News
Nick Folk kicks Gang past Cowboys, 27-24, on 9/11
12 Sep 11
NY Daily News
By: Manish Mehta
On an emotional night tinged with reflection, patriotism and strength, the Jets delivered a wild come-from-behind win that won't soon be forgotten. Nick Folk drilled a 50-yard field goal with 27 seconds to go to help the Jets rally from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to pull out an improbable 27-24 win over the Cowboys in the Meadowlands Sunday night.
Rex Ryan admitted he felt more pressure in the run-up to the season opener on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks than other game in his career. In the end, his team delivered. "We played far from a perfect game - not even close," Ryan said. "We tried to harness all the emotion we were feeling and turn it into passion. We just kept thinking momentum is coming our way and sure enough it did."
BOX SCORE: JETS 27, COWBOYS 24
Thanks to a string of pivotal fourth-quarter plays like Jim Leonhard's hustle move that prevented a long touchdown pass, Mike DeVito's forced fumble that kept the Jets within striking distance, Joe McKnight's blocked punt and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine's play call that resulted in Darrelle Revis' interception to set up the game-winning field goal, the Jets went home winners.
"When things hit the fan, you lean on your experience," linebacker Bart Scott said. "Our experience tell us that it's never over until the last tick."
Gang Green overcame a sluggish start and a pair of second-half turnovers by Mark Sanchez, who went 26-for-44 for 335 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, to pull it out. Sanchez & Co. fell behind 10-0 before drawing to within 10-7 at halftime on Sanchez's 4-yard touchdown to Dustin Keller.
After the Cowboys widened their lead to 17-7 when Miles Austin wrestled the ball away from Antonio Cromartie in the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown grab midway through the third quarter, the Jets responded with a scoring drive of their own capped by Folk's 34-yard field goal with four minutes remaining in the third. But Sanchez made a critical turnover on the final play of the quarter when he was picked off by Sean Lee on a pass intended for Keller. Lee brought it back 37 yards to the 1. Felix Jones took it in from there on the second play of the fourth quarter to give the Cowboys a 24-10 lead.
Then, it really got crazy.
The Jets cut the deficit to 24-17 on Plaxico Burress' 26-yard touchdown reception with 11:56 to go. On the Cowboys' ensuing drive, Romo found Jason Witten for a 64-yard hookup. The Cowboys' tight end was chased down by Leonhard at the 3.
"If they score there," Scott said, "I think the game is over."
