Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick showed in the 45-19 win Dec. 18 over the New York Jets that he’s learning how to protect himself from taking unnecessary hits.

Michael Vick
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If his performance in the victory was any indication, it’s that his game is slowly changing and progressing. He only ran the ball five times for 32 yards, just one month after making eight attempts for 79 yards against the Arizona Cardinals.

For the most part, Vick (15 completions for 274 yards, one touchdown) stayed in the pocket, got rid of the ball quickly and limited his aggressive running style that opened him up to getting smashed by vicious tackles in the past.

With 3:26 remaining in the first quarter, Vick scrambled to the left and ran out of bounds at the Jets sideline after a 10-yard pickup. In the third minute of the second quarter, he scrambled again to the left sideline for an 11-yard touchdown run to give his team a 20-0 lead. He reached his hand with the ball into the end zone while most of his body was already out-of-bounds and out of harm’s way.

Maybe Eagles coordinator Marty Mornhinweg is finally getting through to Vick after expressing concerns this week about his aggressive style of play. “It’s going to be the death of me to get him to protect himself,” Mornhinweg said prior to the game. “I do think he’s gotten better, but not nearly as good as he needs to be for the best interests of his team and, secondly, the best interests of him.”

Perhaps Vick is finally learning that he’s useless to the Eagles when he’s spending time on the bench nursing injuries, and that his team can’t afford to lose him every season for three to four games.

In the past, Vick would have likely opted to challenge the opposing defense by making a crafty move up the middle instead of running out of bounds or sliding away from a hit.

Prior to the game, Vick basically said that he wouldn’t change his gameplan just to avoid taking hits. “That’s just my style of play,” Vick said in a Newsday report. “I take a lot of hits. I used to play football in the backyard and got hit probably 6 million times. I played Pop Warner football. It’s something I’m accustomed to. Getting knocked to the ground is like walking to me. It’s nothing.” But come gametime, he looked like a different quarterback, relying more on his powerful arm than his speed on the ground.

With the New York Giants losing to the Washington Redskins earlier in the day, and the Eagles winning big over the Jets, it puts Philadelphia in a decent spot to earn a playoff berth.

Eric Holden is a lifelong New York Jets fan, but Michael Vick is his favorite NFL quarterback because of his dynamic style of play. Follow the author on Twitter @ericholden.

Sources

www.nfl.com, NFL, player and team stats

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/vick-can-stop-slide-by-sliding-1.3396302, Newsday, Marty Mornhinweg quote

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Read More: New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles

Through the first 25 minutes of this Week 15 NFL encounter, the Philadelphia Eagles led the New York Jets by a score of 28-0. Things still aren’t going great for the Jets, but they were able to chip away at that lead before the end of the first half. They still have a chance to keep their playoff hopes intact, as they entered the locker room trailing by just 28-13.

This game has been, quite simply, one of the sloppiest and worst played games in the NFL so far this season. There have already been an astonishing seven turnovers, with both quarterbacks throwing an interception. The Eagles have lost three fumbles, while the Jets have lost two.

Mark Sanchez has not looked great, but he at least managed this great touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes to get his team back in the game.

The Jets will start the second half with the ball…if they don’t fumble the kickoff.

For more on the Eagles, go to Bleeding Green Nation. For more on the Jets, go to Gang Green Nation.

The Eagles expect to have Michael Vick, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, tackle Todd Herremans, and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins Sunday against the New York Jets, though they will likely be without defensive end Darryl Tapp.

Tapp, who suffered a broken rib last week against the Dolphins, is listed as doubtful and did not practice all week, a strong indication that he won’t be able to play.

In his absence, the Eagles would likely give another shot to Phillip Hunt – who notched a sack last week – and would also activate either veteran Juqua Parker or Brandon Graham, last year’s No. 1 pick.

Graham, who has played in only two games this season while recovering from knee surgery, hinted this week that coaches might shut him down for the season. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament last December and needed microfracture surgery, a procedure that often entails a yearlong recovery.

Coach Andy Reid said Graham is not necessarily done for the year, but wouldn’t commit to playing the second-year end this week.

“We’ll see how things go in the next couple of days. He’s had a good week of practice,” Reid said. “He’s still alive and going here.”

Graham has been inactive three of the past four weeks and dressed but didn’t play in another game.

Vick (ribs), who is listed as probable, has said he will play this week. He struggled last Sunday in his return from injury. He was asked if the ribs will feel better this week.

“I can’t say. Hopefully they will be a lot better, but I do plan on going out there and giving it everything I’ve got,” Vick said.

Maclin (hamstring) is questionable after playing only a half last week in Miami. He had missed the previous three games, but said he feels far better this week.

“It’s a complete difference. I thought I felt pretty good last week, but now I can actually see it and see it on film,” he said. “I’m ready to go.”

Maclin’s health could be crucial as the Eagles face one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL in Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie.

Jenkins (groin) and Herremans (ankle) are both listed as questionable but have said they plan to play.

One late addition to the injury report was backup quarterback Vince Young, listed as questionable with an ankle injury. He practiced in full all week.

Red-zone battle

The Jets rank sixth in the NFL in scoring, in large part because when they get close to the end zone, they punch the ball in. They score on 71 percent of their trips inside opponents’ 20-yard lines, best in the NFL. The Eagles defense, meanwhile, ranks 30th in the red zone.

Wide receiver Plaxico Burress is a big target near the goal line, with seven scores on the season.

“Burress is a big part there, so is their tight end [Dustin Keller],” Reid said. “I’m slighting the running back [Shonn Greene] here on top of that. He’s a big factor.”

Home, sour home

The Eagles’ 1-5 home record, among the worst in the NFL, was a hot topic Friday, especially with the team returning Sunday to the Linc, where they are riding a three-game home losing streak, but players and coaches didn’t have much explanation for the negative stat.

“We appreciate the [fan] support, and we’re busting our tails to make sure we represent the fans and the city in the right way,” Reid said.

Face mask fine

Miami offensive lineman Nate Garner was fined $7,500 for a face mask penalty against the Eagles last week. Garner, who delivered the hit that broke Tapp’s rib, was not fined for that play. The league also fined Trent Cole and Joselio Hanson $15,000 each for hits on Dolphins quarterback J.P. Losman.

Contact staff writer Jonathan Tamari at 215-854-5214, jtamari@phillynews.com, or @JonathanTamari on Twitter.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP)—The New York Jets know they’re going to have their
hands full with Michael Vick.

That is, if they can get a hand on the elusive Philadelphia Eagles
quarterback Sunday.

“You can’t stop him alone,” nose tackle Sione Pouha said. “There’s no one
person that can just match up with him.”

Vick returned last week from broken ribs, but wasn’t 100 percent in the
Eagles’ 26-10 win at Miami. Still, the Jets expect Vick, still dealing with sore
ribs, to provide a tough test. Mobile quarterbacks have given the Jets fits this
season by slipping out of pressure, and now they’re facing perhaps the NFL’s
best ever at creating plays out of nothing with his legs.

“You just have to make sure that everyone assumes the responsibility of
getting him down,” linebacker Bart Scott said. “He’s a playmaker who can keep
plays alive and he has the uncanny ability, with his strong arm, to throw the
ball across his body and across the field with just a flick of the wrist.”

Coach Rex Ryan even had a few speedy defensive backs simulate Vick’s running
skills to get the defensive linemen prepared for what they’ll see at
Philadelphia. Isaiah Trufant and newly signed Gerald Alexander were out there on
the practice field, zipping around in the backfield and trying to make guys
miss.

“They had to chase me around a little bit, so I was giving them a little
bit of the run-around,” Trufant said with a big laugh. “It gave them an early
look of what to expect and what we will get from Michael Vick. When he’s moving
around back there in the pocket, he’s hard to contain.”

And, judging from his teammates’ comments, Trufant was doing a pretty good
job being Vick.

“Slow down,” Trufant said they told him. “Stop!”

If it were only as simple as that against Vick, though. The Eagles (5-8) are
holding on to slim playoff hopes, so Vick will surely be motivated to do
whatever he can to keep them going. Despite missing three games because of the
rib injury, Vick has rushed for 544 yards—second to only Carolina’s Cam Newton
among NFL quarterbacks.

“There are times you understand he’s going to get out,” defensive
coordinator Mike Pettine said. “That’s where the challenge really starts, and
you have to prepare for it. You have to practice it. So, coverage-wise, the guys
in the back end know that they have to plaster, latch on to their receivers and
cover for a lot longer than normal.”

Linebacker David Harris says there is some danger in focusing too much on
Vick because he has so many options with running back LeSean McCoy and speedy
receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, and sure-handed tight end Brent
Celek.

“If you worry (about) him running, you might lose track of one of those
fast wide receivers getting downfield,” Harris said. “DeSean Jackson and
Jeremy Maclin have been thriving off of that, so you just have to play
all-around good defense. They’re one of the top rushing teams in the league and
everybody knows what type of athletes they have on that side of the ball, so we
have to go out there and do our thing.”

As long as they don’t repeat some of their previous performances against
some of the league’s other elusive quarterbacks. Denver’s Tim Tebow might be the
best example, running for 68 yards against them—including a 20-yard dash for
the winning score last month—and being sacked just once.

“Tebow has more called quarterback runs, but they’ve done some with Vick,”
Pettine said. “I don’t know how many we’ll get now that he’s a little banged
up. I would say Tebow’s a little more like (Ben) Roethlisberger in the style of
running where it’s hard to bring them down. It’s hard to bring Vick down, but he
makes guys miss a lot more. He’s like a wideout in open space where
Roethlisberger and Tebow are more like fullbacks.”

Blitzing Vick is almost a no-no because of the way he can side-step a
rushing linebacker or defensive back, and then take off.

“It takes all 11 guys,” Pouha said. “And, I promise you, he’ll make three
or four of you miss. That’s why you’ve got to make sure that you’ve got the
other seven or eight guys right behind you. It’s all about pursuit and being
around the ball. I think that’s how you do it, just swarm the ball.”

Ryan has previously coached against Vick twice in the regular season, both
when he was an assistant in Baltimore and the quarterback was still with the
Atlanta Falcons. Vick was 11 of 21 for 127 yards and a touchdown, while running
six times for 54 yards in a 24-10 loss in 2006. He was 12 of 24 for 136 yards
and an interception, and was held to minus-5 yards rushing on seven carries in a
20-17 win in 2002.

“We’ve done OK against him in the past,” Ryan said. “But, again, you’re
never going to be comfortable until the bus is heading home and the game’s over.
He’s a scary athlete.”

The Philadelphia Eagles face the New York Jets in a Week 15 game on December 18. The Eagles still have an outside chance at reaching the playoffs so the game has meaning. But too much needs to happen for fans to worry about that. Instead, the goal should be to simply get a win at home. The Eagles only have one so far in 2011. As an Eagles fan, the team can win this game. Here are five keys to the game for the Eagles.

1. Establish the run

The Jets are pretty solid against the run. However, the Eagles have to utilize the running game if they want to win. LeSean McCoy didn’t play well against the Miami Dolphins but he is still the best player on this team. McCoy should get at least 20 carries in this game. If he does, the Eagles will move the football and control the clock.

2. Open up the passing game

It is no secret that the Jets have dominant cornerbacks. But that doesn’t mean the Eagles shouldn’t try to throw the ball deep. DeSean Jackson looks like he might have regained his desire and he looked good against Miami. As strong as New York is in the secondary, Jackson should be able to break away a couple of times. It will be important for Michael Vick to find him.

3. Protect the quarterback

The Eagles know that Vick is going to try and do too much and absorb too many hits. It is up to the offensive line to take some of that heat away but protecting better. The Jets don’t have an elite pass rush so that should help the line protect Vick. If the quarterback can stay in the pocket and deliver the ball in a timely fashion, the offensive line will have done its job.

4. Stay aggressive on defense

The Eagles got nine sacks and three turnovers against Miami. That is a pretty remarkable game and it is asking a lot to duplicate that effort two weeks in a row. But the Eagles can put together a strong performance if they stay aggressive. Mark Sanchez is vulnerable to mistakes and he will turn the ball over if the Eagles keep the heat on him. That could mean the difference between winning and losing.

5. Stay composed

The last time the Eagles played at home, fans started chanting for Andy Reid to be fired. If the Eagles play like they have in most of the home games this season, those chants will start again. This team has a tendency to stop playing when things don’t go well. That can’t happen in this game. If they fall behind early, they have to remain focused and composed.

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The Philadelphia Eagles are clinging to hope against hope for an NFC East title. But those of us Eagles fans still hoping for the playoffs could have their hopes destroyed even before Philadelphia faces the New York Jets on Dec. 18. The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys both need to win before then to eliminate Philadelphia – and the Cowboys seem to have been dealt a break for their game on Dec. 17.

This has been a pretty rough time for Dallas after it blew its NFC East lead with two straight late, bitter defeats. Now the Giants are setting the pace in the division again, as the Cowboys will have to beat them on the road in the last week of the season to take the title. But if Dallas doesn’t stabilize itself soon and recover from their recent slump, the race could be over by then.

That makes it all the more fortunate for the Cowboys to just face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 17. Unlike Dallas’s last few opponents, Tampa Bay isn’t a playoff contender or a losing team that is starting to win again when it is too late for them. Instead, the Buccaneers are coming off a horrendous blowout loss on Dec. 11 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, of all teams, and are working on a seven-game losing streak.

Sadly, this is the club that the Eagles and Giants have to rely on to knock the Cowboys down even further. At this point, it seems that the only way the Buccaneers can win is if the opposition shoots itself in both foots. Fortunately, the Cowboys are experts at that, which is why they are 7-6 instead of 10-3 or 11-2 like they probably should be. Since Dallas keeps giving the rest of the NFC East new life, slipping up here and going deeper into a tailspin wouldn’t be out of character.

There is precedent for Tampa Bay to bail Philadelphia out, as it did in 2008 by losing its last game of the season to the then-lowly Oakland Raiders. With that improbable upset, the Eagles had an opening to clinch an even more improbable playoff berth – after throttling the Cowboys, of course. So maybe the Buccaneers can help the Eagles in another way by upsetting the Cowboys and keeping Philadelphia alive for at least one more week.

Of course, even if Tampa Bay upsets Dallas, New York would still need to lose to the 4-9 Washington Redskins on Dec. 18 to really help out – and then the Eagles still have to beat the New York Jets. A lot of unlikely dominos have to fall for Philadelphia this weekend, yet the most unlikely one is the first one where the Buccaneers upset the Cowboys. But if that actually happens, maybe the rest will fall into place the next day.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident who has followed the Eagles since he was eight years old.

Other stories by this contributor

Rex Ryan flirting with becoming next Andy Reid

McCoy, Jones-Drew wasting away career seasons

Jets on cue to have another slump?

Reid not only NFC East coach fighting for his job

Jets keep getting breaks in latest playoff run

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The Philadelphia Eagles will look for their second win in a row when they face the New York Jets on Sunday, December 18. The Eagles have never lost to the Jets in the eight times they met. However, circumstances are a little different this time around. New York is 8-5 and surging toward the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Eagles are 5-8 and looking to avoid their fifth loss in seven games. It seems like this is the kind of game the Eagles should lose. But as an Eagles fan, I have a feeling the team will win this game.

I’m not thinking about the playoffs. I know the Eagles are mathematically alive but there is a lot that needs to happen for this team to get there. For me, it is about finishing the season on a strong note. I realize that won’t erase the disappointment that has already happened. But after three more weeks it will be a while before I see the Eagles on the field again. I would like those games to be meaningful. This game would represent a huge win for Philadelphia. The Eagles are just 1-5 at home and it would be nice to treat the fans to a good effort.

There are many out there that wouldn’t mind seeing the Eagles tank the rest of the season so that Andy Reid is more likely to be fired. I’m not among those fans. For one thing, there is no guarantee that Reid will be fired even if the Eagles lose the rest of their games. I think that if the Eagles were going to fire Reid, they will do it no matter how the Eagles finish. For that reason, fans should keep on cheering for this team.

This should be a pretty interesting game. The Jets have a strong defense and usually play their best football this time of year. Meanwhile, the Eagles had their best defensive effort of the season in Week 14. They want to prove that that was no fluke. The Eagles should be able to get to Mark Sanchez enough to limit the New York attack. However, the real key to the game will be how the Philadelphia offense attacks. The Jets are vulnerable in certain areas and this feels like the kind of game where Reid’s game plan works.

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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Slow starts are a thing of the past for the suddenly clicking New York Jets.

Remember those brutally boring first quarters when they couldn’t get much going? Well, those are so four weeks ago.

Mark Sanchez and the once-struggling offense have become an efficient group that has gotten on the scoreboard early and often during the Jets’ three-game winning streak.

“I think we’re all just playing a lot better across the board,” Sanchez said.

And they’ve done it against some pretty good defenses. Here comes another one this Sunday: the Eagles, who are coming off a nine-sack performance against Miami and playing for their playoff lives in a season that has been filled with inconsistencies.

“It sounds awfully familiar to another team I know,” center Nick Mangold said with a slight grin.

Big things were expected from the Jets offense this season, particularly in the passing game with Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress. Instead, there were a few impressive spurts scattered throughout an early portion of a season marked mainly by spotty play by Sanchez, the offensive line, the running game, and the receivers.

New York is ranked 25th in overall offense, but the Jets are in a real groove offensively. They have 13 touchdowns in the last three games, which ties them with New Orleans, New England, and Green Bay – the top-ranked three offenses in the league – for the most in the NFL during that span.

“I don’t think our practices were quite as sharp as they’ve been lately, and I think that carries over to the game,” coach Rex Ryan said. “I think you see right now our team is feeling pretty good about themselves.”

It all started in the fourth quarter against Buffalo in Week 12, when Sanchez led the Jets to a 28-24, comeback victory over the Bills with a touchdown pass to Holmes with just over a minute left. New York followed that by scoring on its first possession against Washington and then dominating the Redskins in the fourth quarter with three touchdowns in less than five minutes for a 34-19 win.

Last Sunday against the Chiefs, the Jets rebounded from an embarrassing timeout on their first play from scrimmage by again scoring a touchdown on their first possession, and kept going while cruising to a 37-10 victory. While no one might confuse this offense for those of the Saints, Patriots, or Packers right now, it certainly has become a force during the team’s streak.

“I think hopefully we’re just starting to hit our stride, and we’re not there yet,” Sanchez said.

“I think you’re seeing, for the most part, consistent play out of the offense,” right guard Brandon Moore said. “It’s . . . coming to fruition.

The Philadelphia Eagles take on the New York Jets on Sunday, December 18. In what may come as a surprise to a lot of fans, the Eagles have never lost to the Jets. They hold an 8-0 record in the all-time series. As an Eagles fan, I would love for that trend to continue. The two teams have had some memorable games in their short series. Here is a look at some of the best games between the Eagles and the Jets.

October 3, 1993 – Eagles 35, Jets 30

This game was one of the best comebacks ever for the Eagles. The 3-0 Eagles fell behind 21-0 in the second quarter against the Jets. To make matters worse, the team lost Randall Cunningham to an injury. However, the Eagles seemed to finally find their inspiration near the end of the first half. The Eagles cut the lead to 21-14 at the break. After falling behind 28-14 in the third quarter, Philadelphia tied the game. A New York safety put the Jets on top 30-28. The final score came when Eric Allen intercepted a pass near the goal line and took it all the way back for a touchdown.

December 14, 1996 – Eagles 21, Jets 20

The Eagles were nearly embarrassed in this game. The 1-13 Jets were coached by former Philadelphia coach Rich Kotite and were a terrible team in 1996. However, they built a 20-7 lead in the fourth quarter against the 8-6 Eagles. Just when it looked like the Eagles would have to swallow a humiliating loss, Ty Detmer woke up. He threw two touchdown passes in the final frame to save his terrible game and help the Eagles win

December 9, 1973 – Eagles 24, Jets 23

Both of these teams were in the middle of the pack when they met for the first time in 1973. This game started a familiar trend in the series. The Eagles came back to win. New York held a 17-0 lead in the first half. The Eagles got back into the game when Roman Gabriel threw a pair of touchdown passes. The Eagles were still trailing 20-17 in the third quarter when John Outlaw returned an interception for a touchdown to give the Eagles a 24-20 lead. They held on to win in the fourth quarter.

December 20, 1987 – Eagles 38, Jets 27

This game featured a strong performance from Mike Quick. The Philadelphia receiver caught six passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Cunningham threw for 280 yards and three scores. Those offensive numbers outshined a decent effort from the defense. The Eagles had three sacks and forced three turnovers in the win.

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By Chris Celletti

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Dec 14, 2011 – Three straight wins, with some help from others around the National Football League, have launched the New York Jets into the final playoff spot with just three games left in the 2011 season. The goal is now crystal clear for Gang Green, win and in, and they really couldn’t have asked for much more when they were .500 having come off a brutal loss to the Denver Broncos. But the final three games for the Jets won’t be as easy as the past three, starting this week when they try to do something they haven’t done in the history of the franchise — beat the Philadelphia Eagles. The once-lauded “Dream Team” Eagles have stumbled to a 5-8 record, but looked quite good last week in dismantling the Miami Dolphins 26-10. They are still alive in the mediocre NFC East race, so they will be playing with desperation.

We’re also getting down to the nitty gritty of the fantasy football season, with playoffs in many leagues in full swing. If you have any Jets on your roster, here’s your primer on how to play them this week.

Start

RB – Shonn Greene – numberFire projection: 14.86 carries, 64.73 yards, 0.41 rushing TDs, 3.65 receptions, 25.66 rec. yards, 11.69 fantasy points

Greene has earned must-start status, finally, after his solid performances the past few weeks. Last week against the lifeless Kansas City Chiefs, Greene had his best overall day of the season, with 129 yards rushing (and a score) and 53 receiving yards. He’s improved leaps and bounds as a receiver out of the backfield, and I would expect the Jets to try more screens this week against an aggressive Eagles defense. It will also likely be a close game, meaning Greene will get a lot of touches.

QB – Mark Sanchez – numberFire projection: 17.35 completions, 202.12 yards, 1.00 TDs, 0.86 INTs, 12.61 fantasy points

Sanchez has been a solid fantasy quarterback this season. He’s thrown for 21 TDs against just 11 interceptions. He doesn’t put up huge yardage numbers, but the Jets are the NFL’s number one red zone team, so Sanchez is getting them in the end zone. He’s also been a threat rushing, as he has five run scores this season.

TE – Dustin Keller – numberFire projection: 3.71 receptions, 39.80 yards, 0.36 TDs, 6.14 fantasy points

The Jets have finally started to include Keller consistently in their game plan, and he’s received a lot of targets from Sanchez in the past few weeks. I would expect the Jets to be able to get Keller in mismatch situations against the Eagles and exploit them.

WR – Santonio Holmes – numberFire projection: 3.21 receptions, 55.13 yards, 0.30 TDs, 7.30 fantasy points

It’s been a statistically disappointing season for Holmes, who hasn’t had any real breakout games. I’m not sure if one will come this week going up against a talented Eagles’ secondary, but he has touchdown catches in three consecutive games. Hopefully that streak continues this week.

Sit

WR – Plaxico Burress – numberFire projection: 3.98 receptions, 47.76 yards, 0.26 TDs, 6.43 fantasy points

Burress had no catches last week against Kansas City, so its hard to say he should be an automatic start against the Eagles, who have a talented secondary. Maybe Burress is wearing down a bit late in the year after not playing football for two years prior to this season.

Jets Defense/Special Teams – numberFire projection: 20.22 points allowed, 2.74 sacks, 2.16 turnovers, 8.99 fantasy points

NumberFire seems to really like the Jets this week, ranking them as the number four projected defense. I have my reservations, as the Jets’ aren’t equipped to matchup with fast teams. I don’t think the Jets defense gets shredded, but I don’t think it’s a banner day, either.

Read More: Santonio Holmes (WR – NYJ), Plaxico Burress (WR – NYJ), Dustin Keller (TE – NYJ), Shonn Greene (RB – NYJ), Mark Sanchez (QB – NYJ), Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets got going in a hurry — for a change — and never stopped.

The Kansas City Chiefs? Well, this is one they’d like to quickly forget.

Sanchez threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more scores as the Jets kept pace in the AFC playoff race by cruising to a 37-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

The Jets, plagued by slow starts all season, scored 28 points in the first half and were helped by an inept Chiefs offense that managed just 4 total yards in the first two quarters.

Sanchez was 13 of 21 for 181 yards before being pulled for Mark Brunell with the game in hand, and was cheered warmly in pregame introductions after being booed in the team’s last home game two weeks ago. Shonn Greene had a season-high 129 yards rushing and a score, and Santonio Holmes and LaDainian Tomlinson each caught touchdown passes for the Jets (8-5), who have won three straight and improved to 6-1 at home.

It might have been a costly win, though, as starting safety Jim Leonhard was lost early with an injured right knee. There was no immediate word on the severity.

Tyler Palko was sacked five times by the Jets in a miserable outing by the penalty-plagued Chiefs (5-8) a week after the quarterback earned his first victory as a starter at Chicago. He was 3 for 8 for 11 yards in the half, sacked three times, and the Chiefs had 4 total yards and one first down, compared to the Jets’ 16. Palko had a much better second half, finishing 16 of 32 for 195 yards and a touchdown and an interception.

Dwayne Bowe dropped a would-be touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter, but things got ugly for the Chiefs way before that.

In the most brutal stretch for Kansas City, the Chiefs were penalized five times for 81 yards during the Jets’ final touchdown drive. One of those was an unsportsmanlike conduct call on coach Todd Haley, who let his frustrations out on the officials. Kansas City finished with 11 penalties.

Sanchez’s 1-yard run gave the Jets a score on their first drive, as New York got off to the type of quick start it has been lacking most of this season. But, it began ominously as Sanchez was forced to call a timeout — to loud boos from the fans at MetLife Stadium — before New York even ran a play because of some apparent confusion about which personnel should’ve been on the field.

The Jets rebounded nicely with an 11-play, 77-yard drive that was jumpstarted by Greene’s 31-yard rumble on the opening snap and helped by Patrick Turner’s 10-yard catch on third-and-4 from the Chiefs 40. On third-and-goal from the 3, Sanchez threw incomplete into the end zone, but Chiefs cornerback Javier Arenas was called for holding, giving the Jets a new set of downs at the 1.

Sanchez took the snap, faked the handoff to Greene and it appeared every Chiefs player bit as the Jets quarterback rolled to his left and strolled into the end zone untouched for his career-high fourth rushing touchdown of the season.

Ryan Succop’s 53-yard field goal with 4:36 left in the opening quarter made it 7-3.

Palko, starting again with newly signed Kyle Orton inactive with an injured right index finger, made a poor throw intended for Steve Breaston that Leonhard stepped in front of and picked off easily early in the second quarter. But, Breaston grabbed Leonhard for a twisting tackle on which the safety’s right knee was injured. Leonhard was helped to the sideline by two trainers, carted to the locker room and ruled out for the rest of the game.

On the next play, Sanchez, facing heavy pressure, dumped the ball off quickly to Greene, who zipped down the left sideline 36 yards before going out of bounds at the 2. After Tomlinson lost 2 yards on a run, Sanchez found Holmes in the middle of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown and a 14-3 lead with 10:02 left in the half.

Greene’s 7-yard touchdown run put New York ahead 21-3 with 3:56 remaining, after a called fumble was challenged by coach Rex Ryan and overturned by officials. Tomlinson had a 31-yard catch-and-run to get the Jets down to the Chiefs 13. Greene then took the handoff on the next play, scooted 6 yards, Tamba Hali knocked the ball loose, but the running back was ruled down. Greene rumbled up the middle on the next play and ran over a Chiefs defender on his way into the end zone.

Tomlinson made it 28-3 with 1:15 left in the half when he took a screen pass from Sanchez, made a few cutback moves and got a big block from center Nick Mangold for a 19-yard touchdown. It marked the first time the Jets scored 28 points in an opening half since scoring 40 against St. Louis in 2008.

Things started getting out of hand midway through the third quarter when the Chiefs were called for three straight penalties, including an unsportsmanlike conduct on an irate Haley, helping move the Jets all the way from their own 3 to the 43. A few plays later, Brandon Flowers and Kendrick Lewis were called for consecutive pass interference penalties, bringing the ball to the 4.

On third-and-goal, Sanchez took the snap and rolled into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown and a 35-3 lead.

One of the few highlights for the Chiefs came when Jerheme Urban caught a 24-yard touchdown pass — in between four Jets defenders — to make it 35-10 with under 13 minutes left.

Sione Pouha tackled Jackie Battle for a safety late in the game after T.J. Conley’s punt was downed at the 1.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

SIMON EVANS

The Houston Texans reached the National Football League (NFL) playoffs for the first time while the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots both edged closer to booking their spots in the post-season.

The Texans wrapped up the AFC South title with a 20-19 comeback victory at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday to secure their first playoff berth since joining the league in 2002.

Rookie quarterback T.J. Yates won the game for the Texans with a six yard touchdown pass to Kevin Walter with just two seconds left on the clock.

The conversion sealed Houston’s seventh straight victory and saw them join the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs after they both secured their positions last week.

New Orleans, Super Bowl champions two seasons back, clinched their fifth straight win after quarterback Drew Brees threw two fourth quarter touchdowns to Marques Colston as they won 22-17 at the Tennessee Titans.

Brees threw for 337 yards and his two touchdowns meant he had thrown for at least one touchdown in 40 consecutive games, a record bettered only by Johnny Unitas’ 47.

The NFC South leading Saints would be assured of their playoff spot later on Sunday if the Chicago Bears lost to the Denver Broncos.

The Atlanta Falcons kept up the chase in the NFC South after a 31-23 victory over the Carolina Panthers with quarterback Matt Ryan throwing for 320 yards and four touchdowns.

The New England Patriots were also hitting form at the right time, picking up a fifth successive win with a 34-27 triumph over the Washington Redskins, masterminded by quarterback Tom Brady, who threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to tight-end Rob Gronkowski.

The Patriots (10-3) led the AFC East ahead of the New York Jets (8-5) who enjoyed a 37-10 romp over Kansas City.

The Baltimore Ravens (10-3) took advantage of the woeful and winless Indianapolis Colts to record a 24-10 win and grab the joint leadership with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.

The Detroit Lions have struggled of late, losing five of their last seven games, but their hopes of playoff football remained alive after they scraped together a 34-28 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

In the final seconds, Minnesota had a great chance to win but their back-up quarterback Joe Webb fumbled on first and goal and the ball was recovered by Lions defensive end Cliff Avril.

– Reuters

By Jared Smith

– College Sports Writer

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Dec 11, 2011 – This Week 14 NFL match up features two franchises headed in opposite directions, as the New York Jets hosts Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. The Jets (7-5) are trying to stay alive in the AFC playoff race, which currently has them on the outside looking in, while the Chiefs (5-7) are looking for a way to finish their season above. 500.

New York hopes of winning the AFC East Division are all but over, as the New England Patriots (9-3) have a full two-game lead over the Jets in the standings. Meanwhile, there still is a slight chance that Kansas City can win the AFC West, but it will need to probably win their next four games to do so.

For those fans who would like to catch the game, here’s the game’s location, game time, television schedule and radio streams:

Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Game time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Television broadcast: CBS — Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Dan Fouts (color commentary)
DirectTV: 706
Redskin radio: 101 The Fox
Jets radio: 1050 ESPN
Point spread: New York is 10 1/2-point favorites

For more Jets coverage, visit our team page, or our blog Gang Green Nation.

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LANDOVER, Md. — Another shaky performance for three quarters by Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets. And then, another fourth-quarter comeback.

Sanchez hit Santonio Holmes for a 30-yard touchdown pass with 4:49 to play Sunday, and Shonn Greene added a pair of insurance scores to give the Jets a 34-19 win over the Washington Redskins, keeping New York in the realistic hunt for an AFC playoff berth

It was Sanchez’s 10th career fourth-quarter comeback or overtime victory, including the playoffs, and his second in as many weeks. The Jets (7-5) scraped by the Buffalo Bills last Sunday, the first step in the team’s stated mission to win out and make the postseason for a third straight year.

But the playoff surge machine again looked more like a combustion engine missing a few spark plugs as coach Rex Ryan’s team pulled off another mistake-filled win. New York had only 168 total yards after three quarters, committed untimely penalties and had another special teams turnover against the Redskins (4-8), who have lost seven of eight.

Sanchez completed 19 of 32 passes for 165 yards and avoided throwing an interception after having at least one in five straight games. Greene ran for 88 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries.

Rex Grossman hit 19 of 46 passes for 221 yards and one interception for the Redskins, and his fumble while being sacked by Aaron Maybin deep in his own territory with the score 20-16 thwarted his own chance for a fourth-quarter comeback. Calvin Pace recovered, and Greene took a direct snap and scored on a 9-yard run two plays later to give the Jets an 11-point lead.

Graham Gano’s fourth field goal, a 43-yarder with 1:59 to play, pulled the Redskins within eight. Washington then failed to recover an onside kick, and Greene scooted in from 25 yards with 1:47 remaining.

The Jets trailed 16-13 after Gano’s 46-yard field goal with 7:52 to go, but a short kickoff was returned by Josh Baker near midfield. Sanchez and the New York offense then came back to life, with the quarterback scrambling to avoid pressure before completing a 10-yard pass to Greene on a third-and-4 two plays before the big throw to Holmes down the left sideline.

Both offenses started strong. After failing to score a touchdown on their opening drive in any of their first 10 games, the Redskins got one for the second straight week. A 42-yard pass to Fred Davis (99 yards on six catches) led to a 2-yard run by rookie Roy Helu, who rushed for 100 yards for the second straight week.

The Jets responded with a real clock-eater: 17 plays, 74 yards over 9:06, including three wildcat plays and a fourth-and-1 conversion. LaDainian Tomlinson was hurt along the way, apparently reinjuring his left knee on a tackle-from-behind by safety Oshiomogho Atogwe. Tomlinson missed the previous two games with an ailing left knee and didn’t start the game. Greene finished the drive a 1-yard touchdown run.

After the teams traded field goals, rookie Jeremy Kerley muffed a punt deep in New York territory and the Redskins recovered — the NFL-high sixth special teams turnover committed by the Jets this season. It set up another field goal by Gano to give Washington a 13-10 lead at the half.

Jim Leonhard, replacing Kerley as the return man, ran back a punt 14 yards in the third quarter to get the Jets in Washington territory. Nick Folk then tied it at 13 with a season-high 51-yard field goal.

The Jets had a chance to take the lead after forcing Helu to fumble — a call that needed a replay challenge by Ryan. New York took over at Washington’s 29 but went nowhere, and Folk pushed a 40-yard field-goal attempt wide right.