As crazy as it seems, the New York Jets still entered Monday night’s game against the Tennessee Titans with a chance to backdoor their way into the playoffs.
Now those hopes are mercifully gone.
Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez threw four interceptions and lost a fumble late as the Jets fell to the Titans 14-10 on Monday night.
The Jets’ (6-8) quarterback situation continues to be an absolute disaster as Sanchez was completely erratic once again. Sanchez completed just 13 of 28 passes for 131 yards. He was intercepted four times, twice by Jason McCourty and twice by Michael Griffin. Sanchez has now thrown ten interceptions in the Jets last four games.
Jets quarterback Tim Tebow was finally given a full series at quarterback in the second quarter. It went pretty much as expected. After running 12 yards for a first down, Tebow carried for one yard, was sacked, took a delay of game penalty and misfired on a pass to Jeremy Kerley to force a Jets punt.
With the Titans (5-9) backed up on their own 6-yard line, running back Chris Johnson took a carry over left guard and broke free into the secondary. He out-raced safety Yeremiah Bell for a 94-yard touchdown to give Tennessee a 7-3 lead. It’s the second 90-plus yard touchdown run of Johnson’s career and sixth touchdown run of 80 yards or more.
The Jets forced a punt with Tennessee backed up deep in their own end that gave New York great field position at the Titans 35-yard line. Four plays later, Sanchez hit tight end Jeff Cumberland for a 17-yard touchdown to take a 10-7 lead.
The lead was short-lived. Jake Locker led the Titans on a seven-play scoring drive on the ensuing possession to retake the lead. Locker scored on a 13-yard run on a sweep around left end to give Tennessee a 14-10 lead.
Yet Sanchez still had two more chances to keep the Jets miniscule playoff hopes alive. The Jets drove to the edge of the Titans red zone before Sanchez threw another backbreaking interception. Sanchez double-clutched and threw weakly down the seam and was intercepted again by Griffin.
A shanked 19-yard punt by Brett Kern gave New York another opportunity with less than a minute and the ball at the Tennessee 25-yard line. This time Sanchez fumbled the snap and Tennessee recovered to end the game.
Johnson finished with 122 yards on 21 carries for the Titans. Locker was 13 of 22 for 149 yards and rushed seven times for 43 yards and a touchdown.
In his first game back in New York, wide receiver Braylon Edwards caught three passes for 47 yards.