Jets Defeat Panthers 17-6 at Meadowlands Sunday

The New York Jets defeated the Carolina Panthers at home in front of a loud and happy crowd Sunday. It was a must win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. I don’t know if Jet CB Darrelle Revis is becoming a true shutdown corner, or if Panther QB Jake Delhomme has become truly horrible quarterback. He was a very good QB for years but looked absolutely terrible yesterday and all season. Revis had two interceptions with one that was picked and run back for a 67 yard touchdown down the right sideline. That was the Jets first score and got the crowd into it. The Panthers only ran for 67 yards as a team and Delhomme threw 4 interceptions on the day. The difference was the Jets scoring 2 touchdowns off of Panther turnovers and the Panthers only scoring 1 field goal off of Jet turnovers. Jet QB Mark Sanchez managed well and went 13 of 17 for 154 yards with 1 interception. He also ran the ball 3 times for 27 yards. Sanchez found his TE Dustin Keller, who had 4 catches for a team high 68 yards with 1 fumble. WR Braylon Edwards had 3 catches for 40 yards. RB Thomas Jones led the charge, carrying the ball 25 times for 75 yards with 1 touchdown. Rookie RB Shonn Greene had 10 carries for 36 yards and 1 fumble. WRs David Clowney and Brad Smith looked good on kickoff returns but the Jets sorely miss Leon Washington. The Panthers anemic offense could only muster 11 first downs against the Jets defense and held All-Pro WR Steve Smith to 1 catch for 5 yards. On one play to left corner of the end zone Smith made a beautiful catch that was called a touchdown on the field, but play was challenged by Jet head coach Rex Ryan and was overturned. Smith fell out of bounds as he came down on his back. The Jets defense came up big all game long, especially FS Kerry Rhodes. Rhodes had the other two Jet interceptions of Delhomme and had something to prove to Ryan and his teammates. Ryan didn’t start Rhodes who’s looked lazy this season and has missed routines tackles. Yesterday was hopefully the turning point for him. The Jets shuffle off to Buffalo this Thursday night for a division game against the Bills.