Chad Pennington played pretty well this time but his performance wasn’t enough to avoid yet another loss. The Jets failed to protect a 13-point lead in the second half and fell to the Cincinnati Bengals, 38-31.
The Gang Green got off to a flying start when just on the third Jets’ play from scrimmage Pennington connected with WR Laveranues Coles on a 57-yard touchdown strike. The Bengals responded on the ensuing possession with a 20-yard field goal.
In the second quarter the Jets extended their lead back to seven points when PK Mike Nugent converted a 24-yard field goal attempt, 10-3. The field goal culminated a 15-play drive that lasted over nine minutes. Two plays later CB Hank Poteat made an interception inside Cincinnati’s territory, giving the offense an excellent opportunity to increase the gap. Pennington and Co., however, went three and out and had to settle for another field goal. Nugent kicked a 35-yarder and the score became 13-3. Later in the quarter the Bengals scored a touchdown but the Jets’ 2-minute offense immediately answered. Pennington threw a pass to Coles who broke a few tackles and scored a 36-yard touchdown, 20-10.
The Jets extended their lead to 23-10 early in the second half when Nugent converted another field goal attempt on the opening drive. Cincinnati, trailing by 13 points, became moving the ball on the ground and the Jets’ defense once again proved to be too soft to hold against a powerful running attack. Rookie CB Darrelle Revis was called for pass interference on a crucial 3rd and 11 inside the Jets’ territory. The Bengals scored four plays later, 23-17. The drive lasted over seven minutes but exhausted Jets’ defense would have to go back on the field just a few minutes later as the suddenly flat offense quickly went three and out.
As the final quarter began, the Bengals continued to move the ball on the ground against the tired Jets’ defenders. When running game failed, rookie Revis came to the ‘rescue’ again with another pass interference penalty. This time his foul put Cincinnati on the 1-yard line and they followed with another score, 24-23. On the next possession Pennington fumbled a snap when he was calling a play in the shotgun formation when the ball was snapped. The Bengals scored again, 31-23. Two possessions later, while possibly driving for a game-tying score, Pennington’s pass to Coles was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. The Jets then scored on the last play from scrimmage when Pennington threw a hail-mary into the end zone that was caught by WR Jerricho Cotchery. RB Leon Washington caught a pass on the 2-point conversion, making the final score 38-31.
The Jets fell to an embarrassing 1-6 and will host the Buffalo Bills (2-4) next Sunday at the Meadowlands. The kickoff is at 4:05 PM EST.