NFL Recap (Seattle-NY Jets)
Posted: Sun December 6, 1998 at 6:55 p.m. EST
NY JETS 32, SEATTLE 31
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- After throwing for 418 yards,
quarterback Vinny
Testaverde opted to run away from the New York Jets' failures of
Decembers past.
Testaverde's fourth-down five-yard quarterback sneak for a
controversial touchdown with 20 seconds to play gave the Jets their biggest
win in the month of December since 1991 as they rallied for a 32-31 victory
over the Seattle
Seahawks.
On third down from the Seattle 5, Testaverde tried a jump-ball pass to
Keyshawn Johnson, who
came down with the ball out of bounds. Testaverde then called his own
number and was given the touchdown by Phil Luckett's crew -- the same group
that botched the overtime coin flip in Detroit's Thanksgiving win over
Pittsburgh.
"I felt like there was a gap between the guards, we could run the
quarterback sneak," said Testaverde. "It was there, but we called the play
where we could have the option for a pass route. I took a chance, we got
lucky, and I was able to get the ball in the end zone. I kind of bobbled
it as I was running through their defensive line and I wasn't able to reach
the ball out and the ref called it good."
Television replays clearly showed Testaverde's knee going down at the
1 before he extended the ball to the goal line. The officials huddled
briefly and ruled it a touchdown as the Seahawks protested.
"On the field of play, the head linesman (Earnie Frantz III) did not
have a delayed call," said Luckett. "He called it right away and signaled.
There was a pileup, but the head linesman had already called a touchdown
for the ball breaking the plane and despite the pileup of players, the
decision had already been made."
Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson was crestfallen, especially after
thinking his defense held.
"That was the most disappointing loss I've ever been involved in," he
said. "You play like we did and it gets down to that one play and it's just
totally disappointing. I had no question that we stopped them, but I
didn't make the call. They were in position, they made the call and you
deal with the call."
Testaverde's keeper capped a 10-play, 64-yard drive as the Jets (9-4)
recorded their biggest December win since a 23-20 overtime victory at Miami
in 1991 clinched their most recent playoff berth. It was just New York's
seventh victory in 32 December games since 1990.
"We were very fortunate," said Jets coach Bill Parcells, adding, "I
saw the guy (Frantz) make the call immediately. God was on our side today.
He's telling Erickson to wait a while and gives Parcells a rabbit's foot."
Testaverde completed 42-of-63 passes, both career bests, with two
touchdowns and an interception. Johnson finished with nine receptions for
114 yards and a score for New York, which had 488 yards of offense but had
to overcome three turnovers that led to 21 points for the Seahawks.
It was the second straight game decided by two points or less for
Seattle (6-7), whose playoff hopes may have taken a fatal hit. The
Seahawks have lost three of their last four games and four of their seven
losses have come by five points or less.
"That call hurt because we played so hard for so long, and at the end
of the game, the refs should really let the players decide the game," said
Seahawks cornerback Shawn
Springs. "Don't make a call that determines the outcome of the game."
The Jets took advantage of a fumble by Seattle quarterback Jon Kitna to score their
first points, marching 58 yards on six plays as Testaverde found fullback
Keith Byars for a
three-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter.
New York got a second turnover when Jerome Henderson
intercepted Kitna, but Seahawks tight end Christian Fauria forced a
fumble, which was recovered by tackle Howard Ballard at the
Seattle 30. Two plays later, Joey Galloway beat
cornerback Aaron Glenn
for a 70-yard TD down the left sideline.
Kitna and Galloway hooked up again on Glenn, this time from 57 yards
as Seattle grabbed a 14-7 lead with 2:46 left in the first quarter. John Hall booted a 20-yard
field goal for the Jets before they lost Glenn to a sprained left ankle as
he made an interception.
Ricky Watters
raced 39 yards on 4th-and-1 to give Seattle a 21-10 lead late in the first
half, but Hall made another 20-yard field goal.
Seahawks linebacker Anthony Simmons
intercepted Testaverde and raced 36 yards for a touchdown, Seattle's
seventh on a return this season, as the Seahawks grabbed a 28-13 lead 86
seconds into the third quarter.
Curtis Martin had
a one-yard scoring run for the Jets, but Todd Peterson booted a
50-yard field goal to make it 31-19. Testaverde and Johnson hooked up on a
16-yard TD to make it 31-26 with 12:22 to play.
New York tried to mount a go-ahead drive midway through the fourth
quarter but was stopped on downs at the Seattle 20. The Jets, however,
limited Seattle to three plays before getting the ball back at their own 36
with 3:15 to play.
Kitna completed 17-of-24 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns with
two interceptions.
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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