Jets Beat Seahawks, 30-14; Five-Way Tie in AFC East

Billy Griggs and JoJo Townsell are role players in a sport of specialization. On Monday night, Griggs and Townsell got their chance in the spotlight and they put on stellar performances.

Townsell, who usually is limited to kick returns, and Griggs, a third-string tight end and special teams regular, scored touchdowns as the New York Jets beat the Seattle Seahawks, 30-14, and created an unprecedented five-way tie in the AFC East.

The Jets (4-4) are tied with Buffalo, Miami, New England and Indianapolis, the only time this late in the season that such a deadlock has existed. Seattle dropped to 5-3, two games behind the San Diego Chargers in the AFC West.

Townsell broke a scoreless tie in the second period when he returned a Ruben Rodriguez punt 91 yards. Griggs caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Ken O’Brien for his first regular-season reception in 37 games.

Townsell got his hands on the ball at his 9 and wasn’t touched on the punt return. He made a move to speed past Rodriguez, the last man who could stop him.

Griggs had caught only one pass in his three seasons with the team--a six-yarder for a touchdown in a playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I thought I would be that wide open,” Griggs said after taking a pass in the flat at the five and running into the end zone untouched, giving the Jets a 20-14 lead. “We have a couple of three tight end formations when I block on that play and that’s what they were expecting.”

In the first quarter, the Jets lost receiver Wesley Walker for at least four weeks with a separated shoulder. Receiver Mickey Shuler was carried off on a stretcher with an apparent leg injury with 1:48 remaining.