NFL

Goal-line stop keys Jets victory

ATLANTA — The Jets’ defense sent the team to the halftime locker room with a huge wave of momentum after mounting a goal-line stand.

The Falcons had first-and-goal at the 4-yard line with 33 seconds left and they trailed 17-7. Jets rookie tackle Sheldon Richardson stopped running back Jason Snelling for a 1-yard loss on first down. Matt Ryan then threw an incompletion before hitting Julio Jones for a 4-yard gain on third down. Jones was stopped at the 1, setting up a fourth-and-1 decision for Atlanta coach Mike Smith.

With seven seconds to go, Smith decided to go for it and the Jets sniffed out a play-action pass to tight end Tony Gonzalez. But linebacker Demario Davis was flagged for pass interference, giving the Falcons one play from the 1. They ran Jacquizz Rodgers up the middle, and he promptly was stuffed by Richardson and a wave of Jets.

The team sprinted off the field into the locker room and coach Rex Ryan lifted his arms over his head.

“It was huge,” Ryan said. “We had to stop them like five times down there. We got the penalty and we had to bull our necks and stop them again. I’m really proud of our guys. I’m not sure who made the tackle down there at the end.”

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The Jets had all three of their top running backs for the first time this season. They got Mike Goodson back from his four-game suspension and Chris Ivory returned from a hamstring injury. Goodson, Ivory and Bilal Powell each had a big play in the game and the team averaged 5.4 yards per carry.

Powell led the way with 38 yards on 12 carries and made several big plays down the stretch.

“If Powell’s not the most underrated player in this league, I don’t know who is,” Ryan said. “What a tremendous player.”

Goodson had a huge 26-yard run out of the Wildcat and showed a speed dimension the Jets have been lacking.

“It’s exciting,” Goodson said. “It felt good to get out there and get those hits and get out there with my brothers.”

Ivory had a 19-yard run that set up a score and finished with 27 yards in the game. Overall, the Jets rushed for 118 yards on 22 carries.

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OLB Antwan Barnes injured his knee late in the game. … The Jets snapped a four-game road losing streak. … Ryan now has 41 wins, tying him with Herm Edwards and Walt Michaels for third-most among Jets coaches. … Rookie Brian Winters started at left guard and Jaiquawn Jarrett started at safety for the first time this season.