Broncos in Fade Pattern

On a day of individual milestones, the New York Jets wanted to talk about collective achievement.

Such as winning their fifth game in the last six, a 19-13 victory over Denver that severely damaged the Broncos’ playoff hopes. And rallying to win for the first time with Chad Pennington at quarterback.

And staying alive in the AFC East race despite being outplayed for much of Sunday’s game in the wind and occasional flurries.

“This is a total team win,” said Pennington, who connected with Laveranues Coles on a 28-yard touchdown pass play into the wind to put the Jets (7-6) in front 17 seconds into the fourth quarter. “The offense came through and grabbed the lead and the defense held it.”

Coles, who went over 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in his three-year career, came through to make a spectacular grab.

He beat Tyrone Poole’s single coverage to make a diving catch at the two, then rolled untouched into the end zone for a 16-13 lead. Coles finished with six catches for 126 yards and has 73 for 1,022 this season.

“It was sort of weird, because my helmet was kind of fluttering around in different directions,” Coles said. “I didn’t get focused on the ball until the last second.”

Curtis Martin became the 16th player to go over 10,000 career yards rushing and scored the Jets’ other touchdown. Martin did not play a pivotal role Sunday, but he did his share. All of the Jets did.

The loss was the third in a row for the Broncos (7-6). They were in position to win in the final minutes, but Brian Griese, back from a knee injury, was picked off at the New York two by rookie Jon McGraw, his first career interception.

“I don’t think we deserve it right now,” said Griese, who completed 28 of 37 passes for 266 yards. “We’ve lost three in a row and any team that has lost three in a row doesn’t deserve to be a playoff team.”

New York’s bend-but-don’t-break defense, led by Marvin Jones’ 17 tackles, helped keep the Jets one game out of the AFC East lead.

Denver is two games behind AFC West-leading Oakland (9-4).