An ugly if efficient 17-10 road win by the Jets means that somehow, at 6-7, they are still in the playoff hunt.
Mark Sanchez got the start, as expected, but it was the old formula of ground and pound that got the win. Bilal Powell and Shonn Greene combined for 39 carries and 156 yards. Each had a touchdown as well. Three sacks and two interceptions got it done on defense.
The Jets now have two straight wins for the first time this season and the first time since last Dec. 11.
What went right …
1. QB?quagmire
Last week, Greg McElroy put in a solid performance for the benched Sanchez and got rewarded by being inactive in Jacksonville. It wasn’t as bad as last week for Sanchez, but it was still a mixed bag. He threw no picks, but had a fumble.
2. Formula 2009
For a second straight week, the defense was called upon to carry the team, as the offense struggled to put it mildly in the first half. The Jaguars were limited to 291 yards in the game with a Bart Scott interception in the first quarter proving to be a pivotal play in the game. On the other side of the ball, they ran effectively, especially in the second half.
3. When it counts
Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano went for the win in the fourth quarter, which was nice to see despite a conservative game plan. Sanchez was just 12-of-19 in the game, but he stepped up when it mattered. Sanchez found Jeff Cumberland on a 37-yard pass over the middle on third-and-8 with 2:56 to play. It milked crucial time off the clock.
Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.
