The two starting cornerbacks are supposed to be the backbone of the Jets defense.
Darrelle Revis, best known as the lease-holder of “Revis Island,’’ and the ever-talented but maddeningly enigmatic Antonio Cromartie were central figures in the Jets’ 28-24 win over the Bills yesterday at MetLife Stadium.
And it wasn’t all good.
Revis gets thrown at by opposing quarterbacks about as often as the Jets lower PSL prices and allows few receptions, but was unusually busy yesterday covering Bills receiver Stevie Johnson, who was targeted 13 times and caught eight passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.
PHOTOS: JETS BEAT BILLS, 28-24
Johnson looked so comfortable on Revis Island he might as well have set up a beach chair and umbrella and starting sipping rum smoothies out of a silly straw.
In fairness, Revis was playing “zero coverage,’’ man-to-man on Johnson for almost the entire game.
“You’ve got to live with the good and the bad,’’ Revis said. “Was it my best performance? No. But it’s nothing. I’m going to work hard. I know what I want to portray. In all these receiver matchups I’ve had people have scored touchdowns on me, people have caught balls.
“We won and we’re playing another team next week.’’
Coach Rex Ryan defended Revis after the game.
“I don’t necessarily know if [Johnson] got the best of Revis,’ Ryan said. “He gave up a touchdown; that was the first time that happened all season. OK, so he’s human. He’s still way better than any corner in football, like head-and-shoulders better. I’m not going to say the kid got the best of him.’’
Cromartie hurt the Jets on both special teams and defense in a span of eight seconds.
First, Cromartie, sent onto the field as a punt returner to replace Jim Leonhard for a play, muffed a fair catch which Buffalo recovered, giving the Bills possession at the Jets’ 36-yard line in the third quarter.
On the next play, Cromartie was beaten by former Jet Brad Smith on a 36-yard TD pass play that tied the game at 21-21 with 2:11 remaining in the third quarter. On the play, Cromartie and Smith leaped for the ball and Smith tipped it in the air to himself as Cromartie fell to the turf.
“Man, it was like it was going in slow motion,’’ Cromartie said of the TD play. “[Smith] made a heck of a play on the ball. Ball was in the air too long. As a DB, I need to pick it off.’’