A: 77,513; T: 2:53.
Game
Story
DETROIT 10, NY JETS 7
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EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- James Stewart carried
the Detroit Lions on his back all afternoon and found a way to
let one of his offensive linemen share in the glory.
Stewart ran for a career-best 164 yards and his fourth-quarter
fumble was recovered in the end zone by right guard Jeff
Hartings for the go-ahead score as the Detroit Lions kept their
playoff hopes alive with a 10-7 victory over the New York Jets.
The Lions received an early Christmas gift from John Hall, who
missed a 35-yard field goal attempt with nine seconds left to
send the Jets to their second straight loss. The Jets (9-6)
still control their own playoff destiny, but close their regular
season with a difficult game at Baltimore next week.
The Jets will also face the Ravens without star linebacker Bryan
Cox, who broke his right leg in the second quarter and is lost
for the season.
Detroit (9-6) will return home to play Chicago next week with
renewed hope thanks to Stewart, who carried 37 times on a field
slowed by heavy rain and went over the 1,000-yard mark for the
first time in his six-year career.
"I have to take my hat off to the offensive linemen. We put it
all together today," said Stewart, the former Tennessee star who
has battled injuries throughout his career. "To finally get to
1,000 yards and to stay healthy all year is something I'm very
thankful for."
The Lions won for the third time in five games since Gary
Moeller took over for Bobby Ross as coach. Two of those wins
came at Giants Stadium, including a 31-21 decision over the
Giants on November 19.
"I love this city," said Moeller, a former coach at the
University of Michigan. "Football is football, whether you play
in elementary school or the NFL."
The Lions defense bottled up Curtis Martin, who was held to 52
yards on 16 carries, his second straight subpar effort since a
203-yard effort against Indianapolis two weeks ago. He had 11
yards on 17 carries last week at Oakland.
Detroit forced a pivotal turnover when linebacker Stephen Boyd
intercepted a pass from Vinny Testaverde near midfield with 4:28
left. The Lions had failed to convert on a fourth-down play
just seconds earlier.
Stewart had a 20-yard run and quarterback Charlie Batch
scrambled for nine more to help the Lions move the ball to the
Jets 1. Stewart went over right tackle and fumbled, with the
ball squirting into the end zone. An alert Hartings jumped on
the ball for his first career touchdown to give the Lions the
10-7 lead.
"Never had one before. Maybe in my backyard," joked Hartings, a
five-year pro from Penn State. "But it was a wet day, and we
knew there might be some fumbles, and we pride ourselves on
being ready to pounce on anything."
The touchdown made amends for a nine-minute drive in the first
half that ended when Stewart was stopped at the goal line on
fourth down by linebacker Dwayne Gordon.
New York had two more possessions, and moved downfield on the
final drive with the help of a 22-yard pass from Testaverde to
rookie Windrell Hayes. Kicking into a stiff wind, Hall missed
wide left for the second time in the game after failing on a
47-yarder late in the first half.
"I'm going to take it like a man. With success comes failure,"
Hall said.
Testaverde completed 21-of-36 passes for 194 yards, and it was
his 22nd interception of the season that proved the most costly.
"It's my job to make sure that was a safe throw. I'll take
responsibility for it," said Testaverde. "We have our chances.
We could have gotten closer and not put (Hall) in such a tough
spot."
A 27-yard interception return by safety Victor Green set up the
lone Jets' score, a one-yard run by Martin in the first quarter.
A 35-yard punt by Tom Tupa pinned the Lions at their own 1-yard
line and Green, who was snubbed for the Pro Bowl, intercepted a
pass that was badly overthrown by Charlie Batch.
It was his career-high sixth interception of the season for
Green and Martin went into the end zone on the next play. Martin
has nine rushing touchdowns, the most by a Jet since Brad Baxter
had 11 in 1991.
The Lions finally scored on a 35-yard field goal by Jason Hanson
midway through the third quarter. Batch set up the score with a
28-yard pass to Johnnie Morton and a 32-yard screen pass to
Stewart.
Batch completed just 8-of-18 passes for 110 yards.
While the game was officially a sellout, thousands of fans
stayed away due to the inclement weather. Among those who did
show up was Jets director of football operations Bill Parcells,
the former coach who has stayed from games so as to not create a
distraction.