Folk’s 43-yard field goal on last play is a winner
ATLANTA — After plenty of mistakes in his first four games, Geno Smith suddenly looked like a veteran for the New York Jets.
The rookie quarterback threw three touchdown passes, didn’t turn the ball over and guided a clutch drive that set up Nick Folk’s winning field goal on the final play, giving the Jets a 3028 victory over the struggling Atlanta Falcons on Monday night.
After the Falcons went ahead on the first play after the two-minute warning, Smith completed four consecutive passes and broke off an eight-yard run that set up Folk’s 43-yard field goal as time expired.
The Jets have been waiting for this sort of performance from Smith, who went into the game leading the NFL with 11 turnovers, including eight interceptions. The previous week, he had two passes intercepted and lost two fumbles in the Jets’ 38-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Against Atlanta, he completed 16 of 20 passes for 199 yards.
“I’ve been in this situation time and time again,” Smith said. “My confidence is always sky high. Nothing can bring me down. I’m just going to continue to work. And we’re putting this one behind us.
“We’re getting on that bus, well enjoy it for a little bit, then get back to work.”
The Falcons rallied from a 27-14 deficit in the fourth quarter, going ahead on Matt Ryan’s three-yard touchdown pass to Levine Toilolo with 1 minute 54 seconds remaining.
Jacquizz Rodgers scored on two touchdown runs and Ryan threw a touchdown pass to Jason Snelling.
But the Falcons have lost three games in a row, their longest skid since 2007.
The Jets led, 17-7, after a goal-line stand on the final play of the first half.
Atlanta had two cracks at the end zone on fourth and goal from the one.
The first try resulted in an incomplete pass, but the Jets were called for pass interference on tight end Tony Gonzalez as he tried to get open.
The Falcons then decided to pass up on a fieldgoal try and instead handed the ball to their smallest back, the 5-foot-6 and 196pound Rodgers, for a power run behind the offensive line.
Rodgers got nowhere. He was swallowed up by the New York line.