Martin Jets to victory

Bill Parcells might have been right about Ray Lucas. He already knew about Curtis Martin.

Bill Parcells might have been right about Ray Lucas. He already knew about Curtis Martin.

The inexperienced Lucas, a longtime project for the New York Jets coach, threw for two touchdowns, and Martin rushed for more than 100 yards for the fourth straight game on Monday night in a 24-17 victory over the New England Patriots. That duo of former Patriots produced 14 points in 28 seconds late in the first half and it was decisive.

Martin finished with 149 yards on 31 carries and a 36-yard scoring run, his longest of the season.

For all their heroics, though, the Jets (3-6), who lost four games by blowing fourth-quarter leads, had to hold on. The rusty Patriots, coming off a bye, woke up in the final quarter for 14 points.

It was another sweet victory for Parcells over his former team, which he left in a dispute with Patriots owner Robert Kraft in 1996. The Jets turned their season around last year by beating New England on a Monday night.

Martin's TD run into the wind was picked off by Marcus Coleman and returned 26 yards, New York was in good position again with 48 seconds left in the half. Wayne Chrebet's 15-yard reception and Richie Anderson's 20-yard run got them to the 11. On third down, Lucas hit Fred Baxter for a 21-3 half-time lead.

John Hall's 26-yard field goal capped a monstrous 19-play drive of 11 minutes, 23 seconds and made it 24-3.

The Patriots (6-3), who blew a chance to tie for first place in the AFC East, then responded, scoring on a 13-yard screen pass to rookie Kevin Faulk. They came right back with a 31-yard pass to Troy Brown, making it 24-17 with 6:58 remaining.

Lawyer Milloy's interception runback three plays later to the Jets 27 gave the Patriots excellent field position. But Bledsoe threw four straight incompletions.

New York, now appearing nervous, went nowhere and punted. Again, the Patriots could not move, but they got another chance with 1:51 to go. Once more, New York's defense held.

New England got the game's first big play when Lucas' high pass deflected off Chrebet's outstretched hands to safety Chris Carter at the Patriots 36. Until then, neither team threatened in a lackluster first period, although Martin rushed 10 times for 53 yards.

But the Patriots went backward with the ball as Bledsoe kept getting pressured by New York's pass rush, which produced three sacks.

The Jets put together a nice drive early in the second quarter when they got the wind at their back and Lucas went 5-of-5. From the 1, Keyshawn Johnson slipped into the right corner of the end zone to take Lucas' scoring toss.

Faulk sped 95 yards with the ensuing kickoff, but got nothing from it. Terry Allen was stacked behind the line of scrimmage on fourth-and-goal at the 1 by Bryan Cox and Roman Phifer.

New York appeared to get out of that hole on a diving catch by Chrebet for 29 yards, but the Patriots challenged the call and were upheld, forcing a punt.

Once again, New England moved deep into Jets' territory on a 26-yard pass play to Terry Glenn, then bogged down again. This time, Adam Vinatieri made a 22-yard field goal.

New England gained 75 yards in the first half and didn't get any better in the third quarter. Bledsoe, who was intercepted only four times going in, was picked off again by Coleman on a deep pass. Minutes later, his short throw was picked off by Marvin Jones.