EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Nailbiting, racing hearts and stunning comebacks.
They’re all in the playbook lately for the New York Jets.
Santonio Holmes caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez with 10 seconds left, lifting the Jets to an unlikely 30-27 comeback victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
“I want to apologize to all the Jets fans for affecting the heart a little bit,” coach Rex Ryan said. “But we’ll take the win.”
Especially since it appeared the Jets were on their way to a loss.
“We tick ourselves off when we put ourselves in those situations, but we know that we’re always capable of coming back in any game in any situation,” tight end Dustin Keller said.
They’ve certainly proved that during the last three weeks with consecutive overtime wins on the road and now a victory that appeared improbable.
“I swear it’s like ‘Groundhog Day,’ ” a beaming Sanchez said.
After blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Jets (8-2) trailed 27-23 with less than a minute left. But Sanchez completed two passes to LaDainian Tomlinson and then had a pretty 42-yard toss to Braylon Edwards with 16 seconds remaining.
Edwards was knocked out of bounds by Eugene Wilson, stopping the clock and giving the Jets a chance to win.
On the next play, Sanchez coolly found Holmes streaking into the left corner of the end zone for the winning score, sending the New Meadowlands Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
A video replay confirmed that Holmes, whose 37-yard touchdown catch won it in overtime at Cleveland last week and set up the win at Detroit with a 52-yard reception in OT, got both feet inbounds.
“We’re cutting it awfully close,” Sanchez said. “I don’t think anybody has any fingernails left if they’re a Jets fan.”
The Jets were coming off becoming the first team to win consecutive overtime games on the road, and looked as though they were going to fall to 2-3 at home.
But it was another heartbreaking loss for the Texans (4-6), who fell last week on a desperation heave as time expired at Jacksonville. Two weeks ago, Houston lost to San Diego on a late interception after driving for a potential go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.
“We deserve better in these last three games,” Texans defensive end Mario Williams said. “Everything is there and we’re doing great, and all of a sudden we let the big play go. It’s unheard of. We just keep having it happen to us.”
