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Destination Denver Jets hold off Jaguars 34-24, face Broncos for AFC title
Posted: Sunday January 10, 1999 08:40 PM
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The New York Jets -- yes, the Jets -- are one step from the Super Bowl. New York held on against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday for their first postseason victory in 12 years, 34-24 behind two touchdowns apiece from Keyshawn Johnson and Curtis Martin. So, the team that was 1-15 two years ago now is 13-4 and set to play the Broncos in Denver next Sunday for a spot in the Super Bowl, which the Jets actually won 30 years ago. After that milestone victory, New York became one of pro football's laughingstocks. The turnaround began with the hiring of coach Bill Parcells before the 1997 season and took off this year behind Martin, Johnson, revitalized quarterback Vinny Testaverde and a stingy defense.
Johnson caught nine passes for 121 yards -- he even intercepted a desperation pass at the end of the game -- while Martin rushed 36 times for 124 yards and had six receptions for 58 more. They helped New York control the ball for 39:16, as did Testaverde by going 24-of-36 for 284 yards in the AFC East champions' seventh straight victory. The Jaguars, who have not beaten a winning team on the road since a 30-27 playoff victory in Denver two years ago, did not go quietly. With the Jets leading 31-24 and in easy field goal range, Testaverde lofted a pass into the end zone that was intercepted by rookie safety Donovin Darius with about 2 1/2 minutes left. But instead of downing the ball, Darius tried to run and was tackled inside the 1. The Jaguars could not pick up the first down and John Hall kicked his second field goal for the final margin.
The game ended to explosions of confetti fireworks in the stands and enough noise to make the stadium shake. But what looked like a rout in the third quarter turned into a close game when the defense relaxed and allowed 10 late points, with Mike Hollis' 37-yard field goal set up by Wayne Chrebet's fumble. Johnson, a Pro Bowl receiver, scored the first touchdown on a post pattern when Darius failed to provide support coverage. After the play, Darius slapped his helmet in frustration. The efficient opening drive was all either team managed in the first quarter, and Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell had three passes blocked.
Jacksonville barely got an opportunity to do anything in the second quarter, when the Jets held the ball for all but 51 seconds. New York scored on Hall's 52-yard field goal and Johnson's 10-yard run on an end-around. Johnson later had an 18-yard run on the same play. Johnson's second score was set up by more Jaguars foolishness. Chris Hudson picked up Martin's fumble at the Jacksonville 18 and headed down the right sideline. He was caught by Testaverde, of all people, and tried to lateral to Dave Thomas. But the ball bounced loose and the ever-present Johnson dived on it at the New York 35. The Jets turned right around and marched to a 17-0 lead on Johnson's scoring run, but then the Jaguars used the final 33 seconds of the half to get on the scoreboard. Brunell finally found deep threat Jimmy Smith down the left sideline on a 52-yard pass on the last play of the half, and, suddenly, it was 17-7. Smith also had a 19-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter. Mistakes continued to plague the Jags early in the second half. On third-and-inches, coach Tom Coughlin chose a long pass, but Brunell hung it in the air and Corwin Brown intercepted. Brown's 40-yard runback and a gorgeous 23-yard hookup from Testaverde to Johnson led to Martin's first 1-yard run. But Reggie Barlow's 88-yard kickoff return following Martin's first score set up a fourth-down, 3-yard TD pass to Keenan McCardell that made it 24-14. Martin's other TD, also from the 1, capped a nearly six-minute drive to make it 31-14. Testaverde threw for 70 yards on the march.
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