The New York Jets claimed their third win of the season with a 16-11 triumph over the Tennessee Titans at LP Field this evening.
The Titans were able to move the ball well on their second possession of the game as Jake Locker picked apart the Jets' secondary before a poor snap in the red zone pushed them back 10 yards. The error forced the home side to kick a 40-yard field goal from Ryan Succop.
Tennessee added to their advantage when they were able to sack Geno Smith in his own endzone to record a safety as Jurrell Casey got to the quarterback.
The Jets had the chance to respond when Leon Washington fumbled from the ensuing free kick, but Nick Folk's field goal from 53 yards hit the crossbar and failed to go through the posts.
Rex Ryan's men did get on the scoreboard just before the end of the half as Smith moved his team into field-goal range, and this time Folk's kick had enough power to clear the uprights from 51 yards.
In the Titans' final possession of the half Locker was hit by Quinton Coples and was forced to the sidelines, ruling him out of the rest of the match.
In the third quarter, the Titans extended their advantage as replacement quarterback Charlie Whitehurst led his team into field goal range, and Succop obliged with an accurate kick from distance.
New York rallied and thought that they had taken the lead in the contest when Smith fired deep for Eric Decker, only to see that the receiver had stepped out of bounds. A mass melee ensued with several players throwing punches, which added to the visitors' field position.
Ryan's men did take the lead minutes later as Smith faked the handoff to Chris Johnson before hitting full-back John Conner in the flat for a nine-yard touchdown.
Tennessee were behind for just minutes as they found their offensive rhythm and moved downfield with ease. The Jets eventually managed to get a defensive stop, but Succop nailed a 51-yard field goal to put his team ahead once more.
However, New York powered ahead in the fourth quarter as Chris Ivory found the endzone from the goal line, and their defense managed to hold out for the win despite a late effort from the Titans on the final play of the game.
Simon Sinclair
