EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ The Jets buried their fourth-quarter demons _ at least for one week.
Josh McCown crossed the goal line on a quarterback sneak to give the Jets the lead with 2:10 remaining in regulation, and Gang Green pulled out just its second win since Week 5, 38-31 over the Chiefs on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
The Jets (5-7) blew fourth-quarter leads in three of their previous five games heading into this weekend. Against Kansas City (6-6), they finally protected an advantage _ but not without some drama. After McCown's go-ahead touchdown, the Chiefs drove down to the Jets' 19-yard line. But Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith (336 yards, four touchdowns) misfired on fourth down to seal the game.
The Jets carried a 27-24 lead into the fourth quarter. They extended that to 30-24 on a Chandler Catanzaro field goal with 11:23 remaining. The Chiefs then jumped ahead when Tyreek Hill caught his second long touchdown of the day, this one 40 yards from Smith. Hill finished with six catches for 185 yards. He also returned a punt 24 yards in the first half.
McCown and the Gang Green offense responded to Hill's score with a 76-yard drive, capped off by the 38-year-old quarterback's second rushing touchdown of the day. In past collapses, the Jets committed a host of dumb penalties. On Sunday, it was the Chiefs who lost their composure down the stretch.
The Jets were forced to kick a field goal from the 7-yard line after Bilal Powell was dropped short of the end zone. But the Chiefs were called for unnecessary roughness on Catanzaro's attempt, and the Jets received a fresh set of downs. Later, on 3rd-and-4, Kansas City gifted the Jets another first down on a defensive holding. The Jets failed to score on two more plays before McCown put the Jets head for good.
The Chiefs were flagged for defensive holding again on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt. Upset with the call, Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters picked up the flag and chucked it into the stands. Rookie running back Elijah McGuire then ran in the second attempt to extend the lead to seven points.
Jermaine Kearse set up the game-winning touchdown with a 51-yard catch and run on third down earlier in the drive. The receiver set career highs in receptions (nine) and yards (157) on Sunday. Robby Anderson added eight catches for 107 yards. McCown completed 26 of 36 passes for 331 yards and a touchdown, to go along with 21 yards rushing and his two touchdowns.
The Jets dominated time of possession 42:49 to 17:11.
