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EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Neither Rick Mirer or Dave Brown distinguished themselves in the battle of maligned quarterbacks, but it was the New York Jets' signal-caller who produced the game's one big play. Mirer's 43-yard touchdown pass to Keyshawn Johnson with 5:29 to play lifted to the Jets to a 12-7 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. "Nothing easy around here, as you can tell ... the wind was a very big factor," said Jets coach Bill Parcells. "We played real good defense in the third quarter. We still had some problems on third and short and fourth and short. We certainly have to get that fixed." The Jets (2-6) took advantage of the swirling winds at the Meadowlands and snapped a three-game losing streak. The Cardinals (2-6) suffered their third straight loss. Arizona's Scott Player could get off only a 28-yard punt into the wind that allowed the Jets to start the game-winning drive at the Cardinals 41-yard line with 6:44 to play. "You saw the kick and that's the way it went," said Player. Curtis Martin, who carried 38 times for 131 yards, picked up two yards on New York's first play before losing four and the Jets were faced with a 3rd-and-12 from the 43. But Mirer threw a perfect strike down the middle between defensive back Tom Knight and linebacker Rob Fredrickson that Johnson hauled in and outraced the secondary into the end zone. The two-point conversion failed. "It was open a couple of times earlier in the game, we just dind't hit it," Johnson said of the touchdown. "It was the right call at the right time." "It was a good (defensive) call," added Arizona cornerback Aeneas Williams. "We have to find out what happened in terms of execution. We were in a three-deep with five guys underneath. A guy shouldn't get open, and if he does we should at least make the tackle." Mirer completed 12-of-18 passes for 122 yards and carried six times for 42 yards. Brown, a former New York Giant, went 16-of-26 for 119 yards and was sacked five times. "We didn't get to throw the ball because Mirer pulled them down," said Parcells. "It's been a struggle. It's going to keep being a struggle. It was a tough day on quarterbacks in general. You can't judge the passing today because of the elements." To win the game following Mirer's TD pass, Brown was going to have to lead a touchdown drive into the wind. He never got the Cardinals started. A holding penalty on guard Lester Holmes began the backward march, which continued when Brown fumbled on the next play and, after a wild scramble, guard Matt Joyce recovered on the Arizona 5-yard line. Michael Pittman ran for a short gain, but Brown's throw into triple coverage on third down fell incomplete and the Cardinals punted. "You can throw the ball against the wind if you can finesse it," said Brown. "That's something I learned from Phil Simms. Defensive backs don't think you can throw into the wind, but you can if you don't try to drive it." Pittman rushed for 41 yards on nine carries as the Jets completely bottled up former teammate Adrian Murrell, who was held to a meager 10 yards on seven carries. Murrell was traded to Arizona after the Jets signed Martin away from New England. "I came here with every intention of trying to win the ballgame," said Murrell. "I'm not going to second guess anyone's decision, but it didn't work for us today. I'm just a player in this game. When I'm out there I'm just going to try to do my best." New York sealed the victory with one first down, accomplished on runs by Martin and Mirer. Martin had four catches, although the receptions totaled just two yards, and Johnson caught two passes for 51 yards. "We knew we had to go out and get some turnovers to give our offense good field position," Jets linebacker James Farrior said. "The weather was bad and the wind was blowing. We had a game like that earlier in the year. The wind is difficult to play football in. It definitely affected some of the passing." For the Cardinals, the duo of Frank Sanders and former Jet Rob Moore combined to catch eight passes for 142 yards. "I heard some boos and I heard some cheers," said Moore. "They forget real quick. I expected that. I didn't expect to come here and be cheered. I'm the opponent and that's the way it should be." Each quarter featured one score. John Hall's 44-yard field goal in the first gave the Jets a 3-0 advantage, but Pittman ran four yards for a score that capped an 80-yard drive and provided Arizona with a 7-3 advantage. Hall's 33-yarder with just over three minutes left in the third brought the Jets with a point.
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