Monday, September 12, 2011

Folk's 50-yarder lifts Jets to comeback win

Nick Folk,

Nice kick.

Folk booted a 50-yard field goal with under half a minute to go, tallying the game-winning points of the New York Jets' 27-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys Sunday night.

It was an up-and-down affair for the Jets -- mostly down, as Folk's kick gave New York its first lead of the game. But special teams, second-half defense and a pretty decent passing attack put the Jets at 1-0 after Week 1 and inserted a shot of joy into a New York fanbase feeling the emotion the 10-year anniversary of 9/11.

"Shoot, I don't know what to say," Jets coach Rex Ryan told the media. "It was just a draining game. I'm just so proud that we were able to pull this thing off, for the town, as well. Believe me, I feel probably better about that than I do even for our football team."

The Jets looked dead in the water earlier in the fourth quarter down by two scores, but Plaxico Burress reeled in a Mark Sanchez touchdown pass to bring New York within seven.

Things looked grim, again, for Gang Green with Dallas just outside the New York goalline on the ensuing possession, but the Jets defense recovered a Tony Romo fumble to keep it within a score. Joe McKnight then blocked a punt on Dallas' next possession, which Isaiah Trufant took back for a score to tie it.

Darrelle Revis made an interception with just under a minute to go when the Jets offense couldn't get it done, and Folk capped it off with the big boot.

Sanchez finished the game with two touchdowns an one interception, the other score going to tight end Dustin Keller. Sanchez ammassed 335 yards on 26 completions.

As the team's third-down back, LaDainian Tomlinson caught six passes for 73 yards, mostly on third down, moving the chains and keeping scoring drives alive.

"Always being there as an outlet, and then in protection, doing his best to keep me standing upright," Sanchez said of Tomlinson. "That's big for us, and he had another great outing."

Romo completed 23 passes for 342 yards, two touchdowns and the pick.

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