At Least It Had Entertainment Value

There was no trombone player involved, so the California-Stanford play is safe.

There were no playoff implications either, so the “Music City Miracle” still stands ahead.

Heck, the New York Jets didn’t even score on their lateral-laden circus play that ended a 31-28 loss to the Colts, but six players touched the ball and it was entertaining nonetheless.

The Jets had the ball at their 32-yard line with eight seconds left when Chad Pennington started the madness with a short pass to Leon Washington.

Six laterals, two fumbles and 54 yards later, Jets center Nick Mangold got the ball but fumbled and Colts cornerback Jason David recovered at the Colts’ 34 to put an end to the chaos, and the game.

“Once we crossed the 50 and with the pass I tossed to Justin [McCareins], I thought, ‘Uh-oh ... something good’s going to happen,’ ” said Pennington, who added that the Jets have practiced such a play.

A Jets score would have been a fitting end to a game that featured five lead changes in the fourth quarter.

“We were close, but we need to practice it a little bit more,” Coach Eric Mangini said.

-- Peter Yoon

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Road to nowhere

How the Jets moved downfield on their multi-lateral, multi-fumble final play against the Colts:

* Third and three, Jets 32: (Shotgun) Chad Pennington pass short middle to Leon Washington to Jets 40 for eight yards (tackle Dwight Freeney).

* Lateral to Brad Smith to Jets 37 for minus three yards.

* Lateral to Laveranues Coles to Colts 44 for 19 yards.

* Lateral to Pennington to Colts 37 for seven yards.

* Lateral to Justin McCareins to Colts 35 for two yards. FUMBLE.

* Fumble recovered by Brad Smith at Colts 33, to Colts 37 for minus four yards. FUMBLE.

* Fumble recovered by Coles at Colts 40, to Colts 27 for 13 yards.

* Lateral to Nick Mangold to Colts 27, no gain. FUMBLE.

* Fumble recovered by Colts cornerback Jason David at Colts 34, to Colts 39 for five yards (tackle by Washington).

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From the Associated Press