George Willis

George Willis

NFL

The right Reed: Ed notches pick No. 62 in Jets’ win

Ed Reed admitted he was “happy to have 62,” as in the 62nd interception of his long career. More importantly he was happy to end a couple of losing streaks that were beginning to blur the memory of the Super Bowl victory he celebrated last February in New Orleans.

The Jets’ 37-27 triumph over the Raiders Sunday at MetLife Stadium not only ended a three-game losing streak with the Jets, but it was Reed’s first win since beating the 49ers in the Superdome as a member of the Ravens. Since then he has played for the Texans and now the Jets, losing 10 straight games before finally tasting victory again.

“I’ve won plenty of games in my life,” Reed said. “I know one thing: You don’t do it by yourself. It was a great team victory. We’ve battled the last few weeks, but we fought hard to stay focused and maintain a great work ethic and we did that as a team and we came out and got a victory against a good team.”

Reed helped the Jets end a three-game losing streak with a key interception of a Matt McGloin pass in the second quarter. The Raiders quarterback was throwing out of his own end zone when he tried to find Andrew Holmes on a crossing pattern. But the ball sailed to Reed, who made the interception and returned it 7 yards to the Oakland 4. The offense had to settle for a 23-yard field goal from Nick Folk, but it gave the Jets a 13-3 lead that was never threatened.

“The D-line got great pressure,” Reed said. “He had to throw it or take the safety. I just stayed with the guy dragging across and [McGloin] tried to force it. I made the play.”

The 62nd interception of his career and first win of his season delighted his teammates.

“It’s big,” Jets linebacker DeMario Davis said. “He’s spends so much time with the younger DBs and helping them. That was a big play for him. It sets an example. He makes those plays because he watches so much film.”

There are critics who suggest Reed’s value as a 12-year veteran and locker- room presence isn’t worth having second-year player Antonio Allen spend more time on the bench. There are questions whether Rex Ryan is being too loyal to the 35-year-old former star of his Ravens defense.

Reed actually played fewer snaps against the Raiders than he did in previous games, which is fine with the future Hall of Famer.

“I just prepare and do what I need to do to help the team win,” he said. “I don’t have anything to prove to anybody, especially anybody holding a microphone or camera. I just go out and do what I’m supposed to do.”

Sometimes a player’s legacy can be a cross to bear, especially when he enters the twilight of his career, when the brilliant plays don’t come as often as the missed tackles or blown coverages. The intangibles of leadership, perspective and experience don’t always show up on a stat sheet.

“He’s done well all year,” linebacker Calvin Pace said. “The simple fact is when [the safeties] make a mistake it’s magnified. I’m happy with the addition of Ed. I think he’s making a lot of the young guys better with his presence.”

It wasn’t a perfect day for the defense. The unit gave up a couple of big plays, including a 48-yard TD pass to WR Rod Streater in the third quarter, when Reed and Antonio Cromartie collided while trying to converge on the ball. Cromartie took the worst of it, suffering what team officials called a head injury that left him unable to speak with reporters after the game.

“I didn’t see Cro’ until the last second,” Reed said. “I’m glad I jumped because we probably would have hit helmet to helmet.”

Reed will be playing the 172nd game of his career Sunday against the Panthers. He’ll also be searching for No. 63.