NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Chris Johnson went 94 yards for the longest touchdown run in the NFL since 2006, and the Tennessee Titans beat the New York Jets 14-10 on Monday night to eliminate New York from postseason contention.
Jake Locker’s first touchdown run of the season put Tennessee ahead to stay late in the third quarter, and the Titans intercepted four passes by Sanchez to snap a three game skid.
After bumbling around all night, the Jets somehow still had a chance to win when they took over at the Tennessee 25 with 47 seconds left following a 19-yard punt by Brett Kern. But Mark Sanchez fumbled a low shotgun snap, Bilal Powell inadvertently kicked the ball away and the Titans recovered to seal it.
It was a fitting end to a game that left New York Coach Rex Ryan cursing to himself as he walked off the field. Sanchez finished with five turnovers - one on each of his team’s final three possessions - and has 24 this season.
The Jets (6-8) needed to win their final three games and get help elsewhere to earn a playoff spot. Instead, the Titans sacked Sanchez three times and also got one against Tim Tebow. Jason McCourty and Michael Griffin each had two interceptions, keeping the Jets out of the playoffs for a second consecutive season after reaching consecutive AFC title games.
Johnson, with the names of the victims of Friday’s shootings in Connecticut written on his cleats, ran a franchise record 94 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Locker’s 13-yard quarterback keeper around left end put the Titans (5-9) ahead with 20 seconds left in the third.
Griffin intercepted Sanchez with 7:09 left on a pass intended for Braylon Edwards.On the next drive, the Jets got help from a personal foul when Titans linebacker Will Witherspoon hit Sanchez in the head with his helmet on third-and-4. A couple of plays later, Sanchez threw into triple coverage for Jeff Cumberland, and Griffin picked off Sanchez again with 1:51 left at the Titans 2.
Even with the offensive struggles, the Jets’ defense gave New York one final chance after forcing Tennessee to punt.
Kern had his 19-yarder under pressure, giving New York the ball at the Tennessee 25. But Sanchez couldn’t corral a low snap from center Nick Mangold, and Titans rookie linebacker Zach Brown recovered to finally clinch Tennessee’s victory.
Sanchez struggled all night long, and he finished with his most interceptions in a game since 2009.
The Jets even turned to Tebow for a complete series in the second quarter. They picked up two first downs and reached their 44, but the drive stalled from there after a sack, a delay-of-game penalty and an incompletion.
Sanchez put the Jets ahead 10-7 with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Cumberland with 3:19 left in the third quarter.
The Titans led 7-3 at halftime after Johnson’s long run in the second quarter.
MONDAY’S GAME
Tennessee 14, NY Jets 10
SATURDAY’S GAMES All times Central
Atlanta at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY’S GAMES
Tennessee at Green Bay, noon Indianapolis at Kansas City, noon New Orleans at Dallas, noon Minnesota at Houston, noon Oakland at Carolina, noon Buffalo at Miami, noon Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, noon New England at Jacksonville, noon Washington at Philadelphia, noon St. Louis at Tampa Bay, noon San Diego at NY Jets, noon Cleveland at Denver, 3:05 p.m.
Chicago at Arizona, 3:25 p.m.
NY Giants at Baltimore, 3:25 p.m.
San Francisco at Seattle, 7:20 p.m.
Sports, Pages 22 on 12/18/2012