Big win Jet fans. Biiiiiiiiig win!
Abram Elam took an interception back 92 yards for a score, Kris Jenkins netted five tackles and two sacks and Thomas Jones scored a big touchdown as the
Jets surprised the Bills 26-17 in Buffalo. Jay Feely tacked on four field goals and Darrelle Revis put the game away with a pretty interception late in the fourth quarter to help push Gang Green to 5-3 on the season. The victory also moved the Green and White into a three-way tie for first place in the AFC East after the
Indianapolis Colts took care of the New England Patriots in the Sunday night game.
It couldn't have been a more perfect Sunday.
The Jets offense never really found a groove against the game Buffalo defense, but it all came together for a brief time late in the third quarter. The Green and White started from their own 40-yard line and needed just four plays to score their only offensive touchdown of the game. The key play came on a Brett Favre to Jerricho Cotchery completion that went for 35 yards and positioned the Jets on the Buffalo 7-yard line. TJ (who finished with 69 yards rushing on just 12 carries and caught six passes for 38 yards) capped off the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run that gave the Jets a 23-10 lead.
And the guys in green never looked back.
I was at my little cousin's first birthday party for this one (Happy B-Day, Ryan!) so I wasn't as locked in as I usually am, but I'll still forge ahead with my roundup.
REASONS TO GET UP ON MONDAY:The new safety. Eric Smith sat this one out after suffering another concussion last week against the Kansas City Chiefs (his second this season) so Elam got the starting nod. And No. 27 took advantage. Elam recorded only one tackle during the game (shocking, but true), but he came away with the biggest play of the day. The Bills faced a 3rd-and-goal from the Jets 15-yard line when Elam stepped in front of a pass intended for Roscoe Parrish and took in back 92 yards for his first NFL touchdown. The interception return gave the Jets a 13-7 advantage and changed the whole complexion of the game.
Kris Jenkins. The man-mountain was in full force Sunday afternoon. Elam's interception return may not have happened if not for Jenkins. The big guy knifed right up the gut and applied heavy pressure on Edwards that contributed to the poor throw. Jenkins was also a huge reason why the Jets held the Bills to only 30 yards rushing on the afternoon. Leon Washington may be the Jets MVP on offense, but there is no question who the most valuable player on defense is for the Jets. The unit is completely different when No. 77 isn't in the ballgame.
Darrelle Revis. The second-year player out of Pittsburgh is blossoming into one of the best all-around cornerbacks in the league. Revis made the first big play for the Jets on defense when he blasted Edwards on a blitz, forced a fumble and recovered it on the Bills 6-yard line. The turnover resulted in three points for the Gotham Green. Revis then extinguished all hope for Buffalo when he intercepted a pass in the end zone with 1:21 left in the game. The sky is the limit for No. 24. Revis finished with five tackles, one sack and the interception.
Jay Feely. Mike Nugent's replacement connected on four of his five field goal attempts to help guide the Green and White to victory. Feely's longest kick only traveled 37 yards, but they all count for three and equalled to 12 big points.
REASONS TO SLEEP IN ON MONDAY:The Pick-Six. Things were going swimmingly for the Jets early in the fourth quarter. Gang Green held a 23-10 lead and just took over on their own 33-yard line after Ryan Lindell missed wide left on a 43-yard field goal attempt. But the good vibes didn't last long. On the first play after the missed kick, Favre flipped a dangerous pass to the outside that was intercepted by Jabari Greer and returned 42 yards for a touchdown. And just like that, a seemingly comfy 23-10 lead was sliced to 23-17. Favre was under heavy pressure on the play and took a wallop, but Greer had excellent coverage on Cotchery. The pass shouldn't have been attempted, but on the Favre list of poor decisions, it didn't rank in the top 5. Still, it was the third time this season that a Favre interception was brought back for a score. Not good.
Genius or madness? Sometimes it's just hard to tell. The Jets had just stopped the Bills on a 3rd-and-11 from the Jets' 25-yard line. But Buffalo was called for an illegal man downfield. Eric Mangini decided to accept the penalty and give the Bills another shot at a first down. And they converted on the 3rd-and-16. The Bills would have lined up for the field goal attempt, but had new life after the Jets couldn't hold them. I'll go on record and say I disagreed with accepting the penalty. It's not like the five yards pushed the Bills out of field goal range and even if they didn't convert the third down, the extra play could have moved them closer for a field goal try. But it turned out well for the Jets when Elam went the distance. Still, a curious move by Mangini.
Love-hate. My dysfunctional relationship with the Jets replacement kicker goes on. Yes, the Jets wouldn't have come out victorious in this one without Feely's four field goals, but the guy has a knack of missing the most routine kicks. The Gotham Green had a chance to go up 16-7 heading into the half if Feely could connect on a 37-yard attempt. Instead, the kick sailed wide left and the Jets went into the half up only 13-7. Buffalo can be a tricky place to kick field goals, but the wind wasn't much of a factor on Sunday. The guy should be nicknamed Indiana Jones because it's always an adventure when he trots onto the field.
All in all, a stellar win for the Jets. It wasn't perfect by any means, but Gang Green handed the Bills their first loss at home and proved that they have what it takes to make a run for the playoffs in the AFC.
Up next for the Jets, a home date against the St. Louis Rams.
Don't stop believin'.
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