Marshall’s biggest catch of the game – a nine-yard touchdown grab in traffic – tied the game 20-20 with 27 seconds left in regulation. Two plays later, he after threw to Brandon Marshall for a tying touchdown. Had the team kicked a field goal, they would have had a 13-point lead and the Jets would be forced to drive for two touchdowns as opposed to a touchdown and a field goal. “I thought we did a great job today keeping our poise in the second half, not having a lot of possessions on offense but taking advantage at the end and making plays”. With that return, Harris became the third Giants player in franchise history, and the first since Jimmy Patton in 1955, to record touchdowns on both a punt return and kickoff return. But quarterback Eli Manning handled that situation – and the pressure of an oncoming Jets rush – as poorly as he could.
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The Jets won the overtime coin toss and Fitzpatrick led the Jets to the Giants 13, where Randy Bullock made the field goal that ended up winning the game and extending Fitzpatrick and Marshall’s quest for that elusive playoff berth. “So to come out in a meaningful game, for them to get it done in the fourth quarter, we obviously learned some things”.
“It was never about the Battle of NY”, said Jets safety Rontez Miles, who thwarted a potential fourth-quarter scoring drive by the Giants with a Manning interception at the Jets’ 4. They couldn’t punch it in and had to settle for the field goal from 31 yards out. However, the same can’t be said of the rest of the Giants receivers, whose numbers pale by comparison to Beckham’s stats.
Blaine Gabbert rushed for a 44-yard touchdown to level the scores with less than two minutes remaining and, after Robbie Gould badly missed a field goal to win it for Chicago (5-7), Gabbert hit Torrey Smith for a 71-yard game-winner.
“A loss is a loss”, said Beckham, who had six catches for 149 yards, including another one-hander.
The Goats: The Giants couldn’t stop the pass, specifically the underneath screens.
The Buffalo Bills stayed alive in the AFC wildcard race with a 30-21 win over the Houston Texans that included three Tyrod Taylor touchdown passes.
Even so, they were comfortably up 20-10 when Coughlin faced the crucial fourth-down decision.
The relevant injury news surrounding this game is that Darrelle Revis has been ruled out with a concussion.
If you are a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, you were hoping for a loss by the New York Jets on Sunday. “It’s tough to put your defense in that position and I feel like we could have done more in that second half, for sure”. Jets DE Mike Catapano (foot) left in the second quarter…. “Fourth quarter in overtime getting to be out there with the guys”. The Giants lost LT Ereck Flowers early in the third quarter to a left ankle sprain…. He looked to be in severe pain afterward and was eventually carted to the locker room. PROBABLE: DE Robert Ayers Jr. His looked like a neck/shoulder issue.
Buck Allen had 170 all-purpose yards for the Ravens (4-8) and scored on a 41-yard pass from Schaub, but that was their only touchdown of the game and Justin Tucker missed a field goal that would have put Baltimore in front less than three minutes from time. Moore came back, but was shaken up again a short time later due to asthma symptoms.
-S Calvin Pryor suffered a stinger, but is not believed to be in jeopardy of missing next week’s game against Tennessee.
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With this 23-20 overtime win, in which they overcame a 20-10 halftime deficit, the Jets cemented themselves as a wild-card contender.
