The New York Jets played the role of a spoiler tonight as they stunned the 9-2 Tennessee Titans, a team that many pundits had already put in the Super Bowl. The Gang Green limited the Titans to just 84 yards on the ground, caused two turnovers, and came out with a 24-17 win.
After struggling for the most part of the first half QB Chad Pennington showed why many people have been comparing him to the great Joe Montana. Pennington overcame his two first half interceptions and threw two touchdown strikes in the second half. First, WR Kevin Swayne made a 27-yard catch in the end zone, and then WR Curtis Conway, who probably had his best game as a Jet, managed to keep his feet inbounds on an 8-yard score. Conway led the Jets receiving corps with five receptions for a total of 78 yards. Pennington finished the game 18 for 23 for a total of 231 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. His quarterback rating was 101.3. On the ground RB Curtis Martin finally scored his first touchdown of the season when he tied the score in the first quarter, but he averaged just 2.8 per carry on 24 attempts.
SS Sam Garnes finally had an outstanding game. First, he intercepted a pass in the first quarter, then recorded a crucial sack together with DT Josh Evans, and finally came up big on a fourth down inside the Jets 5-yard line. Garnes defended a pass thrown to TE Erron Kinney and the Jets took over on downs with just a bit over five minutes left in the game. DE Bryan Thomas who started in place of injured DE John Abraham had a pretty good game. His consistent pressure from the right side definitely was one of the reasons why McNair threw two interceptions and posted a quarterback rating of just 79.7 (he had thrown just 4 interceptions in the previous 11 games). FS Tyrone Carter made the other Jets' interception, his first picked off pass as a Jet and second of his 4-year career. Overall, the Gang Green defense played a good game with the exception of CB Aaron Beasley. In the first quarter Beasley got burned by WR Justin McCareins on a 59-yard score and then with less than two minutes to go in the final quarter Beasley gave up another touchdown to WR Derrick Mason.
The Jets improved to 5-7 and still have theoretical chances to make the playoffs this year. Just don't hold your breath here though. These Jets can rise to their opponent's level when they play a favorite like the Tennessee Titans, and then lower their level of play when they play a struggling team like the New York Giants or the Oakland Raiders. Next Sunday the Jets will take on the 5-7 Buffalo Bills. Only God knows which version of the 2003 Jets we are going to see..