Jets coach Rex Ryan emerged from the visiting locker room at Invesco Field at Mile High feeling fortunate. He said he was lucky to have a team good enough to overcome three turnovers, and he was lucky enough to get two big breaks in the final 90 seconds of the game.
“It could be debatable,” Ryan said of the Jets’ come-from-behind 24-20 victory over the Broncos, “but we don’t care.”
The Jets (5-1) aren’t used to winning after losing the turnover margin, but they found a way Sunday after quarterback Mark Sanchez was intercepted twice and wide receiver Santonio Holmes ended another drive by fumbling.
New York entered Sunday with zero turnovers in its past four games, tying an NFL record. Sanchez, however, nearly threw two interceptions on the Jets’ first drive, before eventually being intercepted by Broncos linebacker Jason Hunter and cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson.
“Mark knew we would need him to make some plays and he kept at it,” said Jets veteran running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who produced the game’s final two touchdowns on runs of 20 and 2 yards. “He battled all day long. Things weren’t perfect for him, but as a quarterback things are never perfect. He showed a lot of poise, why he’s the leader of this team and just resilient — a resilient guy we love to battle for.”
Sanchez finished with 198 yards passing and led the Jets on the 80-yard, game-winning drive that featured a pass interference penalty on the Broncos’ that gave New York a first-and-goal at Denver’s 2-yard line with 1:26 to play.
Tomlinson’s ensuing 2-yard run made it 24-20, and the Broncos fumbled a shotgun snap in the final minute to end the game.
“They brought it,” Sanchez said of the Broncos. “My hats off to them, but it just wasn’t enough. We played well down the stretch.
“Really poor first half on my part, taking care of the ball. First (interception) was a terrible decision and the second one, we were already in field-goal range, and if I could take it back I wish we would have called a run.”
Ryan didn’t want to talk hindsight. He just wanted to move ahead, into the bye week, with a 5-1 team.
“This is a great win for us,” he said. “We never had our best game. We turned the ball over. They ran the ball more effectively that we would have liked, but at the end of the day it’s a Jet victory and we’ll take, it.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
