LANDOVER, MD—The New York Jets (7-5) scored three touchdowns in the final five minutes of the game to knock off Washington (4-8) 34–19 at FedEx Field.
The sudden outburst came after a 55-minute defensive struggle that had the Redskins clinging to a 16–13 lead.
Shonn Greene led the Jets with 88 yards rushing on 22 carries and scored a season-high three touchdowns on the day—including two in the fourth quarter—as the Jets finally capitalized on good field position.
Following a Graham Gano 46-yard field goal that put Washington up 16–13 with 7:56 to go in the game, Gano’s kickoff was inexplicably short and returned by Jets’ tight end Josh Baker to the New York 49-yard line. Five plays later Mark Sanchez found Santonio Holmes for a 30-yard touchdown to put Rex Ryan’s team ahead for the first time all game.
The touchdown was a welcome relief for an offense that had sputtered since their opening-drive touchdown.
For Sanchez the completion was his longest of the game. The under-fire quarterback finished 19/32 passing for 165 yards, but was fortunate not to have any of his errant passes picked off.
Up 20–16 the Jets’ defense came through again when linebacker Aaron Maybin sacked Redskins’ quarterback Rex Grossman, causing the ball to come loose which was recovered by fellow linebacker Calvin Pace at Washington’s nine-yard line. Two plays later, Shonn Greene scored from nine yards out to make it a 27–16 contest with 3:42 left.
For the third-year pro Maybin the sack was his sixth of the season in what has turned out to be a great free-agency pickup for New York.
After another Gano field goal made it 27–19, Washington tried an onside kick that bounced right to Jets’ cornerback Antonio Cromartie who returned it to the Redskins’ 30 yard-line. One play and a penalty later Greene ran for another score—this one from 25 yards out—to put the game out of reach.
