KEY MOMENT
After Cedric Benson’s 47-yard TD run cut the Jets’ lead to 21-14 with just over 11 minutes left in the game, the Jets had to stop the Bengals’ momentum. Two plays later, on 2nd-and-8 from their own 34, Mark Sanchez hit Dustin Keller on a bootleg, and Keller took it 43 yards to the Bengals 23. A field goal gave the Jets a 10-point lead that held up.
KEY PLAYERS
The rookies: Mark Sanchez played flawlessly, throwing for a touchdown, converting multiple third-and-longs and committing no turnovers. He completed 12 of 15 passes for 182 yards and led the Jets on four scoring drives.
He had valuable help from fellow rookie Shonn Greene, the impressive running back who barreled his way for 135 yards on 21 carries, including a 39-yard TD gallop in the second quarter that got the Jets on the board.