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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Three New York Jets quarterbacks shredded the New Orleans defense. Unfortunately for the Saints, that wasn't the worst of it.
|  | | Vinny Testaverde completed five of nine passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. |
The Jets converted seven of 10 third-down plays and moved the
ball well all night as Vinny Testaverde, Ray Lucas and Chad
Pennington combined to complete 25 of 33 passes for 306 yards in a
24-20 preseason victory Saturday night.
The Saints forced four Jets turnovers and got a strong
performance from backup quarterback Jake Delhomme, but possible
season-ending injuries to starting tight end Cameron Cleeland and
defensive backs Rob Kelly and Steve Israel overshadowed any
positives.
"This was a tough one," said coach Jim Haslett, who made his
Saints coaching debut after replacing Mike Ditka. "Cam tore his
Achilles tendon in half, Rob Kelly has a broken leg and Steve
Israel has a broken leg and an ankle injury. It's tough to take
when you lose three talented players. It's a shame, but it's part
of the business."
Vaughn Sanders' 1-yard run with 1:17 left capped a 72-yard
touchdown drive led by Pennington that put the Jets in front.
New York fell behind 20-17 with 4:56 left on Chad Morton's
77-yard punt return before Pennington, who was 10-for-13 passing,
led the decisive drive that also included Sanders' run of 17 yards
to the Saints 13.
Jets coach Al Groh, also making his coaching debut after Bill
Parcells retired from coaching, said he wanted to see how the team
responded to different situations. He got plenty of opportunities
in a game filled with big plays and turnovers.
"I was trying to watch the team and not necessarily watch
plays," Groh said. "I wanted to see how we reacted on the
sidelines, how we stuck together, cheered for each other and kept
their heads in the game. I was looking for personality traits that
a team that wants to be a contender has to have. We're on the right
track."
After Sanders' TD, Pat Barnes, making his first appearance of
the game, drove the Saints to the Jets' 28 with the help of a
40-yard pass to P.J. Franklin. But Scott Frost's end-zone
interception with 10 seconds left sealed the outcome.
"Pat was supposed to play the fourth quarter, but Jake was
doing so well that we were going to let him finish," Haslett said
of the late switch to Barnes. "But Jake was hobbling a little bit
with a sprained ankle, so we put in Pat."
Testaverde, in his first game appearance since he ruptured an
Achilles tendon in the Jets' season-opener last Sept. 12, gave the
Saints a touchdown late in the first quarter, underthrowing a short
pass that was intercepted by Sammy Knight and returned 65 yards.
The extra-point snap was fumbled by Toby Gowin.
"I made it tough on myself," Testaverde said of the
interception and the long chase of Knight to the end zone. "I was
afraid they would block down on my legs."
Testaverde came back on the first play after the kickoff and
passed perfectly over the middle to Wayne Chrebet, who outraced the
secondary for a 75-yard touchdown, giving the Jets a 7-6 lead.
Testaverde finished 5-for-9 for 131 yards.
Lucas, 6-3 as a starter after Testaverde was injured, was
effective in relief, completing 10 of 11 passes for 88 yards,
including a 1-yard TD pass to rookie tight end Anthony Becht with
4:34 left in the first half.
"I told Ray he was 'en fuego,"' Testaverde said.
Delhomme, who finished New Orleans' 3-13 season as the starting
quarterback last year, outperformed free-agent signee Jeff Blake.
Delhomme, who was 14-of-19 for 124 yards, was especially effective
in the third quarter, completing eight of 10 passes for 64 yards,
including a 22-yard scoring pass to Willie Jackson.
The touchdown came on the first play after Knight's recovery of
a fumbled punt by rookie Windrell Hayes, the Jets' fourth turnover
of the game.
New Orleans wanted to go for two points, but a penalty pushed
the Saints back and they had to settle for a kicked extra point
that left the Jets with a 14-13 lead.
After the Jets punted, Delhomme led another promising Saints
drive inside the New York 40, but he was sacked by Dorian Boose and
fumbled, with Boose recovering.
Pennington then moved the Jets inside the 10, but the drive
bogged down and they settled for John Hall's 27-yard field goal,
giving New York a 17-13 lead.
"Part of you wants to get fired up, but at the same time you
have to stay calm," Pennington said of his first NFL game.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
New Orleans Clubhouse
NY Jets Clubhouse
Saints lose TE Cleeland for season with torn Achilles
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