Winless Jets Jolted by Jaguars, 21-17

The New York Jets paused in the corner of the end zone before they took the field to warm up Sunday, stopped by a collective feeling that this was their week to win.

The feeling was fleeting.

They couldn’t convert on key plays. They had breakdowns at the worst moments. They suffered another season-ending injury.

And they lost. Again.

Mark Brunell beat the Jets twice on long passes to Jimmy Smith, and Willie Jackson scored on a 41-yard touchdown pass play to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 21-17 victory.

The Jets (0-7) dropped their 11th consecutive game and lost another starter--center David Alexander sprained his left knee and is out for the year.

“It’s a damn shame,” said Coach Rich Kotite. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but nobody left anything in that locker room. They’re completely spent and very emotional over the game.”

Wayne Chrebet, who set career highs with 12 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown, said, “It’s very disappointing. I thought this was the week we would win. And it wasn’t.”

It was the Jets’ best opportunity all year, and they certainly had their chances. The Jaguars (3-4) stopped them at the three early in the fourth quarter and made them settle for Nick Lowery’s 20-yard field goal to make it 21-17.

That gave Lowery the NFL career record for field goals with 374. But he missed the next one, from 36 yards, when the Jaguars stopped New York at the 18 with 4:15 left.

Chrebet caught a 32-yard pass to the 31 with 1:17 left, but Frank Reich threw four incompletions to seal the Jaguars’ victory.

It didn’t come easy for the Jaguars, whose four losses all came in the final three minutes. This time, the Jaguars managed to put it away.

“It’s a win. Thank God, it’s a win,” Coach Tom Coughlin said.

The Jets busted a coverage that left Jackson alone in the flat on third and two, and he took it down the sideline for a 41-yard touchdown to give the Jaguars a 21-14 lead.

After the Jets cut the lead to 21-17, Brunell later passed to Smith for an apparent 86-yard touchdown, but Brian DeMarco was called for holding. The Jaguars, the NFL leaders in penalties, had 15 for 123 yards. The bench also was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for protesting calls.