Illness No Problem for Testaverde

The New York Jets wanted redemption badly enough Sunday that not even a sick quarterback could stop them.

Vinny Testaverde, who received intravenous fluids before the game, threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns as the Jets bounced back from last week’s last-minute loss by beating the Tennessee Oilers, 24-3.

The Jets (7-4) led, 23-10, at halftime last week before losing to the Indianapolis Colts, but they never let the Oilers (6-5) get going after coming out of halftime tied, 3-3.

“A lot of us were upset at the opportunity we had last weekend and we let it go by,” Jet running back Curtis Martin said. “Today we came out focused and determined that if we got the opportunity, we were going to put the nail in the coffin.”

New York never trailed in winning for the fifth time in six games thanks to Testaverde, who woke up Sunday with a virus and arrived at the stadium early for treatment of nausea and headaches.

He took New York downfield on its first two possessions of the second half. He capped each with touchdown passes, the first a three-yard play to Keyshawn Johnson into the left corner of the end zone, and the second a two-yard play to Keith Byars.

“Vinny, he’s a competitor,” said Martin, who capped the scoring with a 31-yard touchdown run with 9:00 left. “He’s a tough guy. I knew he’d be out here playing.”

Testaverde was 21 for 33 for 237 yards, and Martin carried 27 times for 123 yards.

Jet Coach Bill Parcells said his team still has much more work left. “I don’t know what went on around the league so far this week. This thing is going to go down to the wire, and we just need to stick to our niche and see what we can do.”