NFL Highlights: Brad Smith Leads Jets To Thanksgiving Victory Over Bengals
In the Thanksgiving game that featured the current NFL leader New York Jets against the Cincinnati Bengals, Brad Smith showed just what he could do.
"He's a phenomenal athlete," Coach Rex Ryan said. "Everything we ask him to do, he does."
Especially when he ran for a TD. With only one shoe.
Known by Jets’ fans as “Mr. Everything,” Smith motivated his team to get their second best start after making a TD on a kickoff return for 89 yards. As he was running towards the end zone, one of his cleats slipped off. But he just kept running.
"I think all that running in the backyard with no shoes on with my brother," the versatile wide receiver said with a big grin, "that helped."
Smith rushed thrice for 55 yards, caught a 23 yard pass, and the long kickoff return, totaling 200 all-purpose yards in the Jets 10-26 victory over the Bengals.
"We call him 'Slash,'" Jets safety James Ihedigbo said. "The guy can do anything he's asked to do."
Smith also scored another TD, this time rushing for 53 yards, in the Jets’ victory over the Bengals, tauntingly called the “Bungles” even by their own fans, seeing as they have lost their last eight games.
"We're trying to make the most of it," Bengals receiver Terrell Owens said. "It's something different in every phase of the game every week. We find ways to put ourselves in the hole. I'm out of answers."
Mere hours after the Patriots advanced to 9-2, the Jets evened their record. The best of the best will play each other for the AFC East crown, as well as the distinction of being the number one team in the NFL, on December 6 in Massachusetts.
"We have our work cut out for us, but I think this team will respond," running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "They took care of their business and got to 9-2 and we had to take care of our business."
Jets’ receiver Santonio Holmes made his fourth TD in the past three games, with a 13 yard catch from QB Mark Sanchez.
After last weeks’ victory in the last ten seconds of the game against the Texans, it looked as though it would be a repeat performance for New York this week.
However, the Jets needed only two plays to get ahead in the second half. Sanchez passed to Holmes for a 16 yard TD and then Smith running for a 53 yard TD, thanks to exceptional blocking by D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Dustin Keller.
"I had some tremendous blocks and I would've felt sick if I didn't score because of how well it was executed," said Smith.
"I should be doing backflips in here and celebrating," Sanchez said. "But as a competitor I know we should have won this going away. We didn't because of the poor play of the quarterback."
Pettrey successfully kicked a 28 yard field goal to bring the game to a 10-17 score, with the Jets still ahead.
However, for New York, a seven point win just wasn’t good enough.
After the field goal, the Bengals kicked off and the ball was returned by Smith. All the way to the end zone.
That made the score 10-24, still to the Jets, but New York’s defense wouldn’t cut the Bengals any slack. With 6:52 left in the game, QB Carson Palmer was sacked by Trevor Pryce for a safety, resulting in the final score of 10-26
It was another tough loss for Cincinnati, after losing to the Bills last week. They were ahead 31-14 at a point, but were outscored by the Bills 35-0 in the second half.
"We're just not winning games," Palmer said, "and that's as frustrating as it gets in this league."
Fans predicted an exciting game, with the matchup of the Bengals’ destructive duo of receivers Owens and Chad Ochocinco against New York’s cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis.
The Jets succeeded.
Owens had only three receptions for 17 yards, with Ochocinco having four for 41 yards.
"No point in getting mad," Ochocinco said. "We're close. The score might not reflect it. But for a mishap here, a mishap there, we're in this one."
The Bengals’ next game will be a tough one against the Saints on December 5.
Stay tuned!
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