Testaverde Engineers a Tear-Jerker

This year, it was Vinny Testaverde crying tears of joy in the season opener.

Curtis Martin rushed 30 times for 110 yards and a touchdown and caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Testaverde with 3:30 left as the New York Jets beat the Green Bay Packers, 20-16, Sunday in the coaching debuts of the Jets’ Al Groh and the Packers’ Mike Sherman.

Testaverde, who capped an uneven performance with a 61-yard pass to Dedric Ward that set up the go-ahead touchdown, wept while running off the field, and again in the locker room.

The game was the 36-year-old Testaverde’s first regular-season action since tearing an Achilles’ tendon in the first quarter of last season’s opener.

“I felt kind of silly bawling in front of my teammates,” said Testaverde, who looked rusty, but led several sustained drives and completed 23 of 44 passes for 261 yards. “I’m just trying to do my job out there and be a leader on this team. A lot of guys made big plays today.”

Victor Green probably made the biggest when he intercepted a pass by Brett Favre at the Jet nine with 1:08 left, denying Bill Schroeder of a likely touchdown catch.

Favre, who led the Packers to three last-minute victories at Lambeau Field last season--including the opener against Oakland--stood at midfield with his hands on his hips after throwing his only interception of the game.

“If we catch it, we’re all heroes,” said Favre, who completed only 14 of 34 passes for 152 yards. “It’s intercepted, we all take the blame.”

The Packers lost at home in September for the first time since Sept. 3, 1995. Green Bay has four losses in its last six games at Lambeau Field after winning 44 of the previous 46 home games in Green Bay and Milwaukee.

Martin, who gained 100 yards or more for the 29th time, helped make Groh a winner in his first NFL game as head coach. The longtime assistant to Bill Parcells replaced his mentor in January.

Sherman was with Seattle last year, but previously was an assistant under Mike Holmgren in Green Bay.

The Jets outgained the Packers, 379-211.

Martin capped a 75-yard scoring drive with a two-yard run late in the first quarter. The teams could only trade field goals in the second quarter, and the score was 10-10 at halftime, despite Green Bay managing only 55 yards on offense.

Ryan Longwell kicked field goals of 45, 42 and 42 yards for the Packers. John Hall missed field-goal attempts of 52 and 48 yards for the Jets.