Julio Cortez/Associated Press - Side judge Jimmy DeBell has a good view of the Jets’ Plaxico Burress securing a 26-yard touchdown pass in front of Cowboys defensive back Bryan McCann during the second half of New York’s season-opening 27-24 triumph.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Jets’ latest Super Bowl-or-bust season began in stirring fashion. Wide receiver Plaxico Burress had a touchdown catch as the Jets overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Dallas Cowboys, 27-24, here Sunday night at MetLife Stadium.
“It’s just amazing,” Jets Coach Rex Ryan said. “It just doesn’t get much better than this, especially the way we got it done.”
The Jets scored the game’s final 17 points after trailing, 24-10, early in the fourth quarter.
They again are talking unapologetically about their Super Bowl chances after losing the AFC title game in each of Ryan’s first two seasons as their coach. Their great expectations seemed fully justified on this night, as they finally won it on a 50-yard field goal by kicker Nick Folk with 27 seconds remaining. Folk’s decisive kick was set up by an interception by cornerback Darrelle Revis.
“We did escape,” Revis said. “We did show heart and toughness and we fought back.”
Burress had four catches for 72 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, in his regular season debut for the Jets after the former Super Bowl standout for the New York Giants served nearly two years in prison on a weapon charge.
“I was just telling myself to be patient,” Burress said. “I didn’t have any catches in the first half but I’ve been in games like this in my career. Being down 14 points in the fourth quarter on opening night and rising to the occasion, it shows a lot about our team.”
The Jets scored on a blocked punt to tie the game at 24. Their quarterback, Mark Sanchez, threw for 335 yards and had a first-half touchdown pass to tight end Dustin Keller. But Sanchez also threw an interception that set up a Cowboys touchdown and lost a fumble.
The Cowboys lost their first season opener with Jason Garrett as their coach. Quarterback Tony Romo threw for 342 yards and had a pair of touchdown passes, one to wide receiver Dez Bryant and the other to wideout Miles Austin. Tailback Felix Jones ran for a touchdown. But Romo had a key fumble and threw the interception to Revis that led to the winning field goal.
“We just let it slip away,” Austin said. “You can’t do that. You have to play better from beginning to end. We have to finish better.”
Revis is regarded as one of the league’s top cornerbacks and rarely is tested by opponents, but he said he wasn’t surprised to see the Cowboys throw the ball in his direction with the game on the line.
“People are going to test me,” Revis said. “They’re going to throw the ball toward me because they’re confident in what they do. When the ball comes to my side, I’m not shocked.”
Jets players carried American flags as they ran on the field during pregame introductions. The night included ceremonies that were both somber and patriotic on the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The crowd chanted “U-S-A! U-S-A!” before kickoff. Players on both teams joined police officers, firefighters and military members in holding a full-field American flag. Former president George W. Bush tossed the coin.
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