Broncos...34 Jets...17

Jay Cutler and the Denver Broncos stopped the surging New York Jets and showed they might be a team to reckon with in the wide-open AFC.

Cutler passed for 357 yards and two touchdowns and rookie Peyton Hillis ran for 129 yards and a score in the Broncos’ 34-17 win over the Jets at a wet and windy Meadowlands.

The Broncos (7-5) washed away the sting of a 31-10 loss to Oakland at home last weekend by stopping the Jets’ five-game winning streak.

It was a disappointing loss for New York (8-4), which was coming off emotional victories at New England and Tennessee. Brett Favre struggled in the sloppy conditions, completing 23 of 43 for 247 yards, with one pass intercepted.

Quoteworthy: “The thing that really got me going was the ESPN analysis and they were all saying we shouldn’t get off the plane.” -- Peyton Hillis, Broncos running back