Scobee's FG as time expires lifts Jags over Jets

[November 16, 2009]  EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The Jacksonville Jaguars boosted their playoff chances with a big road win and sent the New York Jets to another devastating loss.

Josh Scobee kicked a 21-yard field goal as time expired, making up for an earlier miss and giving the Jaguars a 24-22 victory Sunday.

With the Jaguars facing second-and-6 from the 10, Maurice Jones-Drew took a handoff up the middle and went to a knee at the 1 to give Jacksonville first-and-goal with just over a minute left. New York had no timeouts left.

David Garrard took a knee on the next two plays, giving Scobee the opportunity to kick the winner for the Jaguars (5-4).

The Jets (4-5) came out of their bye-week break making the same mistakes that plagued them in the first eight games. New York has dropped five of its last six, and is headed to AFC-leading New England next Sunday.

Thomas Jones gave the Jets a 22-21 lead on a 1-yard touchdown dive with 5:04 remaining. The score capped a 16-play drive that included three third-down conversions and a fourth-and-1 conversion -- a 14-yard run off a pitchout by Shonn Greene that got the Jets down to the 1.

New York went for the 2-point conversion, but Braylon Edwards dropped it when he was hit in the back of the end zone by Reggie Nelson and Sean Considine. The Jets were looking good, but the defense -- which had trouble all day, especially in the first half -- couldn't hold the Jaguars.

Jones-Drew had 123 yards on 24 carries, becoming the first player to rush for 100 or more yards against the Jets this season. Garrard was 16 of 26 for 221 yards and a touchdown to Mike Sims-Walker, and also ran for a score.

New York's defense, which has been solid for most of the season, had trouble tackling in the first half, allowing Jacksonville to gain 250 yards. With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, the Jets allowed a 15-yard catch by Mike Thomas and a 33-yard grab by Marcedes Lewis to help set up the kick by Scobee.

Garrard gave Jacksonville a 14-10 lead with an 11-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, scrambling off left guard untouched after Jones-Drew picked up a blitzing Kerry Rhodes.

Sims-Walker made it 21-10 with 2:44 left in the first half, taking a short pass over the middle from Garrard and eluding three tackling attempts to get into the end zone. New York had a chance to end the drive on fourth-and-4 from the 34, but Thomas caught a 7-yard pass to allow Jacksonville to become the first team to convert on fourth down against the Jets.

Jay Feely's 37-yard field goal with 36 seconds remaining made it 21-13 before halftime.

The Jets had a close call early in the third quarter when Quentin Groves intercepted Sanchez's screen pass for Cotchery and fell at the 4-yard line after a 37-yard return. After a 3-yard run by Jones-Drew, Garrard fumbled the exchange to his running back and Mike DeVito recovered for the Jets.

But New York gave it right back two plays later when Edwards had a 41-yard reception, but had the ball knocked out by Rashean Mathis and recovered by Clint Ingram.

Feely's 40-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter capped a 14-play drive and cut the Jets' deficit to 21-16.

The Jets didn't get off to the start they were exactly looking for when Sanchez was intercepted by Mathis on New York's first play.

Jacksonville took advantage immediately, giving the ball to Jones-Drew five straight times with the final carry a 33-yard scamper up the middle for a touchdown.

Leading 7-3, Jacksonville had a chance to increase its lead but Scobee's 49-yard attempt missed when the ball plunked off the left upright.

Starting at their 39-yard line after the miss, the Jets marched down the field and took a 10-7 lead on Cotchery's 7-yard touchdown catch with 1:08 remaining. The drive was helped by Cotchery's 32-yard reception, which gained an additional 10 yards on Reggie Nelson's helmet-to-helmet hit on Sanchez.

Sanchez was 16 of 30 for 212 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions. Jones had 77 yards and a TD on 21 carries.

[Associated Press; By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.]

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