–2 6–6 252 354 L3
New York Jets 4 12 0 .250 2–4 4–8 268 355 W1
Miami Dolphins 1 15 0 .063 0–6 1–11 267 437 L2

Regular season game summaries

Week 1: vs. New England Patriots

Period 1 2 34Total
Patriots 7 7 141038
Jets 0 7 7014

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game summary

The Jets began their 2007 campaign at home for a Week 1 divisional match-up with the New England Patriots. In the first quarter, New York immediately trailed as QB Tom Brady completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to WR Wes Welker for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Jets tied the game with QB Chad Pennington completing a 7-yard touchdown pass to WR Laveranues Coles. However, the Patriots retook the lead with Brady completing a 5-yard touchdown pass to TE Benjamin Watson.

On the opening kickoff for the third quarter, New York trailed even more as CB Ellis Hobbs returned the kickoff an NFL record 108 yards for a touchdown. Afterwards, New England continued his onslaught as Brady completed a 51-yard touchdown pass to WR Randy Moss. The Jets got their last score of the game when Pennington and Coles hooked up again on a 1-yard touchdown pass. In the fourth quarter, the Patriots took over for the rest of the game as kicker Stephen Gostkowski nailed a 22-yard field goal, while FB Heath Evans ended the game with a 1-yard touchdown run.

With the loss, the Jets began their season at 0–1 while the Patriots began 1–0.

Scoring summary

Scoring summary
Q Team Time Scoring play Extra point Score
1 NE 5:39 Welker 11-yard pass from Brady Gostkowski kick NE 7–0
2 NYJ 4:15 Coles 7-yard pass from Pennington Nugent kick Tied 7–7
2 NE 1:07 Watson 5-yard pass from Brady Gostkowski kick NE 14–7
3 NE 14:46 Hobbs 108-yard kickoff return Gostkowski kick NE 21–7
3 NE 7:01 Moss 51-yard pass from Brady Gostkowski kick NE 28–7
3 NYJ 2:19 Coles 1-yard pass from Pennington Nugent kick NE 28–14
4 NE 6:51 Gostkowski 22-yard field goal NE 31–14
4 NE 1:58 Evans 1-yard run Gostkowski kick NE 38–14

Video taping incident

Further information: Spygate (NFL)

On September 10, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was accused by the Jets of authorizing his staff to film the Jets' defensive signals from an onfield location, a violation of league rules. The Jets confiscated the video camera used by video assistant Matt Estrella to film the signals during the game and filed a complaint to the league office, detailing the accusations.[26]

On September 13, Belichick was officially fined $500,000, while the Patriots were also fined $250,000 and forfeited their first round draft pick in the

2008 NFL Draft.[27] If the Patriots had missed the playoffs, they would have instead forfeited their second and third round selections in the 2008 draft.[28] Goodell said that he fined the Patriots as a team because Belichick is effectively the team's general manager as well as head coach and exercises so much control over the Patriots' on-field operations that "his actions and decisions are properly attributed to the club." Goodell considered suspending Belichick, but decided that taking away draft picks would be more severe in the long run.[29]

Belichick later issued a statement in which he apologized for what he called a "mistake" in his interpretation of the rules. However, he denied ever using video tape to gain an advantage while a game was underway.[30]

Week 2: at Baltimore Ravens

Period 1 2 34Total
Jets 0 3 01013
Ravens 7 10 0320

at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Game summary

Though Chad Pennington was active and in uniform for the Jets, the team erred on the side of caution due to injured right ankle, instead starting second-year backup Kellen Clemens, who was making his first career start. The Ravens’ defense welcomed him rudely on his first drive with an interception by Ed Reed. The Ravens were able to attain good field position consistently throughout the first half, and quarterback Kyle Boller (who himself was starting in place of an injured starting quarterback, Steve McNair), capitalized with a two-yard touchdown to Willis McGahee late in the first quarter. The teams traded field goals to start the second quarter; Jets kicker Mike Nugent hit a 50-yard field goal, followed by Matt Stover hitting a 28-yard attempt for the Ravens. After Stover missed a 46-yard try, the Jets tried to respond with Nugent attempting a 52-yard field goal, but Nugent missed wide left, his first miss in 20 attempts dating back to last season. Boller once again took advantage of the short field provided and hit tight end Todd Heap on a four-yard touchdown with six seconds left in the half to extend the Ravens’ lead to 17–3. Heap's catch was initially ruled incomplete, but the call was subjected to a booth review and reversed, as replays showed he was able to touch both feet within the end zone.

After a quiet third quarter, Stover hit a 43-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter, and extended Baltimore's lead to 17. Baltimore's defense, which ranked as the best in the NFL in

Ray Lewis
for the game-ending interception. The loss meant the Jets had gone 8–20 since 2002 in games not started by Chad Pennington.

Scoring summary

Scoring summary
Q Team Time Scoring play Extra point Score
1 BAL 3:36 McGahee 2-yard pass from Boller Stover kick BAL 7–0
2 NYJ 13:36 Nugent 50-yard field goal BAL 7–3
2 BAL 9:37 Stover 28-yard field goal BAL 10–3
2 BAL 0:06 Heap 4-yard pass from Boller Stover kick BAL 17–3
4 BAL 14:57 Stover 43-yard field goal BAL 20–3
4 NYJ 10:05 Nugent 21-yard field goal BAL 20–6
4 NYJ 3:12 Baker 3-yard pass from Clemens Nugent kick BAL 20–13

Week 3: vs. Miami Dolphins

Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 0 13 01528
Jets 7 14 3731

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game summary

center for the Jets, as they attempted to get their first win of the season against another winless team, the Miami Dolphins. The Jets’ offense got going toward the end of the first quarter with a three-yard touchdown pass from Pennington to Laveranues Coles. The Dolphins responded swiftly as Trent Green and Ronnie Brown led the team on a three-minute drive that culminated on a one-yard run by Brown to tie the score at seven. However, the Jets wasted little time reclaiming the lead. Leon Washington received the ensuing kickoff at the two-yard line and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown and a 14–7 lead. The Dolphins crept back with field goals of 31 and 39 yards by Jay Feely
on their next two possessions. Pennington kept the Dolphins at bay with a successful two-minute drill, finding tight end Chris Baker on a four-yard touchdown to close the first half and give the Jets a 21–13 halftime lead.

The Jets attempted to further their lead opening the third quarter, but were stopped short of the goal line and had to settle for a 21-yard Mike Nugent field goal. The Dolphins tried to respond, but the Jets’ defense forced their first takeaway of the season on the ensuing drive, an interception by Kerry Rhodes. Pennington led his offense downfield with the help of several Thomas Jones running plays before he ran into the end zone to give the Jets a 31–13 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Miami did not go down quietly, however. Green quickly marched the Dolphins downfield to set up Brown's two-yard touchdown run. The Dolphins elected to attempt a two-point conversion to cut their deficit to ten; using a Statue of Liberty play, Brown walked into the end zone to complete the conversion. Although the Jets shed several minutes off the clock on their following possession, the Dolphins got the ball back and again were able to move swiftly downfield, where Brown scored his third touchdown on a 22-yard pass from Green. The Dolphins needed to recover an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff to have a chance to tie or win the game, but, despite a penalty moving the ball up 10 yards, were unsuccessful, and Pennington knelt out the clock to give the Jets their first victory of the season.

Scoring summary

Scoring summary
Q Team Time Scoring play Extra point Score
1 NYJ 1:02 Coles 3-yard pass from Pennington Nugent kick NYJ 7–0
2 MIA 13:00 Brown 1-yard run Feely kick Tied 7–7
2 NYJ 12:47 Washington 98-yard kickoff return Nugent kick NYJ 14–7
2 MIA 7:19 Feely 31-yard field goal NYJ 14–10
2 MIA 1:36 Feely 39-yard field goal NYJ 14–13
2 NYJ 0:02 Baker 4-yard pass from Pennington Nugent kick NYJ 21–13
3 NYJ 7:57 Nugent 21-yard field goal NYJ 24–13
4 NYJ 12:51 Pennington 2-yard run Nugent kick NYJ 31–13
4 MIA 8:56 Brown 2-yard run Brown run NYJ 31–21
4 MIA 1:15 Brown 22-yard pass from Green Feely kick NYJ 31–28

Week 4 at Bills

See also: 2007 Buffalo Bills season and Bills–Jets rivalry
Week Four: New York Jets (1–2) at Buffalo Bills (0–3)
Period 1 2 34Total
Jets 0 0 7714
Bills 0 0 71017

at

Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Game information
Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Coming off a divisional home win over the Dolphins, the Jets flew to

Ralph Wilson Stadium for an AFC East showdown with the winless Buffalo Bills. After a scoreless first half, New York trailed in the third quarter as Bills RB Marshawn Lynch got a 10-yard touchdown run. The Jets responded with QB Chad Pennington completing a 5-yard touchdown pass to WR Laveranues Coles. In the fourth quarter, New York fell behind Buffalo again as kicker Rian Lindell nailed a 46-yard field goal and QB Trent Edwards completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to TE Michael Gaines. The Jets managed to pull within three as RB Leon Washington got an 8-yard touchdown run. After forcing a three-and-out, New York had one last chance to tie or take the lead. Unfortunately, 8 plays into the drive, Pennington got intercepted by Bills CB Terrence McGee
, which secured Buffalo's first win of the year.

With the surprising loss, the Jets fell to 1–3.

Week 5: at New York Giants

Period 1 2 34Total
Jets 7 10 7024
Giants 0 7 141435

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey