NFL

Rex risk backfires on Jets

Depending on your viewpoint, Jets coach Rex Ryan made either a brilliant or a boneheaded call in the third quarter last night.

After Joe McKnight’s 100-yard kickoff return, Ryan called an onside kick. The call nearly worked with Chaz Schilens grabbing the football before it was knocked out of his hands and the Texans recovered.

Houston wound up kicking a field goal after recovering the kick to extend their lead to 23-14.

“That was on me all the way,” Ryan said. “I came here to win. That’s it. Whatever it took — faking a punt in your own territory, going for it in on fourth down in your own territory. I came to win.”

Ryan may have made the unorthodox call because his defense was tired. They were on the field for a 14-play drive immediately before that.

Schilens said a Texans player’s helmet knocked the ball from his hands.

“It was a great call,” Schilens said. “If I would have caught it, we probably would have won the game, to be honest with you.”

* CB Antonio Cromartie got in on offense last night, as quarterback Mark Sanchez threw him a deep pass down the right sideline in the second quarter. Cromartie made the catch but was out of bounds. The Jets had talked about using Cromartie at wide receiver during training camp, but had not used him in a game until last night.

* The Jets did not have TE Dustin Keller, WR Stephen Hill or FB John Conner last night. All have hamstring injuries. NT Sione Po’uha (back) also missed the game. The Jets suffered injuries in the game to C Nick Mangold (ankle), WR Clyde Gates (shoulder), LB Josh Mauga (shoulder) and NT Kenrick Ellis (knee). Mangold returned to the game. … Texans LB Brian Cushing left the game and reportedly has a torn ACL. … Texans star DE J.J. Watt had six tackles, a sack and three tipped passes. … Cromartie did an outstanding job on Texans WR Andre Johnson, who had one catch for 15 yards. … Jets RB Shonn Greene refused to speak to reporters after rushing for 26 yards on 8 carries. .. Texans RB Arian Foster’s 152 yards rushing is the third most against the Jets under Ryan.