Jets News 11-28

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerShonn Greene ran for 78 yards on 13 carries in Sunday's 28-24 win over Buffalo.

In Rex Ryan’s bag of motivational tricks is calling out a player or position group the night before a game. Saturday night, the Jets coach selected the offensive line.

“He did call us out, which he does about once a year, and I think he might have to do it every week,” left guard Matt Slauson said. “Because since he’s been here and he’s challenged our line, we’ve come out the next day, and we win and we play great, so I’m hoping he does that every week.”

Ryan issued a similar challenge on the eve of last year’s Week 15 Steelers game, when the Jets were also coming off back-to-back losses. They rallied for a win that keyed their 2010 playoffs berth.

Ryan’s plea yielded similar results Sunday, as the offensive line was an area of strength in the Jets’ 28-24 win against Buffalo that kept their postseason chances alive.

Sanchez was sacked eight times over the Jets’ past two games, both losses, but was not sacked against the Bills and was hit only once. He also had ample time in the pocket, throwing four touchdowns for the first time in his career.

“We really have to credit our offensive line,” Ryan said. “The protection was tremendous, especially when we had to have it in the second half.”

The Jets were also very productive on the ground, recording 138 rushing yards. Running back Shonn Greene picked up 78 yards on 13 carries, an impressive average of 6 yards per carry.

Rex called out his line once before this season, in a team meeting the Wednesday before the Jaguars game.

“He always says, ‘Look, you guys are my pride and joy of this team, you guys are the unit I never have to worry about. But you guys need to step it up and be that dominant force,’ ” Slauson said.

Slauson said he and his teammates were fired up afterward. Right tackle Wayne Hunter turned to Slauson and said, “Let’s go play right now.”

• OLB Aaron Maybin recorded two sacks against the Bills team that released him in August.

Maybin, a former first-round pick by Buffalo, did not record any sacks in two seasons there but now has five since joining the Jets. Did it send a message to his ex-team?

“I don’t know, ask them. We’ll see.” Maybin said. “God is awesome, man. The position I was in a year ago, the things that people were saying, how far He brought me and how far I’ve come, it just feels good to be in this locker room with these guys enjoying this win.”

• DL Mike DeVito left in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return. He is expected to have tests on the knee. He missed two games earlier this season after suffering a knee injury in practice.

• CB Antonio Cromartie muffed a punt return in the third quarter. He was the returner on that play instead of S Jim Leonhard because Leonhard got the wind knocked out of him on the previous defensive play.

• RG Brandon Moore played his 123rd game, tying Roger Duffy for ninth place on the Jets’ list for games played by an offensive lineman.

• RB LaDainian Tomlinson (knee) and WR/PR Jeremy Kerley (knee) were both inactive for the Jets for the second straight week. Rookie Bilal Powell did not get any carries as the No. 3 back. QB Kevin O’Connell, DT Martin Tevaseu, NT Kenrick Ellis, DB Ellis Lankster and T Austin Howard were also inactive.

flgreen · November 28, 2011

Jets escape with 28-24 victory over Buffalo Bills

Published: Sunday, November 27, 2011, 10:56 PM Updated: Sunday, November 27, 2011, 11:19 PM

By Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerSantonio Holmes catches the game-winning touchdown in Sunday's 28-24 victory over Buffalo at Met Life Stadium.

Five minutes and 44 seconds remained on the clock, in the Jets’ 11th game of the year, and their season seemed on the line.

Maybe their playoff prospects wouldn’t have been erased with a loss to the Bills at MetLife Stadium Sunday. But the Jets couldn’t afford to find out.

Their objective is to win the final six games of the season. In this moment, they needed to win the first of those six, and they needed to drive 82 yards to do it. Could this troubled offense make it?

Twelve plays later, receiver Santonio Holmes was alone in the corner of the end zone, dragging his left foot along the green Jets turf, the 16-yard winning touchdown in his grasp. And yet this 28-24 win over the Bills didn’t spur the same brand of gloating as the victory over Buffalo three weeks ago.

“I’m thrilled about the win. Don’t get me wrong,” said quarterback Mark Sanchez, who threw a career-high four touchdowns. “It’s just that I know we can play better than that. We don’t need to fight it at the end and grind it out and bite our nails at the end of the game. … We won’t win every game like that, is what I’m saying.”

The Jets feel like they do need to win every game in order to make the postseason. Sunday’s was an important first step: They earned back a winning record, 6-5, and swept another would-be AFC wild-card contender.

Their division foe was embarrassed Sunday, and not just because Buffalo has lost four straight. Bills receiver Stevie Johnson, after scoring a first-half touchdown against Darrelle Revis, mocked Plaxico Burress’ self-shooting incident that drew a 20-month prison sentence. He then mimicked Holmes’ patented “Flight Boys” airplane celebration — and crashed to the turf, drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that helped set up a Jets touchdown pass to Burress following a failed squib kickoff.

But why did the Jets need an 82-yard fourth-quarter drive to take back the lead? And why did they let the Bills use the game’s final 1:01 to drive into scoring range, losing only after three straight incompletions to the end zone? Bluntly, outside linebacker Calvin Pace said he expects more from this team.

“You go to Buffalo, and you dominate, but you come here and it’s a … ESPN classic,” Pace said. “It doesn’t have to be like that. It really doesn’t. That’s how you lose ball games.”

Then, Pace added: “What if Plax didn’t make that play? Then we’re sitting here looking stupid. But again, we won, and that’s all that matters.”

The play Pace referenced was the one he also called season-saving: Burress’ 18-yard one-handed sideline grab on the game-winning drive. The situation was third-and-11 from Buffalo’s 36-yard line, with the Jets trailing, 24-21. If Sanchez doesn’t make the throw, and Burress doesn’t make the unbelievable catch, the Jets are left attempting a 50-yard-plus field goal for the tie.

But facing a blitz, Sanchez looked to the comeback route, and Burress extended what Revis called his “go-go gadget arm.” Two plays later, Sanchez was scrambling right, motioning to Holmes to move right in the end zone. Tight end Dustin Keller, who had two touchdown catches of his own in the game, tapped Holmes on the shoulder at the beginning of the drive, and told him it was “Tone time.” He was right.

“The (cornerback) had his back turned toward the quarterback, and I was watching his every move,” Holmes said. “When he relaxed, that’s when I knew it was my turn to turn around and be where I was supposed to be for Mark.”

The Bills had one more chance, and Revis said the Jets defense had one thought: Don’t let the Bills do what the Broncos did last week, drive on them for the winning score. Coach Rex Ryan exultantly announced afterward that, this week, his prized defense finished.

Maybe karmically, Johnson dropped an easy grab at about the 20-yard line, which would have gotten the Bills very close to a winning score. Johnson was targeted on two of the final three incompletions, too, as the Jets held their zone coverage in the final seconds.

This week, the Jets’ miscues didn’t catch up to them: Sanchez’s interception deep in Jets territory, which led to a Buffalo touchdown; Antonio Cromartie’s muffed punt return, which set up the Bills’ tying touchdown in the third quarter. A 53-yard field goal in the fourth quarter had the Bills up by 3, and the Jets playing like this was one-and-done.

“We’re playing playoff games early,” left guard Matt Slauson said. “Definitely as soon as the game was over, I was like, ‘Oh, thank (goodness).’ ”

They exhaled, but not for long.

Jenny Vrentas: jvrentas@starledger.com

flgreen · November 28, 2011

Bills WR Stevie Johnson takes apparent jab at Plaxico Burress' shooting incident with TD celebration

Published: Sunday, November 27, 2011, 2:31 PM Updated: Monday, November 28, 2011, 12:58 AM

By Conor Orr/The Star-Ledger

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerStevie Johnson holds his leg after imitating what appears to be a self-shooting.

After a second-quarter go-ahead touchdown, Bills wideout Stevie Johnson took jabs at both Jets wide receivers, but the one that looks to be directed at Plaxico Burress is garnering all the attention.

Following the score, Johnson gets up and begins to dance before molding his hand into what looks like a handgun. He then mimics shooting himself in the thigh, an obvious reference to Burress back in 2008 during a nightclub incident, which cost him two years in jail.

Johnson followed that up by doing Santonio Holmes' patented "Flight Boys" celebration, running around with his arms stretched out in both directions. He proceeded to tumble on the ground, mimicking a plane crash, around the time that he was flagged for a 15-yard excessive celebration penalty.

Here's a copy of the video here. See what you think...

After the game, Johnson was largely apologetic. Beyond the 15-yard penalty that ended up costing the Bills a crucial touchdown, he referenced some immaturity. He would not say whether the celebration was pre-planned.

"It was very stupid of me going through that and I feel like I cost our team the win by doing that," he said. "It was a bad decision. It's irrelevant whether or not I rehearsed (the celebration) or not. At the end of the day, it cost our team seven points. I have to apologize to everyone and talk to coach. I can't be doing that. I need to be mature about the situation."

After the game, Bills head coach Chan Gailey said he needed to help Johnson with his decision making. He said he did not see the actual celebration, but that "somebody said he laid on the field.

You can't lay down on the field. I don't know what happened. I just went and talked to him and said 'You can't do that stuff. It costs the team. It's wild.'"

"We're all human," Johnson said. "If we aren't learning, what's the point of living? I'm always willing to learn something from coach, whether it be decision-making, blocking, how to run a hitch route. I'm always willing to learn something. I'm going to have my ear to him all the time, he's my coach. I'm all for it, I'm not going to take that in a negative way."

Johnson ended up dropping a wide-open slant pass on the Bills' final drive with plenty of space to run ahead of him.

"My reaction was slow," Johnson said of the catch. "It was there, I just didn't react fast enough. I think it could have been a touchdown. It's tough. We battled. All the guys fought hard. The defense and offense played like dogs and I didn't make my play again. We drew it up in the huddle, it was there. I just didn't make the play -- my reaction was off."

flgreen · November 28, 2011

NY Jets' tight end Dustin Keller leaps to defense of Mark Sanchez after win over Bills

TE says pass catchers needed to do better job - and they did

BY Kristie Ackert

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Monday, November 28 2011, 12:18 AM

Evan Pinkus/AP

Dustin Keller catches two touchdowns against the Bills on Sunday.

Dustin Keller provided plenty of offense Sunday, catching two touchdown passes in the Jets’ 28-24 win.

But afterward, he started playing defense on behalf of his quarterback Mark Sanchez, who started slowly but finished with four touchdown passes.

“I think it wasn’t so much Mark that came out slow, we as receivers could have done a better job and made it easier on him,” said Keller. “I think he’s playing really well. We could run routes a little better and come up with those catches and help him out a little more.”

On Sunday, the receivers did enough to win. Sanchez connected on 17 passes for 180 yards and four touchdowns. He threw the game-winner 16 yards to Santonio Holmes and also found Plaxico Burress for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Sanchez connected with Keller in the end zone on touchdown passes of three and 18 yards.

“This was huge. If we let this game slip, who knows what the situation would have been,” Keller said. “It’s just a matter of taking one game at a time. We may have to win out.”

Keller’s four catches for a team-high 61 yards helped keep the Jets’ playoff hopes alive. While the Jets had struggled, losing two games last week that put them in a perilous spot, Sanchez took many hits off the field for his inconsistent play.

The win gave the Jets a chance to breathe and gave Keller a soapbox from which he defended his quarterback. It was the first time that Sanchez had found him in the end zone since Sept. 18 against Jacksonville. It was the first time he had caught two touchdown passes from Sanchez since Oct. 3, 2010 against Buffalo. It was just the third multiple-touchdown game of Keller’s career.

The tight end has caught 40 passes for 574 yards and four touchdowns this season. He is well on his way to surpassing last season’s career-high 55 receptions for 634 yards and five TDs.

Sunday was just an inkling of what Keller thinks he can do in the offense with Sanchez.

“I think we did some good things and there were a couple of things I could have done better,” Keller said. “There were some balls that were tough catches, but those are things I can come up with, so I can make it easier on him.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/ny-jets-tight-dustin-keller-leaps-defense-mark-sanchez-win-bills-article-1.983343#ixzz1f0nF91q4

flgreen · November 28, 2011

NY Jets' Darrelle Revis and 'Revis Island' can't scare Buffalo Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, WR Stevie Johnson

Gang Green star corner gets a lot of work

BY Stefan Bondy & Kristie Ackert

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Monday, November 28 2011, 12:11 AM

Bill Kostroun/AP

Darrelle Revis has a rare long day against the Buffalo Bills.

Darrelle Revis was not used to seeing so much action. Unlike most quarterbacks around the NFL, Buffalo’s Ryan Fitzpatrick did not shy away from throwing at the Jets’ cornerback, who was covering Bills receiver Stevie Johnson for most of Sunday’s game.

“He’s a great corner and a really good player,” Fitzpatrick said. “I felt like coming out of the last game, I didn’t throw it to Stevie as much as I should have. I let Stevie know when it’s one-on-one, ‘I’m throwing it to you every time.’ Stevie did a good job all day with his routes and catches and they started double teaming a little bit and giving him some help.”

Revis said he did not mind that Fitzpatrick threw some excitement his way. Johnson was targeted 13 times and had eight receptions for 75 yards. He caught a 5-yard touchdown pass with Revis covering him.

“Stevie Johnson had a good game, caught a bunch of balls,” Revis said. “You gotta tip your hat to him and Fitzpatrick for connecting through out the game.”

While Revis was begrudgingly complimentary to Johnson, Jets coach Rex Ryan was not.

“I don’t necessarily know that he got the best of Revis. Revis gave up a touchdown,” Ryan said. “It’s the first time that’s happened all season. He’s human. He’s still way better than any corner in football - head and shoulders better.

“I’m not going to say that the kid got the best of (Revis). He had 75 yards receiving. I don’t want to say anything that we did or whatever, but I’ll give the young man credit. He made some great catches. I think the guy is a great talent, but he never got the better of Revis.”

REVENGE FEELS GOOD

It still stings Jets DE Aaron Maybin that he was called a “bust” in Buffalo. So his two sacks on Fitzpatrick and the win over his former team felt sweet to the Bills’ 2009 first-round draft pick.

“Obviously it feels good that we got a win, period. Obviously with all the personal attachment I had with this game it felt good,” Maybin said.

After being considered a disappointment in two seasons with the Bills, Maybin was waived. Since being picked up in August, Maybin leads the Jets with five sacks.

When asked if the sacks were a message to the Bills, Maybin smiled and just thanked God he was a Jet.

“The position I was in a year ago, things people were saying, how (God) brought me, how far I’ve come, it feels real good to be in this locker room enjoying this,” Maybin said.

SACK TIME FOR FITZPATRICK

The Jets defense sacked Fitzpatrick three times against an offensive line that had allowed a league-low 12 sacks.

The only other time Fitzpatrick had been sacked three times in a game was in his other trip to the MetLife Stadium when the Giants got him for that number..

WILD CATCH

For years, Jets fans cheered Brad Smith’s trick plays, but Sunday they were stunned. Now the Bills WR, Smith pulled down an amazing 36-yard touchdown pass, as he went up with Antonio Cromartie, tapped the ball up over the Jets CB and caught it in the end zone.

“Cromartie was in great position,” Smith said. “I tried to use a double move on him and he stayed back. Fitzpatrick put it up and I was actually reaching to knock it down. Some how, the ball was tipped up and I just saw it floating.”

INJURED

DE Mike DeVito left the game with a knee injury. He already missed two games this season after injuring his knee in a practice before the Oct. 23 game against the Chargers.

Ryan said he did not have any information about the severity of DeVito’s injury.

STAT OF THE DAY

5: After winning Sunday, five is now the number of games Calvin Pace said the Jets have to win in a row to make the playoffs.

UNSUNG HERO

Joe McKnight. Rushed four times for 21 yards, caught three passes for 19 yards and returned four kickoffs for 106 yards.

MIA

Darrelle Revis. Bills receiver Stevie Johnson caught eight passes for 75 yards and a TD while lining up mostly against Revis.

NEXT GAME

At Washington Redskins, Sunday, 1 p.m., Ch. 2

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/ny-jets-darrelle-revis-revis-island-t-scare-buffalo-bills-qb-ryan-fitzpatrick-wr-stevie-johnson-article-1.983341#ixzz1f0oojHMK

flgreen · November 28, 2011

On Jets' game-winning march, Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes have perfect answer for antics of Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson

Super Bowl champs get last laugh and keep Jets alive in playoff chase

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Sunday, November 27 2011, 11:54 PM

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Jets' offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer (c.) likes what he sees from Plaxico Burress (l.) and Santonio Holmes when game is on line.

Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News

After catching a 5-yard touchdown in the second quarter, Stevie Johnson has a little fun at Plaxico Burress’ expense, acting as if he’s shot himself in the leg.

Buffalo wide receiver Stevie Johnson had just beaten Darrelle Revis for a go-ahead TD late in the first half.

That was bad enough, but then Johnson mocked Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes in one, convoluted TD celebration. It was another humiliating moment for the Jets in a season that appeared ready to crumble.

But, on a drive that kept the Jets relevant in the wild-card chase and answered Johnson’s theatrics, Burress made a spectacular third-down catch and Holmes caught the winning touchdown with 1:01 left.

It was a fitting response from two Super Bowl heroes to an attempt to embarrass them by Johnson, who last year blamed God for a dropped catch. Following the touchdown, Johnson started to dance as if he were in a nightclub, perhaps the Latin Quarter in midtown on Thanksgiving weekend. Then with his right hand he pretended to shoot himself in the left leg. He quickly grabbed his left thigh with both hands, clearly mocking Burress, although he was off on one detail. Three years ago on Thanksgiving weekend at the Latin Quarter, Burress accidentally shot himself in the right thigh, which eventually landed him in prison for nearly two years.

Then Johnson took on Holmes, the originator of the “Flight Boys” routine when the Jets run around with their arms outstretched after scoring touchdowns.

Johnson spread his arms wide and fell to the ground. The Jets crashing?

Johnson mocked Burress on his home field. You would expect that of fans on the road, but not such insensitivity from players who are part of a fraternity. “I’ve seen worse and I’ve heard worse,” Burress said after the Jets’ 28-24 victory. “I’ve already been through the ringer with that whole situation. I’ve dealt with it accordingly. I’ve put those things behind me.”

Holmes called what Johnson did “selfish” and “childish.” Burress actually said he was a big fan of Johnson. Any sting he might have been feeling when he heard about Johnson’s diss was pushed to the side by his leaping, twisting one-hand catch along the left sideline that set up the Jets’ winning touchdown that has saved the season for now.

Johnson’s insult didn’t register with Burress. “It doesn’t bother me at all,” he said. “The result I’m looking at is we won the football game and he turned around and dropped three wide-open balls to lose the game for his team. If I was a player, that’s how I would evaluate myself. He can keep doing his thing and I can keep doing mine.”

The Jets broke their two-game losing streak with an ugly victory over a bad team and had to survive Johnson first dropping a slant over the middle on a perfect pass that he might have turned into a 47-yard touchdown with less than 30 seconds left. Then, on the next play, he was wide open in the end zone but was unable to adjust as Ryan Fitzpatrick’s pass sailed behind him.

The Jets struggled to beat the Bills, who have now lost four straight, and it was Burress and Holmes who got payback on Johnson - even though they claimed they didn’t know until after the game the details of Johnson’s celebration, which drew a 15-yard penalty and put the Jets in position to get even at the half. Johnson’s only remorse was the penalty, which he felt cost the Bills the game, and he said he was just “having fun” with his routine.

Buffalo led 24-21 when the Jets took over on their own 18 with 5:44 left. The pressure was on Mark Sanchez, booed off the field when he threw a bad interception from his end zone that led to Johnson’s touchdown.

“This drive right here defines our offense, defines our team,” Burress said in the huddle.

Sanchez converted a third-and-8 from the Buffalo 47 with a 12-yard pass to Patrick Turner with 2:13 left. But at the two-minute warning, the Jets were faced with their biggest play of the season: Third-and-11 from the Buffalo 36. If they didn’t pick up a first down, Rex Ryan was prepared to let Nick Folk attempt a field goal to send the game into overtime that could have been as long as 54 yards if they didn’t pick up anything on third down.

During the two-minute break, Sanchez huddled with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and backup quarterback Mark Brunell. At the line, Sanchez read blitz, signaled to Burress and lofted a ball down the left sideline that Burress went up and grabbed with his right hand.

“Let’s play basketball. I’ve had a few of those in my career,” Burress said. “It wasn’t in the script. How difficult was it? It just felt like a regular catch to me. The goal is to haul them all in. I’m just trying to find a way to get to it.”

The Jets feared the play getting reversed by instant replay, so Sanchez went to the no-huddle and ran up the middle for two yards to the 16. He scrambled right on the next play, directed Holmes to the right corner of the end zone and threw a bullet for the go-ahead points.

Then the Jets had to sweat out Johnson’s drop and Fitzpatrick firing into the end zone three times from the Jets 24.

Burress and Holmes made the biggest catches of the game and Johnson dropped the biggest ball of the game. “I’m not laughing,” Burress said.

It was enough that he saved the season.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/jets-game-winning-march-plaxico-burress-santonio-holmes-perfect-answer-antics-bills-wide-receiver-stevie-johnson-article-1.983313#ixzz1f0pJyHaJ

flgreen · November 28, 2011

Mark Sanchez's four TD passes lead Jets to victory over Buffalo

Published: Monday, November 28, 2011, 12:11 AM Updated: Monday, November 28, 2011, 9:47 AM

By Conor Orr/The Star-Ledger

Enlarge William Perlman/The Star-Ledger New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes (10) makes the winning touchdown catch in the 28-24 win at the New York Jets vs Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ 11/27/11 (William Perlman/The Star-Ledger) New York Jets win 28-24 against the Buffalo Bills 11-27-11 gallery (49 photos)

Star-Ledger beat writers discuss New York Jets 28-24 win over Buffalo Bills Star-Ledger sportswriters Steve Politi, Jenny Vrentas and Conor Orr talk about the Jets comeback win over the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium including Plaxico Burress reaction to Bills' star wide receiver Stevie Johnson's over-the-top touchdown celebration that mimicked Burress shooting himself in the leg.

On the Jets’ winning touchdown Sunday, quarterback Mark Sanchez was confronted with a gauntlet representing nearly all the situations that caused him to struggle this season.

He was pressured from the blind side and flushed out of the pocket, where he would often take a big hit.

Then the Bills’ coverage eliminated almost all of his primary reads, presenting a look where he has been prone to throw errant passes into heavy traffic.

But this time, things were different. Sanchez cleared the tackle box and caught the attention of Santonio Holmes, who was breaking off his route.

Sanchez motioned the receiver to the right, pump-faked, and fired a pass that landed in Holmes’ arms just a step inside the end zone.

“I felt good,” Sanchez said about heading into the last drive, which secured a 28-24 triumph over Buffalo. “We’ve been in that situation before, we rep it all the time in practice. The game is on the line, we have to win and we made plays to do it.”

Just a few days after Jets coach Rex Ryan publicly needled him, allowing 41-year-old backup Mark Brunell to take some of Sanchez’s first-string snaps in practice, the young quarterback responded with a career-high four touchdown passes. For once, the lone interception seemed less costly.

The win over Buffalo was defined by something Sanchez was able to do, not something he couldn’t.

“That’s who he is,” Ryan said. “He’s a stud. Sanchise. The first half wasn’t the best half, but we know if we just hung in there — we have complete faith in Mark. He’s done it before.”

Yeah, he doesn’t lose confidence,” added tight end Dustin Keller, who hauled in two of the four touchdown passes.

There were times when it looked to be another performance that would place the third-year quarterback into the cross hairs.

Fans jeered after a third-down play in the second quarter ended with Sanchez throwing incomplete to Holmes, who was not looking and appeared to be running a completely different route.

He would say later that Holmes adjusted his route when it wasn’t expected.

“Of course you hear them,” Sanchez said of the loud boos. “You hear a lot of stuff.”

At halftime, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer reminded Sanchez to keep his head and sharpen himself, especially on third-down plays. He responded by going 9-of-15 in the second half for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

As for sitting behind Brunell for a few plays in practice, Sanchez wouldn’t say whether it worked. He took solace in the fact that it wasn’t an issue anymore.

“This is a lot bigger than that,” Sanchez said. “That’s a motivational tool that Rex used, and we take it all in stride. But this game and this season are a lot bigger than that.”

Conor Orr: corr@starledger.com

flgreen · November 28, 2011

Jets' cornerbacks shrug off tough day at the office

Published: Monday, November 28, 2011, 12:30 AM Updated: Monday, November 28, 2011, 9:46 AM

By Conor Orr/The Star-Ledger

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerAntonio Cromartie breaks up this fourth quarter pass to Brad Davis, but Davis caught one against Cromartie earlier in the quarter.

After Antonio Cromartie felt Bills receiver Brad Smith punch the ball out of his hands — popping it up in the air so he could steal it and sprint across the goal line for a tying touchdown in the third quarter Sunday, the mercurial Jets cornerback had an uncharacteristic reaction.

“I was laughing to tell you the truth,” Cromartie said. “I had to laugh that off. I was like, how in the hell did he catch that? I thought, ‘Only Brad, and only (Tim) Tebow (could do something like that).’ ”

It was only eight seconds after Cromartie muffed a punt return and handed possession right back to the Bills inside the 40-yard line. It was just five minutes before he’d whiff on an open-field tackle during a crucial third down.

But in a 28-24 last-gasp win over Buffalo in front of 79,088, Sunday, laughing off mistakes was probably the best medicine on a difficult day for both of the Jets’ premiere cornerbacks.

Darrelle Revis, too, was a culprit. Isolated in no-help, zero coverage, Revis allowed Stevie Johnson to come away with eight catches for 75 yards and a touchdown.

It all bundled into a Jets defense that Calvin Pace said did themselves no favors. One that, if the 6-5 team plans to win out and make the playoffs, cannot perform like that again.

“You’ve got to live with the good and the bad. Was it my best performance? No. Personally? No,” Revis said. “I’m a hard worker, I know what I want to portray, and that’s it. In all these receiver and DB matchups I’ve had, people have scored touchdowns on me, people have caught balls. It’s nothing to me, just get back to what I do and keep on working hard.”

Heading into the game, Fitzpatrick promised Johnson that he would throw his way every time he was in a one-on-one matchup with Revis based on the way Johnson got separation in their previous matchup.

For the Jets, the game plan called for more zero coverage looks, which thrive on the amount of pressure that can be put on the quarterback.

And for a while, it just didn’t work out for the Jets. Not enough pressure allowed Fitzpatrick more time to throw routes that are already intermediate, amounting to a simple pitch and catch.

“When you run 20 slants, you’re going to catch a couple balls, that’s just what the situation is, you run 20 slants,” Revis said. “It’s a quick throw and catch, and it’s not really your typical, regular slant.”

Jets coach Rex Ryan backed his star cornerback, saying that Johnson never got the better of Revis. Cromartie defended himself by saying that the muffed punt was the product of getting too far underneath the ball, and that Smith’s touchdown was an incredible play.

And for one Sunday, it ended up not costing them. A stream of plays they can laugh off before next week.

Conor Orr: corr@starledger.com

flgreen · November 28, 2011

Politi: Plaxico Burress gets the last laugh over Bills' Stevie Johnson

Published: Sunday, November 27, 2011, 11:56 PM Updated: Monday, November 28, 2011, 9:54 AM

By Steve Politi/Star-Ledger Columnist

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerBills receiver Stevie Johnson is on his knees as Jets players celebrate the final incomplete pass that ended the Jets' 28-24 victory over Buffalo.

Here's a suggestion for Bills receiver/bad vaudeville act Stevie Johnson: Next time he wants to mimic Plaxico Burress, perhaps he should try to duplicate his catch that saved the Jets season.

He should see if he can change directions in midair, then reach behind his body with his right arm to grab a pass headed for the third row at MetLife Stadium as he falls to the ground.

Now that would be something worth imitating, unlike Johnson's silly gun show. The catch was, on a degree of difficulty scale, a solid 9.5 -- or roughly 6 or 7 spots higher than the pass a wide-open Johnson dropped a few minutes later that might have rescued his team.

And what did Stone Hands Stevie think of it?

"He's been in Super Bowls and made catches like that,'' Johnson said. "It doesn't surprise me. What was the point of that question?''

The point, knucklehead, is this: Rarely has karma had a better day than it did in the Jets' 28-24 victory over the Bills. A Jets team so often ridiculed for having too many selfish players in its locker room was bailed out by one Sunday -- and in humiliating fashion for Johnson.

By now, you've seen the highlight: Johnson celebrated his second-quarter touchdown reception by pretending to pull out a couple guns from an imaginary holster (or, in this case, sweatpants) and shoot himself in the hip, just like Burress did that night at the Latin Quarter.

It was cheap and rehearsed, and for the Bills, it came with severe consequences: The 15-yard excessive celebration penalty and a flubbed kickoff set the Jets up at the Bills 36, allowing quarterback Mark Sanchez to find -- hello, karma! -- Burress for the game-tying touchdown. And that was only Burress' second most important catch of the day.

Say what you want about what Burress did that night in 2008, but he's certainly paid a hefty price, and the only controversy he's caused in his comeback season was his decision to miss practice last week to give out turkeys at a charity function. For another receiver to mock him?

"It's stupid. It's embarrassing. It's not something you do,'' Jets tight end Dustin Keller said. "That was the roughest time he's ever been through and you're going to mock that? I'm embarrassed for him.''

Maybe the Jets will be thanking Johnson in a few weeks. Maybe this will be the moment that sparks this team, which still looked lethargic against the fading and injury-riddled Bills. Rex Ryan has tried to invent slights to motivate his team. Now he has a real one.

At the very least, Johnson certainly helped hand the Jets this one. He was having the type of game receivers rarely have against cornerback Darrelle Revis, with eight catches for 75 yards and that touchdown. But it should have been much more.

He was wide open down the middle of the field with 35 seconds left when a pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick hit him in the hands and bounced to the ground. It was reminiscent of Johnson's overtime touchdown drop in a game against Pittsburgh last year.

He blamed God for that one on Twitter. At least he had the good sense to blame himself this time.

"My reaction was slow,'' Johnson said. "It's tough. Our defense played like dogs. Our offense played like dogs. And I didn't make a play again.''

So instead of Johnson ending the Jets season, it was Burress who rescued it. His biggest catch as a Jet came on a third and 11 with two minutes left. The Jets were at the Bills 36-yard line, and if the 6-foot-5 Burress can't find Mark Sanchez' overthrown pass, they are looking at a 54-yard field goal just to tie.

Instead of facing overtime -- or another crushing loss -- Burress gained 18 yards and, two plays later, Sanchez managed to salvage another shaky day with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Holmes.

"He saved our season, man,'' linebacker Calvin Pace said of Burress. "He made a play. Somebody had to make one. Hell of a play.''

Burress wasn't as impressed with what he did. He called it a "regular catch.'' And while his teammates were quick to defend him, he took the high road when asked repeatedly about Johnson's little impersonation.

"It doesn't bother me,'' he said. "I've already been through the ringer with that whole situation. The result I'm looking at is, we won the football game, and he turned around and dropped three wide open balls to lose the football game for his team.''

Okay, so Burress did allow himself that little dig. Johnson gave a half-hearted apology, but he'll forever be proof that you don't have to actually shoot yourself in the leg to shoot your team in the foot.

Steve Politi: spoliti@starledger.com; Twitter: @StevePoliti.

flgreen · November 28, 2011

Calvin Pace not satisfied with defense's effort

Sunday, November 27, 2011

BY ANDY VASQUEZ

STAFF WRITER

The Record

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EAST RUTHERFORD — There was only one thing about Sunday’s game that didn’t bother Jets linebacker Calvin Pace: the end result.

The Jets eked out a 28-24 win over Buffalo in a must-have game. But it was the idea of how close they came to not getting the win that was the source of Pace’s frustration.

"You don’t have to make it that hard on yourself," Pace said. "Sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with going out and dominating a team."

Three weeks ago, the Jets went to Buffalo and imposed their will with a 27-11 win, pulling away after halftime.

On Sunday, the Jets were poised to do the same, taking a 21-14 lead late in the third quarter. But after a series of mistakes, they let the Bills back in the game.

"I just don’t understand why we go out and we practice a certain way and … you go to Buffalo and you dominate, but you come here and it’s an ESPN Classic. It don’t have to be like that, it really don’t. ... That’s how you lose ballgames."

The Jets very nearly lost this game after the defense surrendered the lead in the fourth. But the Jets escaped, thanks to a late, clutch scoring drive from the offense. The go-ahead drive featured a stunning, 18-yard, one-handed grab by Plaxico Burress, which led to Santonio Holmes’ go-ahead touchdown catch with 1:01 left.

"What if Plax didn’t make that play? Then we sitting in here looking stupid," Pace said. "But again, we won. That’s all that matters. We found a way. I will say that, we found a way."

But he had few kind words for his defense, which allowed 336 total yards, including 250 through the air.

"Defensively, at best, we were mediocre," Pace said. "For whatever reason, we just didn’t have enough fire until it got to the point where it was a dire situation."

Even when the situation was dire, the defense needed some luck to finish the job. The Bills were driving in the final minute; if the Jets allowed a touchdown it would be season-crippling. Yet, Stevie Johnson somehow got wide open in the middle of the field with plenty of space in front of him. Johnson dropped the ball, giving the Jets a reprieve.

Though Pace wasn’t impressed with his defense’s stand, coach Rex Ryan found positives.

"Defensively, the one thing we can say is that we finished," Ryan said. "It might not have been the prettiest way, but we did finish. I’ll take that every day of the week. We get a lead, and [then] we had to close it out. And we did."

Pace will take the win, too. But next time, he’d rather take it without the drama.

"Just go out and bury a team, make it easy on yourself, like we did in Buffalo the first time," Pace said. "I guess I just expect more from us. But like I said, we won. I’m not mad. I’m just, I wish it could be a little easier than that."

E-mail: vasqueza@northjersey.com

flgreen · November 28, 2011

Jets notes: Stevie Johnson vs. Darrelle Revis

Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Record

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Johnson vs. Revis

When he wasn’t busy incurring celebration penalties, Buffalo’s Stevie Johnson did something Sunday nobody else recently has done.

He established a beachhead on Revis Island. Not that star cornerback Darrelle Revis or Jets coach Rex Ryan would admit it.

Johnson had eight receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown, and also got free from Revis for a potential big gain on the Bills’ final drive, but dropped the pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick.

"I’m not going to say that the kid got the best of him," Ryan said. "He had 75 yards receiving. … I’ll give the young man credit. He made some great catches. I think the guy is a great talent, but he never got the better of Revis."

Revis said, "They caught a couple of underneath balls, but we knew at the end it wasn’t going to be enough."

Still, Johnson has had 11 catches in two games against the Jets this season, more receptions than Revis usually gives up in a season. And his 5-yard scoring catch in the second quarter was the first touchdown reception allowed by Revis since Denver’s Demaryius Thomas beat him for a score on Oct. 17, 2010. Revis had gone 22 consecutive games, including postseason, without allowing a touchdown.

As for the drop, Johnson said the ball "was there. I just didn’t make the play. My reaction was off."

"Stevie did a good job," Fitzpatrick said, "all day with his routes and catches and they started double-teaming him a bit and giving [Revis] some help."

Smith returns

Buffalo wide receiver Brad Smith’s second touchdown of the season was his first against the Jets, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2006. He left for Buffalo via free agency in the summer. Smith made a terrific, juggling catch for a 36-yard scoring pass against Antonio Cromartie in the third quarter, tying the score at 21.

"I tried to use a double move and [Cromartie] stayed back," Smith explained. "I was actually reaching to knock it down. Somehow the ball was tipped up and I saw it floating."

Briefs

Jets’ DE Mike DeVito left the game in the third with a knee injury and didn’t return. He was replaced by Marcus Dixon. Ryan didn’t provide an update on DeVito’s condition after the game. … RB LaDainian Tomlinson and WR-PR Jeremy Kerley each missed a second straight game because of knee injuries.

— J.P. Pelzman

flgreen · November 28, 2011

Jets replay vs. Bills

Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Record

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Star of the game

As usual, he wasn’t always accurate, but Mark Sanchez was at his best Sunday when it mattered most. He connected for a career-high four touchdown passes, including the 16-yard game-winner to Santonio Holmes with 1:01 left in the fourth quarter. Sanchez threw a second-quarter interception and had several other potential picks dropped, but he did lead the Jets back from a 24-21 fourth-quarter deficit.

Key play

Buffalo WR Stevie Johnson already had cost his team plenty of field position with his ill-advised celebration penalty that set up a failed squib kick, but he had a chance to make amends when he was wide open on a slant pattern over the middle of the field in the fourth quarter. Johnson possibly could have scored on the play and at the very least likely would’ve gotten inside the 10, but he dropped Ryan Fitzpatrick’s well-thrown pass.

Costly mistakes

Sanchez’s lone interception of the game set up the Bills at the Jets’ 20 and led to Johnson’s 5-yard touchdown catch, which preceded Johnson’s costly penalty. … Former Jet Brad Smith caught a 36-yard scoring pass from Fitzpatrick immediately after CB Antonio Cromartie muffed a punt and Buffalo recovered. Cromartie was in because sure-handed Jim Leonhard had the wind knocked out of him on the previous play.

Eye-catching

Jets LB Aaron Maybin, a former Bill, had two sacks. He had gone without a sack in the previous three games and now has five for the season. … RB Tashard Choice, signed by Buffalo on Wednesday after Fred Jackson was declared out for the season, carried the ball twice, losing 5 yards and then losing 3. … Jets S Emanuel Cook was credited with one kickoff return for zero yards for recovering the intended squib kick that bounced off him.

Coaching decisions

The Jets used only two running backs with LaDainian Tomlinson (knee) sitting out for a second straight game. Bilal Powell was active, but didn’t get into the game. … Buffalo defensive coordinator George Edwards blitzed Sanchez on the go-ahead play, but the Jets’ offensive line handled the pressure long enough for Sanchez to get outside the pocket and spot Holmes.

Looking ahead

The Jets (6-5) will visit Washington (4-7) for the first time since 2003 at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Jets are 1-4 away from home this season after going 8-3 on the road last season, including playoffs.

— J.P. Pelzman

flgreen · November 28, 2011

Maybin's Pass Rush Pays Some Bills Sunday

By Andrew LeRay

Posted 4 hours ago

Coming into their 28-24 victory over the Bills on Sunday, the Jets' defense boasted the second-best third-down conversion rate in the league; in large part because third down is a time for Mayhem to ensue.

Screaming off the edge in pass-rush situations, LB Aaron “Mayhem” Maybin showed his former team the weapon they let get away.

“It feels great,” said Maybin after his two-sack performance. “Like I was telling the guys, looking at the situation I had been in and how far I’ve come, it’s awesome. It’s been a great story.”

Maybin is being modest when he refers to his story as “great.” A first-round pick of the Bills in 2009, his career in Buffalo ended before it really had a chance to begin. After failing to record a single sack in his two seasons in Western New York, he now has a team-leading five in his first season wearing the green and white.

“At the end of the day, you want to go out and perform well,” said Maybin. “But when the team has some must-win games ahead of you, it feels good to be able to go out there and have a good game in a situation like that.”

Both sacks on Sunday came in third-down situations, forcing Buffalo punts. In the second quarter, with the score tied at 7-7, Maybin entered the game on third-and-8. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick completed a 13-yard pass to WR David Nelson, but flags littered the field. Maybin and Buffalo C Kraig Urbik were called for offsetting personal fouls, leading to a replay of the down.

Maybin took advantage of the extra opportunity, hunting down Fitzpatrick 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage for his first sack.

“That’s what I’ve wanted my whole career,” said Maybin. “Just to be in a place that was going to give me the opportunity to do the things I know I could to help the team win.”

Later in the second quarter, Maybin again checked in on a third down from the Bills' 20-yard line. Fitzpatrick dropped back a little too far, allowing Maybin to release from his blocker and record his second sack for a loss of 8 yards.

The demonstrative Maybin is not one to shy away from the spotlight, and his post-sack celebrations are a release of unbridled emotion. Considering that his former team was on the receiving end, his reactions were a bit more pointed.

It seemed like Maybin’s enthusiasm was too much to handle for some of his former teammates. In the third quarter of a tie game, Maybin entered the game on first down. After a run-of-the-mill 4-yard run from RB C.J. Spiller, Maybin was shoved by Bills RT Erik Pears. Flags flew and a 15-yard personal foul was enforced. Even when Maybin wasn’t anywhere near the play, his impact was felt.

But we may never know what Maybin said to garner such harsh treatment from Pears. Maybin leaves his business on the field.

“No comment,” said Maybin. “They know and I know. That’s about it.”

It seems as if Maybin has only one speed. He goes full-bore every time he steps on the turf and electrifies the crowd with his never-say-die mentality. Nerves were never in play on Sunday when he lined up across from the same men he shared a locker room with a season ago.

“If you want to play fast and aggressive," he said, "you can’t really play nervous.”

With the win, the Jets crept over the .500 mark and separated themselves from the Bills by a full game. Sunday was the first step in a march toward the playoffs and prevented a disastrous three-game losing streak.

The rest of the year remains an uphill climb, but Maybin sees nothing wrong with that.

“When you’re looking to make a playoff push, being able to close on a team in the fourth quarter definitely helps send that message," he said. "For us to be in this position now to make this run at the end of the season, it feels good.”

flgreen · November 28, 2011

TD dances cost Bills in loss to Jets'

Last Updated: 9:07 AM, November 28, 2011

Posted: 1:45 AM, November 28, 2011

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Phil Mushnick

EQUAL TIME

Ancient Rome, with HOV lanes.

I wish there were someone in charge to let us know if this is how football will be played until further notice.

Yep, another week in which football grew closer to looking indistinguishable from surveillance video of street crime, with beatings and stompings included. Another week of aggravated assaults on what’s left of the good senses.

Let’s work in the direction we’re headed — backward.

Yesterday it didn’t matter to Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson that the Bills were in a must-win game. Not a bit. His endless second-quarter post-touchdown catch mocking of the Jets, including a mime of Plaxico Burress collapsing after shooting himself in the leg — I can’t believe I’m writing this — cost the Bills 15 yards on the kickoff, a flag and fact that went totally missed by Marv Albert, Rich Gannon and apparently everyone in the CBS booth and truck!

AP

JET SCREAM: The Bills' Stevie Johnson was guilty of several counts of aggravated - and costly - touchdown clebration during the Jets' 28-24 victory yesterday at MetLife Stadium.

Didn’t anyone see the Bills were kicking off from their 20? Didn’t anyone want to know why? Even before Johnson’s late-game dropped pass, his stupidity cost Buffalo the game! The Bills flubbed the kick, which likely would have given the Jets great field position anyway. Moments later, the Jets scored to tie the game.

And not that anyone at CBS knew, but a year ago today, Johnson dropped a pass alone in the end zone, that would have been the OT game-winner against Pittsburgh, a game the Bills lost. It happened on CBS!

And not that anyone at CBS knew, but Johnson had previously been fined $5,000 for excessive post-TD catch behavior. And then said, “I don’t regret it.”

Yesterday, the Jets were down three to the Bills, and driving with 1:44 left, when Plaxico Burress, after making a nice catch, was late to see Mark Sanchez’s no-huddle signals. Burress was busy performing a how-great-I-art first-down bit.

Saturday night on/for ABC/ESPN, Stanford — against Notre Dame — broke out its latest in tradition-killing Nike gangsta-wear, again abandoning school colors in what appeared to be black-helmeted executioners’ costumes.

Saturday on the SEC Network, Kentucky, school colors blue and white, but only since 1882, played Tennessee in blue and black football uniforms, as per Nike’s instructions.

And how often does Kentucky beat Tennessee in football? The Wildcats had lost 26 straight to the Vols, but were up 10-6 in the fourth Saturday. That’s when Kentucky defensive back Randall Burden decided to act up, misconduct that gave Tennessee 15 yards. Despite itself, Kentucky won.

Friday, on ESPN, Pittsburgh was beating “Backyard Brawl” rival West Virginia 20-14 halfway through the fourth quarter when Pitt defensive tackle

The 15-yard penalty gave West Virginia a first down at the Pitt 28. Several plays later, the Mountaineers would score, the PAT giving them a 21-20 lead. Final score: 21-20.

Unreal! Crazy! And now as common as drunks in the parking lot.

Thanksgiving Night, after his team beat the Lions, Packers linebacker Erik Walden was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend, a charge now so common against college-bred NFL players that it ranks third, behind false starts and pass interference.

On Thanksgiving Day, the Lions’ recidivist head-breaker, Ndamukong Suh, with calm and erudition, told us to suspend belief of what we saw in the third quarter — his ejection after another on-field, post-tackle brutalization of an opponent — to instead believe we didn’t see what we saw, that he was innocent, that the officials made him the victim.

AP

JET SCREAM: The Bills' Stevie Johnson was guilty of several counts of aggravated - and costly - touchdown clebration during the Jets' 28-24 victory yesterday at MetLife Stadium.

Ancient Rome, baby.

TD dances cost Bills

If Rutgers radio analyst Ray Lucas — a former Scarlet Knights quarterback who also works for SNY — is serious about a broadcasting career , he should try telling us about the game, as opposed to what he “hopes” will happen to benefit Rutgers.

Anyone notice how these far-away Thanksgiving college basketball tournaments — Alaska, Mexico — played to mostly empty arenas? Anchorage’s “Great Alaska Shootout” this year included local favorite, South Florida.

* The Lead: ESPN’s Urban Meyer is leaving ESPN to coach Ohio State, ESPN.com reports. Details on ESPN’s SportsCenter, next here on ESPN.

Gary Danielson’s repeated references to LSU coach Les Miles on Friday as “Les” were, shall we say, too cozy for comfort.

What do you think ESPN Classic programmed directly against Alabama-Auburn on CBS? A documentary on the Alabama-Auburn game.

Newly retired John Paul Stevens, 35 years a Supreme Court Justice, told the Washington Post he’ll continue to “watch the Redskins.” At 90 years old, did he mean football or the Sioux and Comanches?

* A CBS graphic yesterday told us Mark Sanchez is the first Jets quarterback to throw four TD passes in a game since Brett Favre in 2008. Er, fellas, Sanchez has been the only Jets quarterback since Brett Favre.

Ticketmaster all wet over Katrina

In 2005, the Giants were scheduled to play the Saints in New Orleans, as they are tonight. But Hurricane Katrina made that impossible. The game was switched to a Monday night at Giants Stadium.

Ticketmaster, accused of quick-profiting from the tragedy by charging a $10.30 per ticket “convenience fee,” then announced its take would be donated to the Katrina relief effort.

More than 68,000 attended the game. Conservatively, Ticketmaster sold 45,000 of those tickets. If $10.30 of every ticket sold were to be donated, then Ticketmaster would have donated more than $400,000. Now that’s something any company would be eager to tell everyone.

But not another word about it was heard from Ticketmaster or the NFL.

A year later, when pressed by this column for details — how many tickets did it sell, how much was donated, to which charity or charities was the money donated — Ticketmaster’s response was essentially, “None of your business.” It’s official, vague response was, “We honored our commitment.”

Six years later, the entire matter still stinks like an NFL-enabled charity scam.

* Plain-talk is trending dead. There is no faux-hip silly term sportscasters won’t repeat. On FOX Sports Net’s Houston-Tulsa, seen on MSG2, Tulsa tight end Clay Sears caught a pass for what appeared to be 4 yards. All analyst J.C. Pearson told us was it was for “positive yards.”

Yesterday, throughout Bills-Jets, CBS’ Rich Gannon reached for them all. Bills defensive back Da’Norris Searcy didn’t merely play a lot last week, he “played a lot of snaps last week.” And one doesn’t fumble, one, “puts the ball on the ground.”

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/stevie_blunder_gRoBANBaO7EtNaHISCqZ9I#ixzz1f0zIRQUl

flgreen · November 28, 2011

Jets coach gets results after scolding offensive line

brian.costello@nypost.com

By BRIAN COSTELLO

Last Updated: 8:46 AM, November 28, 2011

Posted: 1:55 AM, November 28, 2011

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JETS NOTES

Jets coach Rex Ryan called out the offensive line in the team’s pregame meeting Saturday night.

The unit had allowed quarterback Mark Sanchez to take some brutal hits in the last two weeks and had failed to open running lanes. Ryan told the line it was time to improve their game yesterday against the Bills.

Message received.

The Jets did not allow a sack for the first time this season. They also rushed for 138 yards, their second-highest total this year, in a 28-24 win over the Bills.

28.2s058.jets.c--300x300.jpg

Paul J. Bereswill

MEADOWLANDS MAYHEM: Jets linebacker Aaron Maybin, who played the first two seasons of his NFL career with the Bills, celebrates one of his two sacks of Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick yesterday.

“He does that about once a year,” left guard Matt Slauson said of Ryan calling out the line. “I think he might have to do it every week. Since he’s been here and he challenges our line we come out the next day and we win and we play great. I’m hoping he does that every week.”

Slauson said the unit responded instantly when Ryan issued his challenge.

“We felt pumped up,” Slauson said. “We were jazzed. Wayne [Hunter] said, ‘Call up Buffalo and let’s play right now.’ ”

After the victory, Ryan praised the line.

“I really couldn’t be happier about the way the offensive line performed,” Ryan said. “They did a

tremendous job.”

* Outside linebacker Aaron Maybin had a big day against his former team.

Maybin, the Bills’ first-round pick in 2009, had two sacks in the game. He leads the Jets with five sacks, after registering none in his first two seasons. The Bills let Maybin go this summer.

“God is awesome,” Maybin said. “The position I was in a year ago and the things people were saying, how far He has brought me and how far I’ve come, it just feels good to be in this locker room with these guys right now enjoying ourselves.”

The Jets had three sacks of Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Bills entered the game leading the league with just 12 sacks allowed this year.

* Running back Shonn Greene played with bruised ribs that clearly were hurting him, but he ran for 78 yards on 13 carries, an average of 6.0 yards per carry.

* Defensive tackle Mike DeVito left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. DeVito sprained an MCL earlier this season and missed two games. ... Wide receiver Patrick Turner made his first start of the season and had a huge third-down catch on the Jets’ final drive.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/rex_lays_it_on_the_line_and_gets_M36AtvTJyTV6Vor15LgMzN#ixzz1f10LlM4Z

flgreen · November 28, 2011

Jets defeat Bills with late touchdown

brian.costello@nypost.com

Jets 28, Bills 24

By BRIAN COSTELLO

Last Updated: 9:09 AM, November 28, 2011

Posted: 1:18 AM, November 28, 2011

The Jets have been waiting for four months for their free-agency investments in wide receivers Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress to pay dividends.

Yesterday, the duo may have saved the season.

Holmes and Burress each came up with a monster catch on the Jets’ game-winning drive in their 28-24 victory over the Bills at MetLife Stadium.

Mark Sanchez found Holmes for a 16-yard touchdown with 1:01 left in the game for the go-ahead score, less than a minute after Burress made a one-handed, third-down grab to keep the drive alive. The defense then barely hung on to give the Jets a much-needed win.

“We knew we needed this game,” Burress said. “There comes a point in the season where you recognize it’s go time.”

The Jets (6-5) remain in the AFC playoff hunt with the victory. It was not pretty, but the Jets can live without style points at this point in the season. Sanchez threw a career-high four touchdowns and played his best on that final drive when his team needed him to.

Sanchez, who saw some of his practice reps go to backup Mark Brunell this week, went 7-for-9 for 66 yards on the final drive to hand the Bills (5-6) their fourth straight loss.

“That’s what we always said about Mark that he’s at his best in big moments,” Rex Ryan said.

“Certainly today you can’t get a bigger moment than what we had.”

Sanchez got help from the pair of receivers the Jets spent big bucks on this summer. They re-signed Holmes to a five-year, $45 million in July and added Burress a few days later, giving him $3.017 for this season. The duo combined for only six catches in the game, but they made the plays they had to in order to win the game.

The Jets remain one game behind the Bengals (7-4) a in the race for a wild-card spot with five games left. The Broncos, who hold a tiebreaker over the Jets, and the Titans are also 6-5.

“I think we realized that from the start of the game that we had to win this game and we couldn’t let these guys come in here and get a victory on us,” said Holmes, who now has six game-winning touchdowns in the last two minutes of a game, the most since 1983.

The game was sloppy with several bone-headed plays, none worse than Bills receiver Stevie Johnson drawing an excessive celebration penalty in the second quarter that led to a horrible kickoff by kicker Dave Rayner to give the Jets great field position. Sanchez hit Burress with a 14-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 14-14 before halftime.

“It was huge,” Bills coach Chan Gailey said of the swing in momentum.

Johnson went on to drop a pass on the Bills’ final drive that could have resulted in a game-winning touchdown.

The Jets took a 21-14 lead on their first drive of the third quarter with Sanchez connecting with tight end Dustin Keller for Keller’s second score of the day. The Jets then handed the momentum back.

Antonio Cromartie, who had a rough game, muffed a punt that the Bills recovered.

Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick then targeted Cromartie on the next play, throwing a 36-yard touchdown pass to former Jet Brad Smith, who tipped the ball over Cromartie and made the catch to tie the game.

A Rayner 53-yard field goal with 9:51 left in the game gave the Bills a 24-21 lead.

The Jets got the ball for the final time with 5:44 left. They moved the ball to the 47 before their first big play of the drive, when Sanchez found Patrick Turner for a 12-yard catch on third down. After a failed shovel pass, they faced a third-and-11 with two minutes left. Sanchez threw the ball up to Burress along the sideline to keep the drive going.

“I don’t know how many receivers in the league are going to make that catch,” Ryan said.

Two plays later, the Bills flushed Sanchez from the pocket at the 16. He rolled to his right. Holmes, who first ran toward the middle of the field, put a move on cornerback Aaron Williams and ran toward the sideline, where Sanchez hit him with the game-winning strike.

“They’ve all been in those situations,” Turner said of Sanchez, Burress and Holmes. “That’s when the playmakers come out when it’s all on the line. Don’t blink, not scared of the moment and just go up and make plays. We have a number of guys like that and they came through in the clutch for us today.”

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/gift_of_grab_has_gang_believing_gVkOgHIuiYOLuruRwvEGNN#ixzz1f11Gzcwe

flgreen · November 28, 2011

Jets QB Sanchez comes through in clutch