Elated fans cheer Jets players at Grasshopper in Morristown

ESPN sports radio host Bob Wischuan, left, with Jets lineman D'Brickashaw Ferguson at Grasshopper Off the Green in Morristown. Photo by Jason Lockhart.
ESPN sports radio host Bob Wischuan, left, with Jets lineman D'Brickashaw Ferguson at Grasshopper Off the Green in Morristown. Photo by Jason Lockhart.
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By Jason Lockhart

Unless you’re Joe Namath, it’s unwise to guarantee postseason victories in the NFL. But New York Jets player D’ Brickashaw Ferguson could say this much on Monday night in Morristown: Gang Green won’t let the New England Patriots blow them out again.

“Nobody likes to lose,” the 6-6, 310-pound offensive tackle told a throng of fans at Grasshopper Off the Green, where Bob Wischusan broadcast his ESPN 1050 AM sports talk show. “We want to keep that in mind and understand that we are not going to allow that to happen again, especially when we’re playing against a team that has been our worst loss.”

The Patriots walloped the Jets 45-3 in their last meeting. But the Jets are heading to Foxboro, MA, this weekend buoyed by Saturday’s clutch wild card playoff victory over Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

ESPN sports radio host Bob Wischuan, left, with Jets lineman D'Brickashaw Ferguson at Grasshopper Off the Green in Morristown. Photo by Jason Lockhart.
ESPN sports radio host Bob Wischusan, left, with Jets lineman D'Brickashaw Ferguson at Grasshopper Off the Green in Morristown. Photo by Jason Lockhart.

“We knew what the game plan was coming into [the Indianapolis] game,” said Ferguson’s teammate, Jim Leonhard. “A lot of guys stepped up on defense.”

The Jets defense could not completely shut down Manning in New York’s 17-14 road win; the star quarterback completed 18-of-26 passes for 225 yards. But Colts deep-threat receiver Reggie Wayne was held to just one catch for one yard and the Jets allowed only 93 rushing yards.

Sunday’s AFC East divisional playoff will mark the third time New England and the Jets have tangled this season.

The Jets drew first blood with a 28-14 victory at home on Sept. 19th. Quarterback Mark Sanchez threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns.

But a Dec. 6 rematch ended in embarrassment for the Jets. Leonhard was sidelined with a season-ending leg injury a few days before the game. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady torched the New York with 326 passing yards and four touchdown tosses.

To that point, the Jets were considered a Super Bowl team. They entered that Monday Night Football clash tied with the Patriots for the NFL’s best record at 9-2.

Ferguson said the Jets are eager to forget their thrashing by New England.

“We are definitely motivated by the fact we have won [in New England] before,” he said.

The Jets last won there on Nov. 13, 2008. Former running back Thomas Jones registered 104 yards on 30 carries and former kicker Jay Feely sealed the 34-31 overtime victory with a field goal.

Ferguson and Leonhard posed for pictures and signed autographs after their interview with Wischusan. Many fans were given free posters by cheerleaders from The Flight Crew.

“It was a nice to have dinner, have a great time, and get an opportunity to listen to some of the Jets players go over some X’s and O’s live on the radio,” said Joshua Newton, a Hackettstown resident and Jets fan.  “It was also a good opportunity to see some of the Jets players that you always see on Sundays and Mondays.”

bob wischusan of espn radio and jim leonhard of the jets
Bob Wischusan, left, of ESPN radio interviews Jim Leonhard of the New York Jets at Morristown's Grasshopper Off the Green. Photo by Jason Lockhart.

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