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Jets use late surge to soar past Redskins

Dec 4, 2011 - 11:53 PM Landover, MD (Sports Network) - Shonn Greene carried the ball 22 times for 88 yards and three touchdowns, including two scores late in the fourth quarter, to help the New York Jets beat the Washington Redskins, 34-19.

Mark Sanchez completed 19-of-32 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown for the Jets (7-5), who remain two games back of first-place New England in the AFC East.

Rookie Roy Helu carried the ball 23 times for 100 yards and a touchdown for the Redskins (4-8), who have lost seven of eight since the starting the season with a 3-1 mark. Helu also caught four passes for 42 yards.

Rex Grossman connected on 19-of-46 passes for 221 yards and an interception in defeat.

"We couldn't get much going on offense," Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan said. "It's hard to win the football game when you finish like we did."

Trailing by three, 16-13, midway through the fourth quarter, Josh Baker recorded a 29-yard kickoff return to give New York the ball near midfield. Faced with a 3rd-and-4, Sanchez hooked up with Greene for 10 yards. Two plays later, Santonio Holmes went on a slant route down the left sideline. Sanchez used a nice pump-fake before lofting a perfect pass to Holmes for a 30-yard score and 20-16 lead with 4:49 to go.

Grossman was then sacked and fumbled the football. Greene took a direct snap and ran nine yards into the end zone to make it 27-16 with 3:42 remaining.

After Graham Gano made a 43-yard field goal, the Redskins tried an onside kick. The Jets got the ball and Greene sprinted 25 yards into the end zone for a 34-19 margin with 1:47 to play.

Grossman threw an interception in the final minute.

"It tells us we have to get better because sometimes you don't like it to come down to that" Jets head coach Rex Ryan said. "But it also tells us about the character and guts of this football team."

The Redskins got the ball to start the game and marched right down the field. Helu touched the football three straight times before a wide-open Fred Davis caught a 42-yard pass down the left sideline. Helu carried the ball two more times to put the ball at the two. Following an incomplete pass, Helu rumbled into the end zone for an early 7-0 lead.

New York responded with an impressive 17-play, 74-yard scoring drive that lasted over nine minutes. The Jets converted two third downs and one fourth down on the march to move the ball to the one. Greene then plunged into the end zone to make it 7-7.

Washington used Helu to move the ball down the field again. The home team had a first down at the 17, but gained just two yards over the next three plays. Gano made a 33-yard field goal for a 10-7 edge with 11:32 left in the second quarter.

The Jets got a 45-yard field goal from Nick Folk with 3:06 left to make it 10-10.

Washington was forced to punt the ball away, but Jeremy Kerley fumbled on the return. The Redskins fell on the ball at the 18, but only got a 23-yard Gano field goal.

Following multiple punts to start the second half, New York took over at the Washington 47. The Jets got the ball to the 33 before settling for a 51-yard Folk field goal with 6:36 left in the third quarter.

New York's defense then came up with a big play on the second play of the ensuing possession. Helu was stripped by Marcus Dixon and Eric Smith recovered for the Jets at the 29. But Folk went on to miss a 40-yard field goal.

The Redskins had great field position early in the fourth following a short punt and 20-yard return by Brandon Banks. Washington started at the New York 31, but gained just three yards. Gano made a 46-yarder for a 16-13 edge with 7:52 remaining.

Game Notes

The Redskins lead the all-time series by an 8-2 margin. Sunday's win was New York's first victory in the series since a 3-0 win on December 11, 1993...Greene became the first Jet to rush for three TDs since Thomas Jones vs. the Rams in 2008...New York defensive lineman Mike DeVito missed the game...Washington was without safety LaRon Landry...The Jets improved to 2-4 on the road this season...Davis caught six passes for 99 yards...Sanchez led the Jets to his 10th fourth-quarter comeback or overtime victory of his career.