NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS

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1 NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS December 9, 2013 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 2 Smith leads Jets to victory over Raiders (Dennis Waszak) things to know after Jets top Raiders (Dennis Waszak)... 4 NEWSDAY... 5 Jets beat Raiders to keep playoff hopes alive (Kimberley Martin)... 5 Geno Smith builds a little confidence (Bob Glauber)... 7 Geno Smith throws his first TD pass since Week 7 in win over Raiders (Greg Logan)... 8 Jets grades: Geno Smith returns to form with healthy receivers as targets... 9 Jets Q&A: Woody Johnson pleased with team (Kimberley Martin) Ed Reed, Antonio Allen make big plays for Jets (Greg Logan) THE RECORD Smith leads Jets to victory over Raiders (J.P. Pelzman) Sullivan: Resilient journey continues for Jets QB Geno Smith (Tara Sullivan) Jets notes: Mixed day for Jets' Ed Reed (J.P. Pelzman) Game replay: Jets 37, Raiders 27 (Jeff Roberts) Antonio Allen s block a spark on special day for Jets (Jeff Roberts) STAR-LEDGER Jets stop skid with victory against Raiders (Darryl Slater) Jets' special teams play key role in victory over Raiders (Michael J. Fensom) Politi: Rex Ryan was right to stick with Geno Smith at quarterback (Steve Politi) NEW YORK POST Effective Geno leads Jets to needed win over Oakland (Brian Costello) The right Reed: Ed notches pick No. 62 in Jets win (George Willis) A dash of Geno: Jets QB stellar on the ground (Steve Serby) Upbeat Woody is pretty happy even before Jets win (Brian Costello) Jets report card: TDs even from special teams (Brian Costello) Receivers give Geno Smith a boost (Fred Kerber) Allen s blocked punt propels Jets (Fred Kerber) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Geno Smith sharp as NY Jets keep slim playoff hopes alive with thrashing of Raiders (Seth Walder) How NY Jets finish will determine Rex Ryan's fate (Gary Myers) Ed Reed makes impact for NY Jets after questionable start (Seth Walder) P a g e

2 Antonio Allen gives NY Jets spark with blocked punt (Seth Walder) Woody Johnson poised to be patient with Rex Ryan and NY Jets (Manish Mehta) Woody Johnson pretty happy with NY Jets, won t make decision on Rex Ryan s future until offseason (Manish Mehta) NEW YORK TIMES Jets Try Out a New Look: Competence (Ben Shpigel) Young Jets Safety Emulates Veteran Teammate With Pivotal Play (Zach Schonbrun) WALL STREET JOURNAL So This Is What Offense Looks Like (Stu Woo) ESPN NEW YORK Eager Jets haven't quit on Rex Ryan (Rich Cimini) Big day for receivers (Jane McManus) Jets' Antonio Allen stars on special teams (Matt Ehalt) Ed Reed finally gets an INT -- and a win (Matt Ehalt) Geno Smith finally shows up for Jets (Ian O Connor) Woody Johnson 'happy' with Jets (Rich Cimini) METRO NEW YORK Jets hang on to playoff hopes with win over Raiders (Kristian Dyer) Geno Smith shakes off struggles in performance against Oakland (Kristian Dyer) Antonio Allen comes up big with additional playing time (Kristian Dyer) NJ.COM Jets' playoff hopes remain slim, but there's still some hope after win (A.J. Perez) SUNDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED PRESS Smith leads Jets to victory over Raiders (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Geno Smith bounced back in a big way after an early interception had memories of some recent mistakes creeping into his mind. The rookie quarterback threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score as the New York Jets' suddenly resurgent offense set a season high for points and stopped a three-game skid with a victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. ''Man, we needed that in the worst way,'' coach Rex Ryan said, ''to say the least.'' Chris Ivory had a touchdown run, Nick Folk kicked three field goals and Antonio Allen blocked a punt and returned it for a score to help the Jets (6-7) avoid their first four-game losing streak under Ryan. 2 P a g e

3 Smith ended a miserable stretch that included getting benched last week by throwing his first touchdown toss since Week 7. He finished 16 of 25 for 219 yards, and ran five times for 50 yards - and was able to overcome his 20th interception of the season, which led to a field goal for the Raiders. ''I can't sit here and say I'm not human because it is difficult,'' Smith said. ''When you have those struggles and you come out and, the first quarter and first half, you have an interception near the 50- yard line and you kind of start to think about those things, all of those mistakes in the past.'' Smith got a boost on the sideline from his teammates, who urged him to hang in there and not lose his confidence. ''That's the mark of this young man,'' Ryan said. ''He's a resilient guy and has shown he can bounce back. It was an excellent performance on his part, and really, the team in general.'' Matt McGloin threw two touchdown passes and fullback Marcel Reece, starting because Oakland was down three injured running backs, had a 63-yard touchdown run for the Raiders (4-9). Oakland has lost three straight overall, and 13 in a row in games played in the Eastern time zone. ''Today is as bad as we played this whole season,'' Raiders safety Charles Woodson said. ''It was really embarrassing to be part of it. We looked like the Bad News Bears out there.'' With the Jets leading 3-0 after Folk's 41-yard field goal, Smith was picked off by Kevin Burnett. The sparse crowd at MetLife Stadium booed loudly, but Sebastian Janikowski missed a 52-yard field goal. Despite Smith's turnover, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg went right back to the pass on the next drive. Smith lofted a throw that a leaping Jeremy Kerley came down with for a 25-yard touchdown and a 10-0 lead. ''I just went up and got it,'' said Kerley, playing for the first time since dislocating his left elbow on Nov. 3. ''It felt like backyard football.'' It was Smith's first TD pass since Oct. 20 against New England and his second in eight games. It was also New York's first touchdown of any kind in nine quarters. Terrelle Pryor came in at quarterback on Oakland's third offensive series to help offset the Raiders' lack of running backs with Darren McFadden, Rashad Jennings and Jeremy Stewart all inactive with injuries. He led a drive capped by a 41-yard field goal by Janikowski. Then McGloin returned and, on third-and-9 from the 3, Ed Reed got his 62nd career interception and first with the Jets. Folk later made a 23-yard field goal. Allen blocked Marquette King's punt, recovered it and returned it for a touchdown to put New York ahead 20-3 in the second quarter. Oakland got on the scoreboard right away in the second half as Reece zipped up the middle for a 63- yard touchdown. He finished with 123 yards on 19 carries. But the Jets came right back as Smith ran for an 8-yard score, his fourth of the season. McGloin connected with Rod Streater on a 48-yard touchdown pass on a ball threaded between Reed and Antonio Cromartie, who smacked into each other. The Jets said Cromartie has a head injury, but he finished the game. Ivory blasted into the end zone from 15 yards, slipping out of three tackle attempts and dragging a fourth Raiders defender over the goal line for a lead. The play was set up by Smith's 32-yard scramble. 3 P a g e

4 McGloin, 18 of 31 for 245 yards, connected with Mychal Rivera on a 1-yard touchdown with 2:24 remaining. ''We're out of lifelines,'' Jets guard Willie Colon said. ''We have to execute and have to get it done, and today was the first step.'' NOTES: With 2,475 yards passing, Smith passed Mark Sanchez (2,444 in 2009) for the most by a rookie in franchise history.... Raiders coach Dennis Allen said TE Nick Kasa and DT Vance Walker suffered concussions, and LB Sio Moore had a neck injury, but he returned. 5 things to know after Jets top Raiders (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Rex Ryan stuck with Geno Smith, even when it appeared the New York Jets might have needed a change at quarterback. Smith got the message when he was benched last Sunday, and made his coach look good by delivering his best performance in weeks. The rookie quarterback threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score as the Jets' suddenly resurgent offense set a season high for points and stopped a three-game skid with a victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. ''I think the difference was just eliminating the indecision in my game,'' Smith said. ''A lot of things are happening to me for the first time. That's not to make an excuse, but sometimes I second-guess myself and that always hurts, especially a quarterback. ''You've just got to play with a bunch of feel and know what you're doing.'' Smith certainly showed that against the Raiders, leading the offense to its best scoring day of the season. He finished 16 of 25 for 219 yards, and ran five times for 50 yards - and was able to overcome his 20th interception of the season, which led to a field goal for the Raiders. Chris Ivory had a touchdown run, Nick Folk kicked three field goals and Antonio Allen blocked a punt and returned it for a score to help the Jets (6-7) avoid their first four-game losing streak under Ryan. ''Man, we needed that in the worst way,'' Ryan said, ''to say the least.'' Matt McGloin threw two touchdown passes and fullback Marcel Reece, starting because Oakland was down three injured running backs, had a 63-yard touchdown run for the Raiders (4-9). ''Today is as bad as we played this whole season,'' Raiders safety Charles Woodson said. ''It was really embarrassing to be part of it. We looked like the Bad News Bears out there.'' Here are five things to know from the Jets' victory over the Raiders: GOOD GENO: Smith tempered the increasing calls for him to hit the sideline, for a week at least. The rookie misfired a few times, but was able to make plays with his arm and legs as offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg opened things up a bit for him. He had an 8-yard touchdown run, and got his first TD pass since Oct. 20 against New England and his second in eight games. 4 P a g e

5 Despite the early interception, Smith maintained his confidence after his teammates urged him to keep his head up. ''That's the mark of this young man,'' Ryan said. ''He's a resilient guy and has shown he can bounce back. It was an excellent performance on his part, and really, the team in general.'' OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: The Jets had scored 20 points in their last three games. Combined. So, seeing Smith and the offense march up and down the field was a bit of a stunner. It certainly helped that Jeremy Kerley returned to the lineup after dislocating his left elbow on Nov. 3. He had four catches for 41 yards, including a leaping 25-yard touchdown. The game also marked the first time the Jets had Kerley, Santonio Holmes and Kellen Winslow Jr. on the field together since Week 4. EAST COAST WOES: Oakland, on a three-game skid, has dropped 13 in a row in games played in the Eastern time zone. The Raiders, who last won one of those games in December 2009 at Pittsburgh, has been outscored in such situations. They came close in their previous two visits this year while losing in the season opener at Indianapolis and to the Giants last month. ''Really, I don't think it was an issue with the travel,'' coach Dennis Allen said. ''We were out here a couple of weeks ago and we were able to start fast. We just didn't do it in this game.'' RUNNIN' REECE: With Darren McFadden, Rashad Jennings and Jeremy Stewart all inactive with injuries, the Raiders turned to their fullback to carry the load. Reece responded with a career high in yards and carries, ripping off an impressive touchdown sprint in which he outran Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie. The Jets came in ranked No. 1 against the run, but Reece put up the best day against them this season. REED TASTES VICTORY: Jets safety Ed Reed went seven games without a win while with Houston, and finally played in his first win of the season in his fourth game with New York. Reed also had his 62nd career interception and first with the Jets to help set up a field goal. His role was a bit reduced from previous weeks, coming off the field at times for Antonio Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett. NEWSDAY Jets beat Raiders to keep playoff hopes alive (Kimberley Martin) Newsday Rex Ryan stood before his players, ready and willing to give them the "Victory Monday'' they deserved. Instead, his players had a message for their coach. One win -- even an impressive one -- isn't reason enough to take a day off, they said. Not now, not while the playoffs still are within their sight. So instead of celebrating Sunday's win over the Raiders with a day away from the practice facility, they asked for permission to keep grinding. "He wanted to give us off,'' guard Willie Colon said. "Me and Brick [tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson] looked at each other and said, 'No time to relax.' 5 P a g e

6 "We asked: 'Can we go back to work?' '' At least for a few hours, the Jets (6-7) allowed themselves to revel in a total team effort against the Raiders (4-9). Geno Smith threw his first touchdown pass since Week 7, Ed Reed made his first interception as a Jet and Antonio Allen recorded his second blocked-punt touchdown to help snap a three-game losing streak. And more importantly, Rex & Co. remain alive in the playoff hunt. The Jets still face an uphill climb for the AFC's second wild-card spot. They trail the Ravens (7-6) and Dolphins (7-6), both of whom won and own a tiebreaker edge against the Jets. The most important thing is that there still is time to make a run, the Jets said. And that's why they all plan to punch in at One Jets Drive bright and early Monday. "The season ain't over,'' rookie defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson said. "So we've got to work.'' Truth be told, Ryan couldn't have been happier. In the past few weeks, he's been spewing emotions behind the scenes -- crying, cursing, screaming and shouting in an attempt to get his guys to believe in themselves and one another. In the midst of their three-game skid, he was determined to keep his players together. And that unity was on display Sunday as the offense and special teams carried his defense for a change. Smith (16-for-25, 219 yards, one touchdown) didn't have a breakout performance with his arm but provided a big boost with his feet. He gained 50 yards on five carries, including an 8-yard TD on a fake handoff to Bilal Powell that gave the Jets a lead early in the third quarter. Smith threw a first-quarter interception (and should have been picked off a few more times in the first half), but he responded by leading three second-half scoring drives to keep the Raiders at bay. Smith also benefited from having tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. (61 yards) and wide receivers Jeremy Kerley (41) and Santonio Holmes (55) together for the first time since Week 4. Ryan gave a game ball to general manager John Idzik, whose father, John Joseph Idzik, the Jets' offensive coordinator from , died Tuesday at 85. The Jets' 37 points were a season high, but Marty Mornhinweg's offense received some much-needed support from the special teams. Allen's blocked punt, which he recovered in the end zone, put them up Nick Folk nailed field-goal attempts of 41, 23 and 51 yards. "Today, special teams was awesome,'' Ryan said in his postgame address in the locker room. Said defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson: "That's what you call a team win. All three phases contributing.'' The defense did its part in the first half, limiting Oakland to three points. But it allowed its first 100-yard rusher (Marcel Reece, 123 yards) of the season and let Matt McGloin (18-for-31, 245 yards, two TDs) hit Mychal Rivera on a 1-yard pass to make it with 2:24 left. The win buoyed the Jets' spirits as they look to turn the page toward Carolina. "It's a sense of urgency for this team to continue to have success,'' said Ferguson, a Freeport product who made his 125th consecutive NFL start. "Today was a great example of the things that we're capable of. We recognize now's the time to get excited. This is what it's all about: the fight for December.'' Notes & quotes: Cornerback Antonio Cromartie returned to the game after colliding with Reed on Rod Streater's 48-yard touchdown reception midway through the third quarter. Cromartie returned on the next defensive series but was not made available to reporters because of a head injury. 6 P a g e

7 Geno Smith builds a little confidence (Bob Glauber) Newsday One by one, they went over to him and looked him in the eye, imploring him to get beyond what had just happened. Coaches and players, on offense and defense, all with messages of support: Move on from the mistake. Maintain your composure. You can do this. Muhammad Wilkerson. Damon Harrison. Matt Simms. David Garrard. Marty Mornhinweg. Rex Ryan. They made it clear to Geno Smith after this latest interception that they still believe in him, even when the quarterback himself was beginning to have doubts. Midway through the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Raiders, Smith trudged off the field after his pass intended for Jeremy Kerley was picked off by linebacker Kevin Burnett, Smith's 12th interception in the last eight games. He couldn't help but question whether he'd ever get past these mistakes. "I can't sit here and say I'm not human, because it's difficult," Smith said afterward. "When you have those struggles and you come out and you have an interception right there at the 50-yard line, you kind of start to think about those things and think about all those mistakes." But those brief yet meaningful messages of support from his teammates and coaches lifted him out of the momentary funk. "They told me, 'Stay with it. Stay confident. Don't worry about it,' " Smith said. It helped that the defense stopped the Raiders at the Jets' 34 and forced them to settle for a 52-yard field-goal try that Sebastian Janikowski missed. Smith shook off the early mistake and put together his best individual performance in more than a month, throwing for 219 yards and a touchdown and running five times for 50 yards and another score. The touchdown pass -- a 25-yarder to Kerley on his first drive after the interception -- was Smith's first since a Week 7 win over the Patriots. At last, a sigh of relief for a quarterback who hadn't experienced much of anything good for quite a while. Smith helped the Jets end their losing streak at three games and keep their flickering hopes alive in the chase for the AFC's second wild-card spot. Even though it's still a long shot that the Jets will make it to January, Smith at least can take comfort in experiencing a moment of progress in what has been a challenging rookie season. It helped that he had a full arsenal of skill-position players at his disposal. Receivers Santonio Holmes and Kerley were back near full strength and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was more of a factor. There was even a chest-thumping exclamation point from Smith near the end on his longest NFL run, a 32-yard scramble. Rather than run out of bounds, he lowered his shoulder -- his passing shoulder -- and rammed into safety Brandian Ross before going down. His coaches immediately told him never to do that again, but Smith's sly postgame smile indicated he was glad he could at least make his point before agreeing. "I think part of it was me trying to send a message to my teammates, to tell everyone that I'm their quarterback. I'm a tough guy. I'm going to stay in [bounds]," he said. 7 P a g e

8 He knows never to do it again. He also knows he'll never take back that message. Fitting, too, that it came at the end of a run. We had suggested this past week that Smith needed to start using his legs to make some plays, to take advantage of his speed and athleticism. During the three-game losing streak, Smith rushed only five times for 8 yards and no touchdowns. On Sunday, he averaged 10 yards a carry on his five rushes and scored on an 8-yard run, after which he gestured emotionally to the crowd. As it turned out, running the ball was an important strategic adjustment on Smith's part, and not an easy one at that. After all, he has never viewed himself as a running quarterback, and it's still not second nature to take off if the protection breaks down or his receivers aren't getting open. But he knows now it's a valuable tool at his disposal. "The difference was to eliminate that indecision in my game," he said. "Sometimes I second-guess myself, and that always hurts, especially for a quarterback. You just have to play with a feel and know what you're doing. I tried to practice this week by getting the ball out of my hand quick, seeing the guys get open, and if not, extend the plays using my legs. Just playing smart, not being indecisive." The move paid off, albeit against a weak Raiders team. It won't be that easy on Sunday at Carolina, but at least Smith can take comfort in the fact that he raised his level of play at a time when he -- and his team -- needed it most. Geno Smith throws his first TD pass since Week 7 in win over Raiders (Greg Logan) Newsday Not that anyone was counting, but when Jeremy Kerley came down with the jump ball Geno Smith lofted toward the left corner of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown that gave the Jets an early 10- point lead in their victory over the Raiders Sunday at MetLife Stadium, it ended a seven-week drought without a TD pass. To break it down further, the span between Smith touchdown passes covered 371 minutes, 53 seconds of playing time. Kerley caught Smith's previous touchdown pass in a Week 7 overtime win against New England. Maybe one reason the drought lasted so long was that Kerley suffered a dislocated elbow in Week 9 and sat out four weeks, missing the bye week and the previous three straight losses. "It felt good," said Kerley, who had four catches for 41 yards. "I felt good about the game plan, felt good about the weather, felt good about my arm. Everything just felt right. Catching that was icing on the cake." The catch itself was something you don't script. "Man, it just felt like backyard football," Kerley said. "Geno threw it up, and I was actually coming down on the catch. I saw it, went up for it, knew the DBs were out of position... I knew he was going to come to me based on coverage. It seemed like it stayed up there forever." Not only did Kerley return to the lineup, but so did wide receiver Santonio Holmes and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. Oh, both played the previous week, but Holmes was on the field for only three plays while nursing a hamstring injury and Winslow's use mysteriously was limited. 8 P a g e

9 Against Oakland, both made big plays early to get the offense untracked. Holmes was wide open on a crossing route and went 32 yards to the Raiders' 28 to set up the opening field goal. The drive that ended with Kerley's touchdown picked up steam with a screen to Winslow that he carried 30 yards to the Raiders' 28. "We're playmakers, and that's our job to go make plays for him," Winslow said. "We just seemed in rhythm, maybe because we went no-huddle." Perhaps one reason for the improved execution was a game plan that gave Smith an opportunity to find receivers in open space with short passes and a chance to run after the catch. "We definitely wanted to get completions right away, whether it be throwing screens or swing passes," Kerley said. "We just wanted to get him going, get this offense rolling." Holmes suggested that Oakland's defense was partly to blame for the running room the receivers had. "Those guys didn't play as good a defense as we thought they would play," he said. "They played a lot of man-to-man, and when they did go to their zone coverages, they left a lot of holes open and we exploited them." But certainly, having Kerley back at slot receiver seemed to open up the field for the offense and build Smith's confidence. "Kerley is like Wes Welker to me," Winslow said. "He's definitely a playmaker." Jets grades: Geno Smith returns to form with healthy receivers as targets Newsday OFFENSE B+ Healthy receivers made all the difference for Geno Smith. The rookie quarterback threw for 219 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 50 yards and a score. His 50 rushing yards are the most by a Jets QB since Brooks Bollinger (56 against Oakland on Dec. 11, 2005). Though Smith allowed his 20th interception, he led the Jets on multiple scoring drives after Oakland's offense came alive and he broke a 32-yard run. It mattered little that Stephen Hill was inactive, with Jeremy Kerley, Santonio Holmes and Kellen Winslow suiting up together for the first time since Week 4. In his first game since dislocating his left elbow, Kerley jump-started the offense by hauling in a 25-yard touchdown and Chris Ivory (76 yards) powered the running game, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. The unit was 7-for-13 on third downs. DEFENSE C Up 20-3 at halftime, the Jets' defense surrendered 24 second-half points to the hapless Raiders. Oakland scored a minute into the third quarter when Marcel Reece ran 63 yards up the middle for a TD. Reece (123 yards) is the first back to rush for 100 yards this season against Rex Ryan's top-ranked run defense, which entered allowing just 77 rushing yards per game. In all, the Raiders rushed for 150 yards. The Jets also surrendered pass plays of 48, 40 and 26 yards, plus a 20-yard QB scramble by Matt McGloin. Bright spots: Ed Reed recorded his first regular-season interception since Week 12 of last season and Quinton Coples made his second sack in as many weeks. SPECIAL TEAMS A As he exited the locker room before the game, Antonio Allen wondered: "Who's going to give us that spark?" It was the second-year safety who did that and more, including a recovery in the end zone of his 9 P a g e

10 own blocked punt for a touchdown with four minutes left in the second quarter. Nick Folk remains the team's MVP this season, nailing field-goal attempts of 41, 23 and 51 yards. The kicker has two field goals of 50 or more yards in 2013 and 10 as a Jet since Said left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson: "Special teams was huge for us." COACHING B Give Ryan credit. His players were ready to play. And with healthy bodies at his disposal, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was able to air it out and get several weapons involved. Though Ryan's defense held the Raiders to just three first-half points, the unit allowed Oakland to get back in it in the third. Jets Q&A: Woody Johnson pleased with team (Kimberley Martin) Newsday What's Woody Johnson's take on the Jets? Fans may be frustrated with Geno Smith's erratic play, but owner Woody Johnson said he is pleased with his rookie quarterback and his team's direction. Johnson has kept his comments to the media to a minimum this season, but in a pregame ESPN radio interview Sunday, he said he's "pretty happy with the way things are going'' -- a potentially good sign for Rex Ryan, who has one year left on his contract. Before the Jets' win over the Raiders ended a three-game losing streak, Johnson said the defense has been "amazing'' and the offense is "very, very close'' to reaching its potential. "We've got a young quarterback who is very, very talented,'' Johnson said. "Like with all young quarterbacks, he's learning so much. I think you'll see him get better and better. I have a lot of confidence in Geno. When he gets better, everyone on the offense, defense and special teams will get better.'' How do the players feel about Ryan? "Rex has been so selfless,'' said guard Willie Colon, adding that he came to the Jets to play for Ryan. "He bleeds green, he believes in this team, even when sometimes you don't believe in each other.'' Other teams might have fallen apart during this rough stretch, but players credited Ryan for keeping them together. "You know you have a good coach who can get things going in the right direction late in the season when you've had three straight losses,'' said future Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed, who played under Ryan in Baltimore. Many believe Ryan will be on his way out if the Jets miss the playoffs, but Colon is determined not to let that happen. "We love Rex as a team. I love Rex,'' Colon said. "And I'd be the first one to step on a soapbox and scream 'Keep him!' '' Where was Stephen Hill? 10 P a g e

11 The receiver was inactive after being downgraded to questionable Friday. He has had swelling in his knees "the last several weeks,'' Ryan said. "He's just not himself.'' Was that really Dick Cheney and Mitt Romney in the Jets' locker room after the game? Yes. Former vice president Cheney and 2012 presidential hopeful Romney were there, along with former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and actor Michael J. Fox. Johnson contributed financially to the Romney-Paul Ryan ticket. Ed Reed, Antonio Allen make big plays for Jets (Greg Logan) Newsday For safeties Ed Reed and Antonio Allen, the Jets' victory over the Raiders on Sunday at MetLife Stadium was more like the "Vindication Bowl." Not that either of them ever would put it that way. Reed, in particular, was emphatic in saying he has nothing to prove to anyone "holding a microphone or a camera." That was aimed at the critics who suggested the future Hall of Famer, at 35, might consider stepping gracefully into retirement. Reed's arrival as a free agent coincided with the three-game losing streak preceding the win over Oakland and robbed younger safety Antonio Allen of playing time. Fate has a funny way of working things out. Reed and Allen made big plays that helped provide the winning margin. Reed intercepted rookie quarterback Matt McGloin's pass at the Raiders' 11-yard line and returned it to the 4 to set up a field goal. Then Allen blocked Marquette King's punt and recovered it in the end zone for a 20-3 halftime lead. Reed's pick was the quintessential example of a veteran understanding where to be before a young quarterback realized his mistake. "The D-line got great pressure, made him scramble," Reed said of McGloin. "I believe he was in the end zone. He had to throw it or take the safety. I just stayed with the [receiver] dragging across. I believe he had a guy on him already. [McGloin] tried to force it. I made the play." Reed now has recorded at least one interception in each of his 12 NFL seasons, and don't think he didn't know it. "I thought about that," he said. "I wasn't worried about it. I'm happy to have it, happy to have 62 [career interceptions], but more important, just to get a win." The Jets settled for a field goal and a 13-3 lead after that prime scoring opportunity, but the defense forced Oakland to punt from its 18 on the next possession. Allen said special-teams coordinator Ben Kotwica had talked all week about Raiders long snapper Jon Condo not dropping back after the snap. "So we swung a dude across his face -- Ellis Lankster -- and I just hit the 'A' gap and made a big play," Allen said. Allen came roaring up the middle untouched to smother the ball on King's foot. "It felt weird," Allen said. "Man, they just let me loose. I thought the tackle was going to give me some kind of push, but he didn't even touch me. He just let me go right through. "It was a momentum-shifter. I mean, we were ahead, but it put us up by two touchdowns." 11 P a g e

12 The defense had one shaky moment when Reed collided with cornerback Antonio Cromartie as both tried to intercept what they thought was an overthrow to the tight end. The ball went past them to wide receiver Rod Streater for a 48-yard TD that cut the Jets' lead to "It was crazy," Reed said. "I'm glad we came out with the win and Cro is all right." THE RECORD Smith leads Jets to victory over Raiders (J.P. Pelzman) The Record EAST RUTHERFORD It wasn t always pretty for the Jets on Sunday. But they found a way to win, and that s all that mattered. Rookie quarterback Geno Smith had his best game since October, as he threw for one touchdown and ran for another as the Jets outlasted Oakland, at MetLife Stadium. The Jets (6-7) broke a threegame losing streak and stayed alive in the crowded race for the second wild-card spot in the AFC. Oakland (4-9) lost its third straight game and fifth in its last six. It was the Jets first victory by more than seven points since a win over St. Louis on Nov. 18, Smith s 32-yard run to the Oakland 20 in the fourth quarter set up Chris Ivory s bruising 15-yard touchdown run with 8:58 left, giving the Jets a lead. The Jets, who hadn t led since the first quarter of their loss to Baltimore on Nov. 24, grabbed the advantage on their first drive and never relinquished it. Nick Folk s 41-yard field goal 3:47 into the game opened the scoring. The kick capped an eight-play, 57- yard drive keyed by a 32-yard pass from Smith to Santonio Holmes. Smith threw an interception on the next series to linebacker Kevin Burnett, but the turnover didn t hurt the Jets. Oakland moved only 3 yards in three plays after Burnett s pick and Sebastian Janikowski then missed a 52-yard field-goal attempt, wide right. That miss gave the Jets the ball at their own 42, and they soon extended the lead to On the first play after Janikowski s miss, Smith hit tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. for 30 yards to the Oakland 28. Two plays later, Smith threw a 25-yard scoring pass to Jeremy Kerley, who returned after missing three games because of an elbow injury. It was Smith s first touchdown pass since Oct. 20 and only his second in the last eight games. Oakland s first points came on Janikowski s 41-yard field goal 2:29 into the second quarter. Terrelle Pryor relieved starter Matt McGloin at quarterback for that possession and guided the Raiders 58 yards in 14 plays. However, McGloin was back in for the next series after a Ryan Quigley punt pinned Oakland at it own 2. On third-and-8, McGloin was intercepted by Ed Reed, and he returned it 7 yards to the Raiders 4. It was the 62nd career interception for Reed, a nine-time Pro Bowler with Baltimore who was signed by the Jets last month after he was released by Houston. However, Oakland s defense held and Folk connected on a 23-yard field goal for a 13-3 lead. 12 P a g e

13 Antonio Allen, who lost his starting job last month when the Jets signed Reed, blocked a Marquette King punt and recovered it in the end zone for a 20-3 Jets lead with 3:55 left in the first half. In the third quarter, Oakland sandwiched two big plays for touchdowns around a 72-yard scoring drive by the Jets. Fullback Marcel Reese, who started at running back because multiple backs were out with injuries for Oakland, had a 63-yard touchdown run on which he bulldozed over safety Dawan Landry. Later in the quarter, McGloin had a 48-yard scoring pass to Rod Streater, who went untouched into the end zone after Reed ran into cornerback Antonio Cromartie. That cut the Raiders deficit to 27-17, and came after the Jets touchdown. Smith ran 8 yards for that score. Sullivan: Resilient journey continues for Jets QB Geno Smith (Tara Sullivan) The Record th.html EAST RUTHERFORD Sunday s Jets game was heading the way too many Jets games this season had already gone, with the rookie quarterback walking dejectedly to the sideline, another interception staining his statistical line. Head coach Rex Ryan didn t stop Geno Smith for a chat, knowing his offensive coordinator would do that job for him. But Ryan would admit later to a brief conversation with himself in which he was thinking, You have got to be kidding me. Smith s turnover rate this season has been no laughing matter, sabotaging many a Jets drive, threatening to undermine the fragile confidence of a young player fighting to find his way in the NFL. But on this cold afternoon in MetLife, Geno Smith found a new life, rebounding from his first-quarter mistake to turn in one of his best games as a Jet. With 219 passing yards and 50 more on the ground, Smith rediscovered the combination of big throws and big runs that puts him at the head of the dynamic version of the Jets offense, one that woke up to torch the overmatched Raiders for 37 points, or more than enough for a win to keep slim playoff hopes alive. We needed this in the worst way, Ryan exhaled after the game. No one needed it more than Smith. Benched in last week s loss to Miami and pulled late in two other previous games, Smith s hold on his starting job has grown more tenuous by the week. That s why Sunday s early mistake set off such alarm bells, ones even the even-tempered Smith had to admit he could hear. Would this 20th interception of the season serve as foreshadowing for another ineffective game, mere precursor to another inevitable benching? I can t sit here and say I m not human because it is difficult when you have those struggles and then you come out in the first quarter and you have an interception right near the 50-yard line, Smith said. You kind of start to think about those things, all those mistakes in the past. Yet Smith refused to wallow. If this seesaw of a season has taught him anything about the emotional challenge of playing quarterback at this level, it is the absolute necessity of putting bad plays in the ground, of burying them immediately. My mind-set was to eliminate it, he said. I ve got a lot of game left. I can t be sitting there dwelling on the fact that I just threw an interception and start thinking about all the interceptions in the past. The minute I do that, I m finished. 13 P a g e

14 Smith hasn t always been capable of getting off the roller coaster, and we ve seen too many games where one interception turns into two and two turns into three, and three turns into a trip to the bench. But Sunday, after his defense followed the interception by stuffing the Raiders into three plays and a missed 52-yard field goal, Smith, granted a stay of execution, sprinted back onto the field. Before he got there, Muhammad Wilkerson stepped in his path. Keep your head up and keep going, the standout defensive end said to his teammate, adding, as Smith recalled, Stay confident. Smith heard every word. It helps a ton. Mo s a great guy. He s a great player and it just shows that support we have in the locker room with all the guys, Smith said. Wilkerson represented but one voice in a chorus of supporters, from offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg to nose tackle Damon Harrison to backup quarterbacks Matt Simms and David Garrard, teammates so eager to get Smith back on track before he could fall apart. Their plan worked. Three plays later, Smith was lofting a beautiful corner pass to old friend Jeremy Kerley, one the diminutive receiver would outleap three defenders to snatch out of the cold, afternoon air. The 25-yard touchdown gave the Jets a 10-0 lead, and the offense never stopped rolling. On a day when the Jets defense was uncharacteristically susceptible to the run (particularly alarming given the Raiders relied on fourth-stringer/fullback Marcel Reece to carry the ball), it was time for Smith to prove his unit could keep the team in the game. Early in the fourth quarter, it was clear he could. The Jets were holding onto a 10-point lead and driving into Oakland territory, when Smith, faced with a third-and-5 at his own 48, took off. Up the middle of the field he ran, well past the first down marker, heading to the sideline to his left. But instead of escaping unscathed out of bounds, there was Smith veering back to the right, lowering his shoulder and fighting for the last few steps of a 32-yard gain, getting dragged to the turf by a tackle. Smith swore his instincts took over, that he just wanted to show his teammates, I m a quarterback, I m a tough guy, I m going to stay in there, but after hearing from every coach about the importance of protecting himself, promised to do better in the future. I d rather him just step out of bounds and not take the hit, but you also love that enthusiasm and competitiveness, Ryan said. For at least one more game, Smith reminded us of what he does best, reminded us how much the Jets have grown since their two straight seasons of infighting and failure. It s still too soon for any final evaluations of this staff and this franchise, and a healthy win over a bad Raiders team doesn t provide much clarity, but there is no denying this team s fight. There is no denying Smith s journey of resilience. From an early pick to a late run, he is proving he knows how to bounce back. With a little help from his friends, he keeps the Jets alive for another week. Jets notes: Mixed day for Jets' Ed Reed (J.P. Pelzman) The Record December 9, Mixed_day_for_Jets Ed_Reed.html?pag e=all Mixed day for Reed 14 P a g e

15 Ed Reed accomplished two firsts Sunday for his 2013 season. He got an interception, and he got a victory. The future Hall of Fame safety hadn t played a game in which his team won since Baltimore s victory over San Francisco in the Super Bowl in February. He endured seven losses before being released by Houston, and three more after being signed by the Jets last month. It was his 62nd career pick, most among active players. "I m happy to have [No.] 62," said Reed, before adding that it was "more important" the Jets got a much-needed victory. Still, it wasn t all good for Reed. Although he started, his playing time was reduced. And in the third quarter, he ran into teammate Antonio Cromartie. As the two Jets collided, Rod Streater took a Matt McGloin pass and raced 48 yards for a score. Cromartie remained in the game, but was unavailable for comment afterward because he was going through the protocol for a head injury, according to a team spokesman. "I didn t see Cro until the last second," Reed said. "I m glad I jumped [into him] or else we probably would ve gone helmet-to-helmet." Kerley provides spark Coach Rex Ryan noted after the game that the Jets are 0-4 in games wide receiver Jeremy Kerley has missed with an injury. He returned Sunday after sitting out three games because of a dislocated elbow, and made a leaping 25- yard touchdown catch from Geno Smith in the first quarter. He finished with four catches for 41 yards. "It felt like backyard football," Kerley said of his scoring reception. "[Smith] threw it up and it seemed like it stayed up there forever. I caught it when I was coming down." "Kerley is like Wes Welker to me," tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. said, referring to Denver s slot receiver. "He s definitely a playmaker." Kerley said he came through the game with no physical setbacks. Ivory tough Not only did running back Chris Ivory have a bruising, tackle-breaking 15-yard run to give the Jets a 17- point lead in the fourth quarter, he also somehow recovered his own fumble earlier in the drive to maintain possession for the Jets. "That was tough," Ivory said with a smile. "Under the pile, [Raiders players] were bending my fingers back and I was just squeezing the ball." Ivory had 76 yards rushing on 18 carries, and also had a devastating block on a blitz pickup that knocked Oakland s Sio Moore out of the game. Game replay: Jets 37, Raiders 27 (Jeff Roberts) The Record December 9, Jets_37 Raiders_27.html Turning point 15 P a g e

16 Antonio Allen came right up the middle untouched to block Marquette King s second-quarter punt near the Oakland 7-yard line, then fell on it in the end zone for a touchdown. It gave the Jets a 20-3 lead and proved a tremendous boost heading into halftime. Star of the game QB Geno Smith rebounded from weeks of struggles and a first-quarter interception his 20th to complete 16-of-25 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. He also used his legs more, rushing for 50 yards including an 8-yard TD on five carries. Eye-catching WR Jeremy Kerley returned in style after missing three games with a dislocated left elbow. He outleaped three Raiders defenders to haul in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Smith in the first quarter.... Punter Ryan Quigley pinned the Raiders at their own 2-yard line with a 46-yard punt in the second quarter.... Three plays later, S Ed Reed intercepted Matt McGloin and returned his first pick of the season 7 yards to the Oakland 4. It resulted in a 23-yard Nick Folk field goal.... RB Chris Ivory threw a devastating block on a blitzing Sio Moore, who crumpled to the turf. Ivory later dragged a Raiders defender into the end zone to finish a 15-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run.... McGloin faked David Harris almost out of his cleats on a fourth quarter 20-yard scamper. Costly mistakes Oakland s fourth-string RB Marcel Reece raced right up the middle for a 63-yard touchdown on the second play of the second half. It was the longest run the Jets have allowed at home since 2000 when Miami s Lamar Smith ran for a 68-yard touchdown.... On the next Raiders drive, Reed and Antonio Cromartie collided trying to break up a McGloin pass, allowing Rod Streater to corral it and waltz untouched 48 yards for a touchdown.... Santonio Holmes dropped a pass in the end zone in the second. Looking ahead The Jets (6-7) face Carolina on Sunday in Charlotte at 4:05 p.m. still alive in the AFC playoff picture. The Panthers entered Sunday night s showdown with division-rival New Orleans at 9-3. Wayne native Greg Olsen entered the game second on the team in receptions (50) and receiving yards (611). Antonio Allen s block a spark on special day for Jets (Jeff Roberts) The Record December 9, ets_on_special_day_for_jets.html?page=all EAST RUTHERFORD No one even touched him. The chasm in the middle of the Oakland Raiders' line was that big. And Antonio Allen raced right through it. Punter Marquette King never had a chance. Allen easily blocked King's second-quarter punt at the 7-yard-line, then fell on the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown on a game-changing play Sunday in the Jets' victory. The safety benched last month after Ed Reed's arrival blocked his second punt and became the first Jets defensive player since Dwight Lowery in 2010 to score multiple touchdowns in a season. 16 P a g e

17 Allen wanted to make a statement given his reduced playing time on defense. And he most certainly did. "It felt weird. They just let me loose. I was surprised," said Allen, who blocked an Atlanta punt in Week 5 and returned an interception for a touchdown in Week 7 against New England. "I thought the tackle was going to give me some kind of push, but he didn't even touch me. He just let me go right through." Allen, 25, also received about as many snaps at safety as he had the previous three games combined (24). He recorded two tackles. But the block was the highlight on a strong day for the special-teams units. Nick Folk drilled three field goals (including a season-long 51-yarder). A Ryan Quigley punt pinned the Raiders at their 2 in the second quarter. And Darius Reynaud returned three kickoffs for 75 yards. Allen admitted he wanted to provide a "spark." The Jets (6-7) had lost three straight and teeter on the brink of elimination from a playoff berth. But what the second-year player would not come out and say is he also wanted to prove he deserves more playing time after his workload was reduced. "That [play] was huge," tight end Kellen Winslow said. "Sometimes you need special teams to pick up both sides [of the ball]," Rex Ryan said. "They were outstanding." But Allen was critical of his defensive play. He jumped a Rod Streater route in the fourth trying to intercept a Matt McGloin pass, but mistimed it. The receiver hauled in a 16-yard completion. The drive would end with Oakland's final touchdown. "That's the play I got to make with the defensive reps I do get," Allen said. "I've got to maximize my playing time and make something happen." But he did just that on specials. Ben Kotwica, the Jets' special-teams coordinator, noticed a weakness when long snapper Jon Condodropped back to block. So he sent Ellis Lankster "swinging across [Condo's] face" and had Allen come up the middle instead of off the edge as usual. Kotwica had "been talking about the long snapper the whole week," Allen said. It was the first Jets touchdown off a blocked punt since the 2011 season opener, when Joe McKnight blocked a Dallas boot and Isaiah Trufant returned it for a score. The Giants also had blocked a Raiders punt in Week 10. Allen arrived so quickly, he almost had to slow himself down. All he could think as he approached King was: "It's a block! Man, it's a block! We got to make money on this." And he did. Allen walked out of the locker room wearing a smile. "We need sparks, and we need big momentum plays," he said. "And I came out and did it, man." STAR-LEDGER Jets stop skid with victory against Raiders (Darryl Slater) 17 P a g e