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Jets Blog: It Don't Come Easy

By Peter Schwartz
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From Friday's preview blog….

"I think this is a tough match-up for the Jets but I can't see them coming up with another stinker. I think the Jets offense will get back to the "ground and pound" and squeak out a 24-20 win over the Lions."

While it wasn't the way I thought the game would unfold, I'm a little excited to have been just a point off the mark because my predictions usually don't come close at all.

Okay, enough of patting myself on the back!

Let's put the Jets' 23-20 overtime win over the Lions into perspective. A win is a win is a win. There's plenty to nitpick and criticize from a Jets point of view, but as I've said in the past, there are no style points given or taken away depending on a game unfolds.

RELATED: Sanchez, Jets rally late to stun Lions 23-20

I could spend time ripping the offense for another listless effort until the fourth quarter, but they got their act together just in the nick of time.

I could take Mark Sanchez to task for another game filled with inaccuracy and mistakes, but he made enough plays down the stretch for his third career fourth quarter comeback.

On the defensive side of the ball, I could continue to say that the defense needs to be more consistent getting off the field on third down, but they did come up with a couple of stops in the fourth quarter.

I could take some space to detail mistakes like the roughing the kicker penalty to Trevor Pryce, the pass interference call on Antonio Cromartie or some blown coverages by the likes of Drew Coleman. But in the end, the Jets found a way to win.

And that is the most important aspect of Sunday's game. The Jets survived and won the game. They improved to 6-2 and are now back in first place in the AFC East because they hold the head to head tie-breaker over the Patriots.

The Jets have a lot of issues to clean up, but winning games in ugly fashion along the way just goes to show how much talent this team has. Jets teams of the past, including last year, would never have pulled this one out. But this team did and just that fact is a reason to overlook some of the team's issues.

As far as my game ball is concerned, I'm not going to pass one out. Instead, I'm going to boot my game ball to kicker Nick Folk. His clutch 36 yard field goal as time expired sent the game into overtime. Then, in the extra session, he nailed a 30-yarder that to sent the Jets home from Motown singing a winning tune.

The Jets will enjoy a victory Monday, but when they get back to work on Wednesday, they'll have to clean some things up. When they watch the film of the Browns victory over the Patriots, they will see that this week's game in Cleveland against former coach Eric Mangini's team will not be easy.

Then again, Jets history tells you that nothing is ever easy!

GAME NOTES

Here are some other interesting tidbits from Sunday's game courtesy of the Jets media relations department…
*When Mark Sanchez connected with Braylon Edwards on a 74-yard touchdown pass it was the third completion between the duo of 40 yards or more this season.

Yards Opponent
74 Detroit (11/7)
67 Miami (9/26)
41 Buffalo (10/3)

For Sanchez, the 74-yard strike marks the longest regular season pass of his career. He did complete an 80-yard touchdown pass to Edwards in last season's AFC Championship Game against the Colts.

Sanchez's Longest Passes (all to Edwards)

Yards Opponent
80t at Indianapolis (1/24/10)
74t at Detroit (11/7/10)
67t at Miami (9/26/10)
65t vs. Atlanta (12/20/09)

Sanchez notched the first 300-yard passing game of his career, completing 22 of 39 passes for 323 yards with one touchdown and one interception for a passer rating of 81.5. On the last three scoring drives, Sanchez connected on 9 of 11 passes for 131 yards and a passer rating of 116.3.

Some defensive notes…

Linebacker Bart Scott sacked Lions quarterback Matt Stafford with 7:34 remaining in the first quarter for a 10-yard loss. It was Scott's first sack of the season and the 18th of his career.
LB Bryan Thomas recorded his second sack of the season when he brought down Stafford in the second quarter. It was his 27th career sack.

Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson sent most of the game on Revis Island. Johnson was held to just one catch for 13 yards. According to press box stats, Revis finished the game with three tackles and two passes defensed.

ROAD WARRIORS

Sunday's win was the Jets' seventh straight regular season victory on road dating back to last season. Here is a look at the longest road winning streak in team history.

12/3/09 Buffalo (Toronto) 19-13
12/13/09 Tampa Bay 26-3
12/27/09 Indianapolis 29-15
9/26/10 Miami 31-23
10/3/10 Buffalo 38-14
10/17/10 Denver 24-20
11/7/10 Detroit 23-20 (OT)

The Jets are 11-4 on the road under Head Coach Rex Ryan including 2-1 in the playoffs.

That's it for now! Check back later in the week for more.

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