The Jets started a new quarterback today but their troubles in Tennessee were not unique. Despite another gutsy defensive effort and a wonderful outing from WR Jerricho Cotchery, there were too many miscues and too few points for the visitors as they fell, 10-6, to the Titans.
With Kellen Clemens still bothered by a rib injury, Chad Pennington got the start. The results were mixed as Pennington completed 81 percent of his passes and threw a TD pass to Cotchery but also was victimized by two critical first-half interceptions. The Titans’ front was relentless throughout against the Jets’ line, racking up six sacks at LP Field. Penny got the offense to the Titans’ side of the 50, but he was sacked for a final time with just 1:50 remaining and the offense never got the ball back.
"I hate losing," said the Knoxville, Tenn., native. "The margin of error is so small."
New York’s AFC representative dropped to 3-12 on the season while Tennessee moved to 9-6 and kept its playoff hopes alive.
Pennington, who lined up with a lot of four- and five-receiver sets, completed 14 of 17 in the first half but two of his non-completions were those interceptions and the Titans went to the break clinging to a 7-6 lead.
The Jets’ only points came in the second quarter when Pennington fired to Cotchery in the end zone for a 9-yard TD. It was a 48-yard play-action connection between the two that got the Jets going originally. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get the equalizer as Mike Nugent’s extra-point attempt was blocked and the Titans’ one-point advantage would stand up.
Maybe cornerback David Barrett didn’t play baseball, but the Jets’ corner had a Willie Mays moment in the second as the Jets attempted to seize momentum after their touchdown. Barrett didn’t bite on Vince Young’s pump fake and made a good reaction to a double move before coming up with his first INT of the season.
The Jets looked to take advantage of the pick, moving downfield and apparently cashing in with Nugent’s 36-yard field goal and a lead. But a personal foul for leveraging was called against Tennessee and the Green & White took the points off the board, starting first-and-goal at the 9. Instead of another TD, LB Keith Bulluck read Pennington’s eyes on third down and collected an easy INT in his end zone.
"As I was reading the front side route, with the safety and the nickel, I did not see Bulluck at all until I threw it," Pennington said.
“You can’t turn the ball over in scoring position,” said head coach Eric Mangini.
The game of hot potato continued on the Titans’ ensuing drive. Rookie LB sensation David Harris rushed in on an unsuspecting Young, knocked the ball loose, and Dewayne Robertson recovered for the visitors. But the Jets were again unable to capitalize. It appeared Nugent’s plant foot slipped and a 51-yard FGA traveled well left of the goalposts.
After starting 4-of-4, Pennington tossed one to the Titans on his fifth. The eighth-year vet didn’t get a lot zip on a pass intended for Cotchery and CB Reynaldo Hill intercepted at the Jets’ 40.
“Chad ran the offense very effectively,” Mangini said. “We had some good drive opportunities and we’d like to come away with points each of those times. He did a good job getting us in and out of the things we wanted to get in and out of and being able to neutralize some of things that they were trying to do."
Five plays following the takeaway, the Titans moved into the lead on a 4-yard run from Chris Brown. Young kept the drive alive with a third-down conversion, hitting WR Justin Gage for a 29-yard gain in front of Hank Poteat.
Pro Bowl K Rob Bironas widened the Titans' advantage to 10-6 early in the third, nailing a 46-yard field goal. The four-point difference proved to be enough because the Jets had a tough time up front against a good defense. Bob Sutton’s defense played well enough to win, holding the Titans to 273 yards.
"The offense is moving the ball, but they are having trouble in the red zone," said S Kerry Rhodes. "As for the defense, we are playing better and we have something we can build on for next year. Everybody did a good job coming out and competing today. We still put up a fight and that shows a lot for us."
The regular season concludes next week for the Jets as they host Herman Edwards and the Kansas City Chiefs at the Meadowlands.
Can’t Contain Cotch
Laveranues Coles was placed on injured reserve Saturday and Cotchery stepped up for the Jets a day later, turning in one of his finest performances as a pro. Cotchery totaled eight receptions for 152 yards and had the Jets’ score. His 41-yard catch in the third moved him past 1,000 yards for the first time in his four-year career.
Catch of the Day
TE Chris Baker is making the one-handed grab a weekly occurrence. His 18-yard catch in the fourth quarter should make the team's annual highlight video
Rush to 1,000
An 8-yard Thomas Jones run in the third vaulted TJ past the 1,000-yard mark for the third consecutive season and the first with his new club. Tennessee's LenDale White, meanwhile, needed 40 yards on the ground to accomplish the same feat and he got there in the opening quarter. White finished with 103 yards.
Roster Rotation
The Jets called an audible in their punting game, sitting Ben Graham for the first time in his professional career. Jeremy Kapinos, just called up from the practice squad on Saturday, handled both the punting and holding duties this afternoon. The Penn State product — like Graham, a left-footer — averaged 41.6 yards on his five punts and had two downed inside the 20.
Adrien Clarke, who started the Jets’ first 14 games at LG, was also inactive. Will Montgomery made his first start with the Green & White, situated between C Nick Mangold and LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson. Robert Turner, a 6’4”, 308-pound rookie from New Mexico, saw his first professional action late in the first when he entered at LG. Rookie Clint Oldenburg, another recent practice squad call-up, got into the line shuffle late in the second quarter. Oldenburg was beaten by Travis LaBoy on another sack of Pennington, though, and Anthony Clement returned to RT.
No Mawae
Kevin Mawae, a six-time Pro Bowl center with the Jets, didn’t get a chance to battle his former teammates. Mawae, a Pro Bowl first alternate this year, didn’t practice throughout the week and has been slowed by a calf injury. Eugene Amano, in his fourth season from Southeast Missouri State, moved up to Mawae’s spot and made the seventh start of his career.
