Coles' late TD gives Jets 28-24 win over Chiefs

[October 27, 2008]  EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The bellowing boos said it all.

Brett Favre trudged back to the New York Jets' sideline after throwing his third interception, this one returned for a touchdown, and the fans let him have it.

"I've heard them in Green Bay before," Favre said. "I don't blame them, but it was a little premature, as we see now."

After struggling all game, Favre connected with Laveranues Coles for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 1 minute left as the Jets escaped with a 28-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

"I knew one thing: I'd go down swinging, however that may be," the 39-year-old Favre said after his 41st career fourth-quarter comeback. "I just wanted to give those guys a chance."

The heavily favored Jets (4-3) overcame three interceptions by Favre and an upset-minded Chiefs (1-6) team using its third-string quarterback.

"I believe that's why they brought him in here," said Coles, who played after suffering a concussion last weekend. "No matter what the circumstances are, he always gives you a chance to win. I know he's a little old, but he still can play."

Leon Washington returned Steve Weatherford's punt 37 yards -- and even dragged the punter on his back for a few of those yards -- to put the Jets (4-3) in terrific field position at the Chiefs 46.

"Talk about a monkey on your back, huh?" Washington said with a laugh. "You don't want the kicker to tackle you, so I was trying hard to get away from him."

After taking a sack, Favre connected with Chansi Stuckey for 18 yards, Dustin Keller for 5 and Washington for 5 more. After Washington had a 5-yard run, Favre floated a fade pass to Coles, who fought off Dimitri Patterson to make a one-handed catch in the front of the end zone.

"Brett trusted me, gave me a chance at the ball and I was able to make the play," Coles said.

Tyler Thigpen, making his second NFL start, got the Chiefs (1-6) downfield quickly for one final shot. But his pass on fourth-and-1 to Will Franklin was knocked away by Drew Coleman.

"We had to score and we had to stop them," Favre said, "and we were fortunate to do both."

Favre finished 28-of-40 for 290 yards and two touchdowns and the three INTs. Washington caught a pass for a score and ran another in, and Thomas Jones also ran for a touchdown.

Thigpen was 25-of-37 for 280 yards and touchdowns to Tony Gonzalez and Mark Bradley in relief for the injured Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard, both out for the season with injuries. The Chiefs were also without running back Larry Johnson, suspended for a second straight game for violating team rules.

"Thigpen, for a guy who only started two football games, kept us in the game," said Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, returning to the Meadowlands for the second time since leaving the Jets.

The Chiefs appeared on their way to victory when rookie cornerback Brandon Flowers returned his second interception of the game 91 yards for a touchdown. That gave Kansas City a 24-21 lead with 7:48 left.

"I thought we had it," Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez said. "I definitely thought we had it, especially with the way we were moving the ball the whole game. There was no reason to believe that we couldn't get it done."

Earlier, the Jets got to work right away, going 73 yards on their opening drive for a 7-0 lead on Washington's 18-yard catch-and-run. New York blew a scoring chance on its next possession when Jay Feely was wide left on a 36-yard field goal.

Kansas City took advantage of another turnover by Favre, whose pass to Cotchery was intercepted by Flowers. Favre stayed on the ground for a few moments after he was hit from behind by Tamba Hali and left guard Alan Faneca fell on him. He was looked at by trainers, but came back in on the Jets' next series.

The Chiefs needed just four plays to capitalize. Gonzalez brought down a high pass from Thigpen in double coverage to tie it.

Washington gave the Jets a 14-7 lead with 1:48 remaining in the half on a career-high 60-yard sprint. The Chiefs tied it with 4 seconds left in the half on an 11-yard catch by Mark Bradley, a play that was originally called incomplete but was overturned by a video review.

New York took a 21-17 lead with 48 seconds left in the third quarter when Jones bulldozed in from 1 yard.

"It's easy to smile and feel good about yourselves as a team when you win a game like that," Favre said. "We have some things to clean up, but 4-3 is not too bad right now."

Notes: Jets tight end Chris Baker, linebacker David Harris and fullback Tony Richardson left with undisclosed injuries, while Chiefs running back (sprained ankle) and cornerback Patrick Surtain (quadriceps) were injured for Kansas City. ... The Jets celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Super Bowl team with a halftime ceremony that included 36 former players, including Joe Namath. ... With six catches, Gonzalez moved into 11th place on the career list with 853 receptions.

[Associated Press; By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.]

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