Toon Is Unstoppable During and After Jets’ 28-23 Win Over Saints

The media found Al Toon, all 6-4 and 205 pounds of him, to be as elusive as the New Orleans Saints did.

Toon, the league’s leading receiver, caught three touchdown passes from Ken O’Brien Sunday to help the New York Jets score a 28-23 victory over the Saints.

By the time reporters reached the Jet locker room, Toon was on his way to the airport to catch a plane headed for Madison, Wis., where his wife is ill.

“He is in a class by himself,” said Wesley Walker, who helps Toon form one of the NFL’s best 1-2 receiving combinations.

“Al has all the moves. He is like a little guy, with all those quick moves, yet he is able to break tackles time and time again. He is an exceptional talent.”

Toon had 6 catches for 101 yards, giving him 49 receptions this season, and 5 touchdowns. Walker, who caught 4 passes for 64 yards, has 6 touchdowns this season.

Toon’s touchdowns covered 16, 62 and 6 yards. His 62-yarder with 19 seconds left in the first half came on a brilliant solo effort.

O’Brien hit Toon on a slant-in pattern at the New Orleans 45, where Toon shook off defenders Johnnie Poe and Brett Maxie. Toon crossed the field, eluded Dave Waymer at the Saint 25 and sped down the right sideline to the end zone.

“That was Al Toon at his best,” tight end Rocky Klever said. “He did everything on that play.”

O’Brien, who completed 20 of 32 passes for 258 yards, noted that Toon is only one part of the puzzle for the explosive Jets.

“Al is fabulous,” O’Brien said. “He can do so many things. With him and Wes and (tight end Mickey) Shuler, I have great offensive weapons. If they want to key on Al, we have other great players we can go to.”

Freeman McNeil ran one yard for the Jets’ other touchdown.

New York (7-1) built a 28-6 lead in a persistent rain. But the Jets had to withstand a 17-point final quarter by New Orleans (3-5).

Dave Wilson’s one-yard touchdown pass to John Tice with 10:19 left gave New Orleans its first touchdown. Wilson hit Tice again on a 29-yarder with 7:23 to go.

Morten Andersen kicked 26- and 53-yard field goals following fumbles by O’Brien and McNeil on New York’s first two series of the game. Andersen added a 28-yarder with 2:13 left.

The Jets turned away New Orleans’ last gasp when wide receiver Eric Martin fumbled at the Jet 37 when hit by Johnny Lynn, and Marty Lyons recovered for New York with 1:40 left.

Jet placekicker Pat Leahy, who had kicked 22 consecutive field goals, one short of the NFL record, missed from 46 yards with 3:34 left on his only attempt of the day.