Just the words made Jets coach Rex Ryan grimace.
Someone mentioned the Jets had given up 390 yards to the Cowboys on Sunday night.
“Oh, that’s painful,” Ryan said immediately.
So painful that Ryan did not award a game ball to anyone on the Jets defense yesterday for their 27-24 victory over the Cowboys. Three special teams players and two offensive players were given game balls, but the defense just sat and watched.
“When your defense is not consistent and we don’t play to our standards, no game balls,” Ryan said.
Ryan said this is not the first time he hasn’t given out a game ball to his defense after a win, but it is rare.
Defense is Ryan’s trademark, but Sunday night’s game is one he’d like to forget. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo hit three pass plays of more than 30 yards and five of more than 20.
“It was uncharacteristic,” Ryan said. “We made a few mental mistakes that really cost us.”
It was an uncharacteristic performance all around for the Jets. Under Ryan, they have become known as a “Ground and Pound” team. Neither worked Sunday night. They ran the ball just 16 times for 45 yards, while throwing the ball 44 times.
Ryan’s formula for winning — completions plus rushing attempts — went in favor of the Cowboys: 49 to 42.
Safety Jim Leonhard, who had one of the biggest plays of the game when he knocked tight end Jason Witten out of bounds at the 3-yard line with about 10 minutes left and the Jets trailing, 24-17, said the defense needs to live up to its hype.
“You’ve got to go out there and do it every week,” Leonhard said. “You can’t talk about it. You don’t win games on paper. We obviously have a great defense on paper when you look at the talent we have but you have to go out there and execute. That’s what we didn’t do.”
The defense did have good moments, particularly in the fourth quarter, when it forced two turnovers from Romo. They also registered four sacks.
“We were hot and cold,” Leonhard said. “At times we looked like a dominant defense and at times we looked very, very average. I think it’s good to have that game early and get a victory and hopefully clean up some things and bring that energy week in, week out.”
Romo picked on cornerback Antonio Cromartie at times. Cromartie was victimized on two touchdowns, one to Dez Bryant and the other to Miles Austin.
“In the beginning I felt like I played pretty bad,” Cromartie said, “but going back and looking at the film and seeing how everything broke down, I feel like we did a pretty good job.”
Cromartie said he lost sight of the ball on Bryant’s touchdown and should have attacked the ball more when Austin wrestled away what appeared to be an interception. The referee ruled they had simultaneous possession, awarding the touchdown to Austin.
The Jets had mixed emotions yesterday, celebrating the victory, but also understanding they did not play well.
“We won a game where we didn’t play our best,” Leonhard said. “I think that means a lot. There’s a lot of teams that can’t do that. In the NFL, it’s all about stacking those wins up. You have to win when you don’t bring your ‘A’ game.”
Ryan said the team’s corrections period lasted longer than usual, but he emphasized to the players they should enjoy the win.
“It was good news, bad news,” Ryan said. “We have some corrections to make, clearly. We have to get better and you give Dallas a lot of credit, because they made a lot of plays both offensively and defensively. But we made enough plays at the end, when it counted. Our defense was at its best at the end of the game. So that’s a good thing, but we made some mistakes. That isn’t who we are.”