Monday, December 17, 2001
Jets break December hex
The Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — With their December demons seemingly knocking them down again, the New York Jets did something unusual. They won.
Ignoring a history that says they plummet from the playoff race in the final month of the calendar, the Jets rallied in the fourth quarter Sunday for a 15-14 victory over the Bengals.
Seldom-used tight ends James Dearth and Anthony Becht caught short touchdown passes from Vinny Testaverde. Although New York failed on both 2-point conversions, it held on thanks to late interceptions by Damien Robinson and James Farrior.
“A win is what we wanted, hex or no hex,” Becht said after the Jets broke a five-game December slide. “I've only been here two years and I am not really concerned with what happened before that, or even know much about it. We want to end this on a winning streak, and we have three left.”
While they'll probably need two more wins to be assured of making the playoffs, the Jets (8-5) can't expect to get them playing well in spurts. They fell behind 14-3 before finding a rhythm in the fourth period.
“There may have been a little bit of a feeling of desperation, knowing time is running out,” said Testaverde, who was told at halftime by coach Herman Edwards that “the game was on my shoulders. When he comes to me and asks me to step it up, my eyes light up and I get excited.”
The Jets' sputtering offense woke up after Corey Dillon's second short TD run. Receptions of 18 and 27 yards by Kevin Swayne, another lightly used receiver, led to Dearth's first career scoring reception, a 1-yarder.
“I had a bad field-goal snap in the first half,” said Dearth, the team's long snapper, “so that touchdown made me feel much better. It was a real good day for the tight ends.”
Becht is the starting tight end, but doesn't get much action in the passing game. Testaverde could have ignored him after Becht's brutal drop on the game's first series. Instead, he scrambled at the 3 before finding Becht in the back of the end zone.
“My role changes every week,” he said. “I was fortunate this week. I was able to do something positive.”
A little trickery aided the Jets on their decisive drive. After an 18-yard pass interference call against Bengals cornerback Mark Roman, halfback LaMont Jordan took a direct snap, faked a handoff to Martin and sped 16 yards to the 5.
Damien Robinson then picked off Jon Kitna's pass and returned it 30 yards, but John Hall missed a 34-yard field goal with 1:11 remaining.
James Farrior, however, got the Jets' third interception of the game, putting them at a league-best plus-23 in turnover margin.
“We hadn't been getting many turnovers lately, and we knew how much they mean,” Robinson said.
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Jets break December hex
