Texans 23, Jets 17: Mark Sanchez post-game reaction

Texans vs. Jets 2012: New York fans upbeat despite loss

Many assumed the New York Jets would get dismantled by a 4-0 Houston Texans team on Monday Night Football. With major players hurt and coming off a 34-0 blowout at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers, there was little room for hope.

Although the Jets eventually lost, 24-17, New York fans seem OK with the way their team performed against the best the AFC -- if not the whole league -- has to offer. Scott Salmon of Gang Green Nation said that the squad "showed some serious heart" in his immediate post-game reaction, and felt just as good about the effort -- and even the team's play thus far this season -- in his recap:

After last week, we could have gone on national TV and gotten our teeth kicked in. Heck, most people expected us to. And yet, that was a close, gutty game. A lot of us had this penciled in as a loss even before or as the season began, and we're only 2-3 through our toughest stretch of the season.

Salmon was especially impressed with the team's aggressive playcalling, including a fourth-down conversion on a fake punt and an onside kick that slipped through the hands of leaping wide receiver Chaz Schilens.

The biggest talk surrounding the Jets involves how to use backup quarterback Tim Tebow, whose only pass of the night could have been a long completion had newcomer Jason Hill not dropped it. Although Mark Sanchez didn't have his best effort -- 14-for-31, with a touchdown and two interceptions, lowering his league-worst completion percentage even further -- Salmon didn't call for his quarterback's head after the game.

He has entirely way too many swatted balls, but this week it's hard to blame him because of the unreal way J.J. Watt is playing. He proved that he deserves to be the starting QB for at least another few weeks. This is a top defense in the league. All things considered, I'm not unhappy with Sanchez this week.

Despite the team's well-documented struggles this year, New York is only a game behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East.

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Texans 23, Jets 17: Rex Ryan post-game reaction

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Texans 23, Jets 17: Jets' comeback falls short as Gang Green drops to 2-3

What many believed was going to be a second disaster in less than a week for the New York Jets ended up being a very close and competitive football game. But still, the Jets were bested by ones of footballs' top teams on Monday night, falling to the 5-0 Houston Texans 23-17. The Jets dropped their second straight game and fell to 2-3, but quarterback Mark Sanchez probably did enough to hold off Tim Tebow from taking his starting job for at least another week.

Sanchez's stat line wasn't pretty again, completing just 14 of his 31 attempts with one touchdown and two interceptions for 230 yards, but given the Jets' lack of punch at the key skill positions, the numbers were a bit misleading. The Jets' awful struggles in the running game continued, rushing for just 69 yards on 23 carries as a team. Conversely, the Jets' run defense one again had a bad night, as Arian Foster scampered for 152 yards and a touchdown.

The Jets went down 7-0 right away but came back to tie the game when Sanchez connected with Jeff Cumberland for a 27-yard score. Houston went up by seven again as Foster got in the end zone for the fourth time this season, but it looked as though the Jets were headed towards evening things up going into halftime until probably the game's biggest play. In the red zone in the final minute, Sanchez's pass for Jeremy Kerley was intercepted and returned deep into Jets' territory, setting Shayne Graham up for a late field goal and a 17-7 halftime edge.

Another Graham field goal made it 20-7 Houston, but Joe McKnight returned the ensuing kick off 100 yards for a touchdown, keeping the Jets alive. The teams traded field goals from there on out, and the Texans capitalized on a drop by Cumberland on the Jets' last drive, picking Sanchez off for the second time and holding on for the win.

As for Tebow, he nearly completed his only attempt of the game, a well thrown ball down the seam to Jason Hill, but Hill couldn't haul it in. In the rushing game, Tebow did have 19 yards on five carries, including a 13 yard run to the four yard line where the Jets unfortunately had to settle for a field goal. While there will surely be calls for Tebow at this point, Sanchez did enough on Monday to remain the starter when the Jets host the Colts next week.

Jets-Texans score: New York trails Houston after 3 quarters, 23-14

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Nick Mangold injury: New York Jets center carted off to locker room with ankle injury

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Jets-Texans score: New York trails Houston at halftime, 17-7

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Jets-Texans score: Teams tied, 7-7, after 1 quarter

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Jets vs. Texans 2012 inactives: Dustin Keller, Stephen Hill inactive for Jets

The New York Jets will be missing a number of key offensive players when they take on Houston Texans Monday night.

In addition to Santonio Holmes, the Jets will also be without tight end Dustin Keller, wide receiver Stephen Hill and fullback John Conner. Keller will miss his fourth straight game with a hamstring injury he suffered in the season opener. Hill, also out with an injured hamstring, will miss his second straight game.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Jets will be forced to play without nose tackle Sione Pouha. Pouha, who has been dealing with a back injury since training camp, will miss his second game of the season.

While the Jets will be missing a number of offensive weapons, Houston will also be without one of their key players. Backup running back Ben Tate is inactive with a toe injury. That will mean the Jets will likely see a heavier dose of Arian Foster. While Tate is out, Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels are both active.

Here is the complete list of inactives for both teams:

Jets:
FB - John Conner
WR - Stephen Hill
TE - Dustin Keller
QB - Greg McElroy
DT - Sione Pouha
CB - Darrelle Revis
OG - Caleb Schlauderaff

Texans:
OG - Brandon Brooks
DB - Roc Carmichael
DB - Quintin Demps
OT - Andrew Gardner
DB - Brandon Harris
WR - Lestar Jean
RB - Ben Tate

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