The Rundown: Time for a mea culpa

Let me join sportscasters, pundits, and nonbelievers from across the country in saying those two little words to the New York Jets.

My bad.

In my last post (scroll down), I called Kerry Rhodes' trash talking of the Patriots "monumentally moronic" and said Gang Green would get "swatted" by the Pats. But I overestimated Tom Brady's ability to bounce back from a mediocre Week 1 performance, and I vastly underestimated the Jets' defense. Instead of a vintage Bill Belichick beatdown, we saw a 16-9 upset by the Jets that may shift the balance of power in the AFC East.

New head coach Rex Ryan was a defensive genius with the Ravens, and he's turned the Jets' D into a fearsome force. The AFC East leaders -- yes, you read that right -- have surrendered a total of nine points on defense in two games. Sunday, they kept the Pats out of the end zone for the first time in 37 games. Gang Green got a major assist from a raucous home crowd at the Meadowlands, but the credit belongs to Ryan and his defense of believers.

And that's the other thing worth mentioning: I also underestimated the Jets' heart. Since Bill Parcells retired after the 1998 season, the Jets have been without a really good head coach, and they've often played like a team without a purpose. Ryan has given this team a purpose, an attitude, and a swagger in just two regular-season games. It's just September, but the Jets have proven they can play with anybody.

NEW YORK GIANTS: Talk about an uneven game for Big Blue. Yes, they pulled out a gut-check 33-31 win over the Cowboys to spoil Jerry Jones' christening of the new Cowboys Stadium, but there were some ugly statistics to swallow after the game. The G-Men allowed 251 yards rushing and failed to score a touchdown in the red zone on four trips.

Still, an excellent game from Eli Manning (330 yards, two TDs, no picks) and a +4 turnover margin must give Tom Coughlin reason to smile. And a pair of second-year players had breakout games on Sunday. Wide receiver Mario Manningham had 10 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown, while safety Kenny Phillips had two picks and seven tackles.

NEW YORK YANKEES: Five losses in their last nine games is probably just mildly frustrating for the Yankees, considering they're just one win away from clinching a playoff spot. More concerning was the egg laid by Joba Chamberlain in Sunday's 7-1 loss. What to do with Joba has become the Fermat's Enigma of the Yankees, a problem with multiple theories but no real solution. Bullpen or starter? Pitch count or not? Normal or extended rest? No one can figure it out.

If Joba continues to struggle, those questions may become moot. Joe Girardi can't stick with him as a No. 4 starter forever, and the issue needs to be resolved before a possible seven-game ALCS.

On the bright side, A.J. Burnett threw seven innings of one-run ball on Friday, showing his best stuff and give nervous Yankee fans everywhere hope for the playoffs.

NEW YORK METS: I watch SportsCenter this morning, and they were counting down the Top 10 plays of the week. One one of the plays was made by Nationals' closer Mike MacDougal, who speared a comebacker that knocked his glove off and still got the final out at first. The batter? Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur, who made the unlucky last out in the 6-5 loss.

The SportsCenter anchor said dryly. "These are the Mets. The Nationals are in last place... but these are the Mets." Enough said.

RANGERS/ISLANDERS/DEVILS: In the preseason, hockey gets less coverage. But in the first New York area clash of the preseason, the Devils beat the Rangers 3-2 in a shootout after the Blueshirts rallied from a two-goal deficit. Positives for both teams.

COLUMBIA FOOTBALL: Why include this? Because Columbia went to Fordham and knocked off the Rams 40-28, a rare non-Ivy League win for the Lions. And because Colubmia has a quarterback named Millicent Olawale, a neuroscience and behavior major and future doctor who threw for two scores and ran for two more against Fordham. More on this guy to come.