10/18 — Thomas Jones set a franchise record with 210 rushing yards and the Jets amassed 318 yards on the ground overall, but T.J. was downright somber this evening.

“We didn’t win the game,” he said after the Bills edged the Jets, 16-13, in overtime. “Regardless of any individual statistics or anything like that, it doesn’t matter. We lost the game.”

Jones, who entered Week 6 with 271 yards and a 3.7-yard rushing average, averaged 9.5 yards a carry against an active Buffalo front. He set a career long with a 64-yard rush early in the second quarter, which set up a Jay Feely field goal, and then he topped himself with a 71-yard scoring jaunt on the Green & White’s next possession.

“I don’t really care if I’m back on track. We lost the game. That’s why we play — to have success as a team,” he said. “I’ve always been a team player and that’s why I play as hard as I can — to help the team win. Me getting back on track has nothing to do with this game.”

After entering this contest with the NFL’s sixth-ranked rushing offense at 132 yards a game, the Jets will move up in rankings after an outstanding effort on the ground. The 318 yards and the 8.0-yard per-carry average were the second-best marks for a Jets team ever.

“We’ve been talking about getting our running game on track,” said Jets head coach Rex Ryan. “I think that’s the biggest positive that you can take out of this game. The fact that we were still in the game when you turn the ball over six times is also amazing.”

“We were in a groove,” added RT Damien Woody. “But I think up front and with our running backs, we’re capable of rushing for similar type games. I’m not saying we can run for 300 regularly, but this is who we are. We are a pound-it team. We are a power-running team.”

But rookie QB Mark Sanchez had a difficult time to say the least, throwing five picks, and the Jets were penalized 14 times. Those negative numbers countered the "ground & pound" attack.

“It’s stunning. It’s hard to piece together. Anytime you have a great day rushing — we ran for over 300 yards and usually if you rush for those many yards, you win,” T.J. said. “ But we had a lot of penalties and turnovers, plays that got called back. Just a lot of misfortunes.”

Leon Washington also pitched in with 99 rush yards, picking up a healthy 6.6 yards a carry. The offensive line was tremendous throughout, opening up gaping holes for the Jets’ talented duo to make hay. The Bills' undersized front played hard, but they were often pushed around and they missed DT Marcus Stroud at various points.

“It’s almost similar to last year. Around this time, that’s when the run game really started clicking,” Woody said. “I think the dam kind of broke loose this game and we had a big day rushing. We just have to continue to lean on it because it will help our quarterback out some and make us a better football team.”

The Jets are what their record says they are: a .500 team after six games. And despite a three-game slide, they’ll take a strong running game out to the West Coast next weekend.

“We have a lot of veterans on this team, we have a lot of guys who’ve won a lot of football games and have dealt with this situation in the past,” Jones said. "We have some great character, so we have to bounce back and get ready for next week against Oakland.”

There were no smiles from Jones as he left the podium. He deserved better.