Jets finally create some positive news
For a few hours, Mark Sanchez had every right to feel good about himself and the direction of the New York Jets.
After a turnover-free Sunday in the visiting Jets’ 27-13 victory over the St. Louis Rams, the beleaguered quarterback was the unquestioned No. 1. Sanchez believes it’s the type of performance that can become contagious.
“If you really take the positives from this game, build on those, continue to get better and improve, we can become a team that just doesn’t turn the ball over,” Sanchez said. “That could be our identity, if you want it to be and if you work at it.”
Sanchez was an efficient 15-of-20 passing for 178 yards and a touchdown. Tim Tebow was merely a footnote. The Jets dominated on defense, too. And New York stopped a threegame losing streak, and will head into a Thanksgiving night meeting against the AFC Eastleading New England Patriots with renewed confidence.
“Our guys have been working extremely hard, and I’m really happy for all of us that it showed,” head coach Rex Ryan said. “We needed a win, obviously, in the worst way.”
Bilal Powell ran for the first two touchdowns of his career, Chaz Schilens scored on a 25-yard reception and Nick Folk kicked two 51-yard field goals for the Jets (4-6), who were outscored 58-16 the previous two games. The Jets overcame a tumultuous practice week with several anonymous players quoted in a newspaper report disparaging the ability of Tebow, who had a handful of snaps but was no factor.
Linebacker Bart Scott created a bit of fuss when he initially declined to speak to reporters, complaining of unfair treatment, and barked at teammates to follow suit, yelling to one: “You didn’t get the memo?” Scott later relented. Ryan had anticipated Tebow to have a larger role but changed the game plan because the Rams surprised them with different looks on defense.
“And that kind of maybe shut him down a little more than we had originally planned,” Ryan said. “That was part of the reason you never saw a whole lot of him.”
Brandon Gibson caught two short touchdown passes for the Rams (3-6-1), who committed three turnovers and are in an 0-4-1 funk. St. Louis’ defense hasn’t forced a turnover in five straight games, tying the NFL’s longest such slump since 1950, according to Stats LLC.
“We knew they were going to come out and give us their best shot and with some fight because of all the stuff that has been going on over there,” Rams middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “Teams in the NFL just don’t fold.”
The Rams lost their third straight at home. They were coming off a 24-24 tie with the 49ers at Candlestick Park the previous Sunday.
Konrad Reuland, the former Stanford tight end released by the 49ers before the first game, had an 18-yard catch to the 5, the longest of his career, to set up Powell’s 5-yard run for a 20-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. Powell, who was questionable after sustaining a concussion at Seattle the previous Sunday, shared carries with Shonn Greene and added an 11-yard TD run. Falcons 23, Cardinals 19: Matt Ryan overcame a careerworst five interceptions, guiding host Atlanta to its only offensive touchdown in the fourth quarter in a sloppy win. … The Falcons committed six turnovers, but Michael Turner scored on a 1-yard run with 6:40 remaining to give Atlanta its first lead of the game. Ryan set up the score with four completions for 64 yards, including a 9-yarder to Tony Gonzalez on 3rd-and-5 at the Arizona 10. … Coming off a bye, Arizona lost its sixth straight.
Packers 24, Lions 20: Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes, including a 22-yarder to Randall Cobb with 1:55 left, to lift Green Bay at Detroit. … Mason Crosby made a 39-yard field goal with 19 seconds left after missing two field-goal tries earlier in the game. … Matthew Stafford threw two interceptions — one of which was returned 72 yards by Green Bay safety M.D. Jennings for a go-ahead score in the third quarter — and lost a fumble. … Green Bay has won five straight and Detroit has dropped two in a row. Buccaneers 27, Panthers 21: Josh Freeman threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Clark in overtime to cap a comeback for visiting Tampa Bay. … It was Freeman’s fourth three-touchdown game in his past six. … Carolina appeared to have the game in hand after a 29-yard scoring toss from Cam Newton to Brandon LaFell put the Panthers up 21-10 with 4:34 left in the game. … But after a 40-yard field goal by Connor Barth, the Panthers were forced to punt, and Freeman led the Bucs 80 yards on seven plays in 50 seconds with no timeouts. Broncos 30, Chargers 23: Peyton Manning threw for three touchdowns, Von Miller had three sacks to take the league lead with 13, and host Denver built a three-game lead in the AFC West. … Manning threw for 270 yards after a slow start, including an interception that Eric Weddle returned for a score to give San Diego an early 7-0 lead. The Broncos took a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter and did not trail again. … Manning picked up his 148th regular-season win as a starting quarterback, tying John Elway for second all-time behind Brett Favre (186).
Bengals 28, Chiefs 6: Andy Dalton threw for 230 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, and A.J. Green caught a touchdown pass in his ninth straight game for visiting Cincinnati. … Green finished with six catches for 91 yards in another dazzling performance, Mohamed Sanu had a scoring grab, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 101 yards and a touchdown as the Bengals won their second straight following a four-game skid. … Jamaal Charles had 87 yards rushing for Kansas City, the only highlight for a team that lost its seventh straight amid a quiet Arrowhead Stadium crowd.
Redskins 31, Eagles 6: Robert Griffin III threw four touchdown passes, and host Washington broke a three-game losing streak. … Philadelphia’s Nick Foles was 21-for-46 for 204 yards in his first NFL start, and his first two series ended with interceptions. Foles was starting in place of Michael Vick, who sustained a concussion in the previous Sunday’s loss to Dallas. … The Eagles have dropped six straight, accelerating the countdown toward the possible end of Andy Reid’s 14-year tenure as head coach.