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Cutler, Broncos cool off Jets

Dec 1, 2008 - 3:03 AM By Joe Rizzo PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Despite a driving rainstorm with miserable 40-degree temperatures, the Denver Broncos are glad they bothered to get off their plane - even if many of them have to limp to get back on it.

Jay Cutler threw for 357 yards and two touchdowns and rookie Peyton Hillis ran for 129 yards and a score Sunday to lead the injury-ravaged Broncos to a 34-17 victory over the New York Jets in a battle of first-place teams.

Perhaps inspired by media comments and fan behavior, the undermanned Broncos were able to hold off the Jets.

"What really got me was one of the ESPN analysts said we shouldn't have even gotten off the plane," Hillis said.

Denver receiver Brandon Marshall said the the Broncos were motivated after Jets' fans cheered when Denver players went down with injuries.

"We took it personal," said Marshall, who had 55 yards on five catches. "There were some things that rubbed us the wrong way. It didn't help when they booed guys being down. I don't care how many guys (it happens to). I would like to thank the Jet fans for booing when our guys were down."

Denver already was missing Champ Bailey, Marlon McCree, Nate Webster and D.J. Williams on defense, then watched as Dre' Bly, Spencer Larsen, Josh Shaw, Ebenezer Ekubanan and Marquand Manuel suffered injuries and miss at least a few plays.

"I was just hoping guys were temporarily hurt," said Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, who noted that only Shaw's elbow injury appeared to be serious. "When Dre' went down I said, 'Gee, what do we have left?' "

On one series in the third quarter, the Jets' Brett Favre completed three straight passes to running back Leon Washington to move the ball 60 yards to the Broncos 7-yard line and set up Jay Feely's 30-yard field goal that closed it to 27-17.

After each of the passes to Washington, Larsen, Ekuban and Bly all were respectively injured. As Bly lay prone near his own goal line, frustrated Jets fans began to boo, perhaps thinking Broncos players were feigning injury to stall New York's momentum.

"Anything that's bothering you, you just stay on the ground," said Bly, a 10-year veteran. "Don't try to be Superman."

Cutler completed 27-of-43 passes with an interception and Hillis carried 22 times as the Broncos improved to 7-5.

"Jay embraced throwing in the rain, he liked it," Shanahan said. "He'd rather play in that than in 40- or 50-mile-per-hour winds."

"Liked might be too strong a word," Cutler said. "But I did not mind it. I think it has a lot to do with mind-set."

Despite their modest record, the Broncos have a stranglehold on the AFC West, leading by the San Diego Chargers by three games with four remaining. Their three straight road wins all have come in the East.

"We just have to do our part and control what we can," Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil said. "It's a good feeling to be in the driver's seat."

Thomas Jones carried 16 times for 138 yards and two TDs for the Jets (8-4), who missed a chance to pull away in the AFC East. New York is one game ahead of the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.

The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Jets, who had been riding high after last week's 34-13 road wipeout of the previously unbeaten Tennessee Titans.

"It's disappointing to lose a game, regardless," Washington said. "One thing we try to talk about all week long is not taking the gas that everyone is trying to give to us: 'Oh the Jets are great, we're the best team to ever play this game.' It was good to get that humble pie after Thanksgiving."

A captivating first half featured a 50-minute first quarter, two touchdowns that seemingly should not have been allowed, four scores of 20 or more yards, a 100-yard rusher and 41 points.

One of the highlights in the first half was a 59-yard run by Jones, the longest of his career.

Jones scored a TD in six straight games and went over the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth straight season overall and second as a Jet.

But just three plays later, Cutler put the Broncos ahead to stay with a 59-yard TD strike to Eddie Royal that made it 14-7 just 8:16 into the game.

Royal, who caught five passes for 84 yards, leads NFL rookies with five scoring receptions.

The Jets closed the gap to 17-14, but the Broncos increased their lead to 27-14 at the half when Hillis bulled in from the 1 with 4:29 remaining and Matt Prater banged home a 35-yard field goal three seconds before the intermission.

Denver iced it with 9:26 left when Cutler connected with Brandon Stokley for a 36-yard touchdown.