NFL

Jets report card

OFFENSE

The unit was better than last week when it got absolutely nothing going, but it wasn’t enough. Mark Sanchez (14-of-31, 230 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT) completed less than 50 percent of his passes for the fourth straight week. The running game (23 rushes, 69 yards) continues to be non-existent. Tim Tebow (5 rushes, 19 yards, 0-for-1 passing) needs a bigger role. C-

DEFENSE

Mike Pettine’s unit continues to get run over. The Texans had 169 yards rushing, 152 from Arian Foster. Give Antonio Cromartie credit; he shut down Andre Johnson (one catch for 15 yards). The Jets defense came up with some big stops in the second half, but allowed two easy touchdowns in the first half. LaRon Landry messed up at the end of the first half when Rex Ryan wanted him in the game and he was nowhere to be found on the bench. C

SPECIAL TEAMS

Joe McKnight’s 100-yard kickoff return gave the team a spark in the third quarter. Ryan then dialed up an onside kick that the team could not convert. If Chaz Schilens pulled the ball in, it could have been a game-changer. A

COACHING

Give Ryan a lot of credit. The Jets could have rolled over. They heard how terrible they were all week after the 49ers debacle. Facing a tough Texans team, the Jets competed all night. Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano came out with an imaginative game plan, using more Tebow and some Cromartie. Sparano had to improvise with a bunch of subs in the game, Ryan’s call for the onside kick was gutsy but not smart. The team had momentum after McKnight’s kickoff return and then lost it. B-