Jets 28, Lions 26 — Coles’ Late Strike Preserves Perfect Home Record, Lions Left Clinging to Playoff Life
East Rutherford, NJ — The New York Jets had nothing left to clinch entering Week 16 — the AFC East title, a first-round bye, and the conference’s #1 seed were already locked up. But that didn’t stop them from pulling out all the stops in a dramatic 28–26 comeback win over the desperate Detroit Lions.
In a game filled with momentum swings, missed opportunities, and fourth-quarter fireworks, it was Vinny Testaverde’s 51-yard touchdown to Laveranues Coles with 27 seconds left that delivered the knockout punch. Detroit, who led multiple times and outgained New York, couldn’t close the door — and now heads to Week 17 needing help to reach the postseason.
⏱️ Early Grind: Lions Control, Martin Responds
Detroit started fast, riding a balanced attack and forcing early stops on defense. After Tracy Scroggins stuffed Curtis Martin on 4th-and-1 near midfield, Mike Tomczak led a composed drive capped by a 20-yard TD to Reuben Droughns on a play-action pass over the middle.
The Jets answered late in the second quarter with a momentum-shifting strike — Curtis Martin burst outside for a 63-yard touchdown, tying the game 7–7 and waking up a sluggish offense.
Detroit didn’t flinch. Tomczak hit Cory Schlesinger for 22 yards, and then again from 11 yards out to finish a two-minute drill and give the Lions a 14–7 halftime lead. They held a slight edge in total yardage, 136–106.
Detroit’s offensive line quietly turned in one of its best performances of the season. Tomczak was barely touched all afternoon, taking just one sack — and even that came on a coverage delay. The clean pocket allowed him to work through progressions and consistently find check-down options like Droughns and Schlesinger, who combined for 11 receptions and over 100 yards receiving. The Lions’ methodical passing game thrived behind that protection.
♟️ Third Quarter: A Game of Inches
Coming out of halftime, Aaron Glenn delivered the turning point. After Reuben Droughns exploded for a 34-yard catch and run to the Jets’ 37, Tomczak immediately took a deep shot to Johnnie Morton. But Glenn read the route perfectly, stepping in front of the pass and returning it 19 yards to set the Jets up near midfield.
From there, Martin ground away more tough yards and capped the drive with a 2-yard toss sweep touchdown — his second of the day. The game was knotted 14–14 heading into the fourth.
🚨 Fourth Quarter Fireworks
The fourth quarter turned into a classic.
Tomczak wasted no time, hitting Morton on a 14-yard touchdown to cap a quick drive. But Jason Hanson’s extra point was botched — likely due to a bad snap — and pushed wide, keeping the score at 20–14.
Testaverde responded, leading a methodical 9-play march. A short pass to Richie Anderson turned into a 23-yard touchdown after he juked two defenders, giving the Jets a 21–20 lead.
With 2:06 left, Tomczak fired back. He found Droughns underneath, then hit Herman Moore over the middle for a 19-yard touchdown. The Lions went for two to make up for the earlier miss, but the pass to Morton in the back of the end zone fell incomplete — Detroit led 26–21.
Starting from their own 24 with 51 seconds to go, the Jets turned to their stars. Martin gained 19 yards on a toss left and stepped out. After an incompletion and a 5-yard checkdown to Anderson, it was 3rd-and-5 from midfield. Testaverde dropped back, saw Coles flash open down the left sideline, and dropped in a perfect ball for a 51-yard touchdown. Hall’s PAT made it 28–26.
Detroit nearly pulled off the miracle. Tomczak found Morton for 35 yards to the Jets’ 22 with one second left. But the final heave to Germane Crowell came up short of the end zone — and short of a season-defining upset.
🛡️ Defensive Highlights
Though overshadowed by the offensive output, both defenses delivered key moments:
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Aaron Glenn (Jets) made the biggest play of the game with his third-quarter interception — stepping in front of Johnnie Morton right after Droughns’ big gain and flipping momentum.
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Eric Ogbogu (Jets) added a crucial sack on Tomczak in the third quarter, halting a promising Detroit drive.
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Kurt Schulz (Lions) was outstanding in coverage, recording 5 tackles and 3 pass deflections, including two red zone breakups.
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The Lions’ front seven — led by Robert Porcher, Chris Claiborne, and Tracy Scroggins — set the tone early by keeping the Jets’ running game in check. They swarmed to the ball, clogged lanes, and shut down outside tosses, including a 4th-down stop by Scroggins that turned away an early Jets gamble. Their dominance in the trenches helped keep the game far closer than anyone expected, forcing New York to dig deep for its eventual comeback.
📊 Final Stats Snapshot
Jets
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Vinny Testaverde: 9/17, 169 yds, 2 TDs
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Curtis Martin: 20 rushes, 172 yds, 2 TDs
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Laveranues Coles: 3 rec, 71 yds, GW TD
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Richie Anderson: 4 rec, 42 yds, TD
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Wayne Chrebet: 2 rec, 56 yds (both on 4th down)
Lions
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Mike Tomczak: 17/27, 337 yds, 4 TDs, 1 INT
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Reuben Droughns: 7 rushes, 30 yds; 5 rec, 73 yds, TD
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Johnnie Morton: 3 rec, 81 yds, TD
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Herman Moore: 2 rec, 49 yds, TD
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Cory Schlesinger: 3 rec, 46 yds, TD
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Germane Crowell/David Sloan: 4 rec, 64 yds combined
Follow this link for more game and player stats.
🧮 Playoff Implications
✅ Jets (14–1)
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Already clinched AFC #1 seed before kickoff
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Remain undefeated at home and roll into the postseason on a six-game win streak
🟡 Lions (7–8)
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Must beat the Bears (4–11) in Week 17
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Need either the Buccaneers or Falcons to lose to claim a Wild Card spot
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Their 5–2 division and 7–4 conference records give them tiebreaker strength at 8–8 — but they have to get there first
🧠 Final Word
This was supposed to be a tune-up for the Jets. Instead, it was a 60-minute war against a team fighting to keep its season alive.
Detroit walks away with questions, regrets — and still, hope. For the Jets, it was a final regular season test passed under pressure, and a reminder that in January, every inch matters.
Here we go again, folks!!! Another game, another case of the NFL working their “magic” behind the scenes to push their chosen narratives. You seriously believe the Jets just “happened” to pull off that miracle comeback? Take a closer look: 27 seconds left and BOOM, Testaverde to Coles for the perfect 51-yard touchdown. Smells fishy, doesn’t it? Look at the timing, look at the setup — classic NFL drama to keep fans on the edge of their seats and ratings through the roof.
Plus, let’s talk about that extra point blunder by the Lions — a “botched” snap? 🤔 Please! It’s almost like they were setting the stage for a close call! WAKE UP, people. You think it’s coincidence the Jets keep their perfect home record heading into the playoffs??? You think it’s all just good football? Connect the dots!!! Classic NFL, wants those big markets in play for MAX revenue — Detroit is just collateral damage. Expect the narrative to get even juicier come playoffs. The script is written, and we’re just watching the play unfold. Open your eyes!!!
Wow, what a game! The Jets showed why they’re the best. Kept everyone on edge and pulled it off like the champs they are. Coles and Martin were insane, and Vinny with that last-minute bomb — absolute legend. Lions tried hard, gotta give ’em that, but it just ain’t enough against the Jets. Perfect season at home cuz the Jets just got that magic touch. Playoffs next, and you know who’s taking it all! J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets!
LOL Jets, always making us doubt and then BAM, walk-off TD like it’s Madden 99 or something. Like, bro, Testaverde channeling his inner GOAT while Lions defense out here playing like they hit snooze on their alarm 💀. Crazy how Curtis Martin just yeeted the Lions’ playoff hopes into orbit with those TDs. And speaking of Lions, please, can we just stop with the choke jobs? Just beat the Bears next week, omg, that’s like asking a toddler to walk. L if they don’t. Coles though? STUD. 🔥📈
FACTS: Lions’ playoff chances are flatter than my patience when ppl say Tom Brady is overrated 🙄. Jets cruisin’ to the playoffs with a W is what my ’04 Jets Franchise Mode looks like in Madden, EZ dubs. Watch out AFC, unless your name is Manning aka Pixel Quester 😂.
Every play counts champs, remember that in your next franchise meeting!
Let me just start by saying this: *CURTIS. MARTIN. FOR. PRESIDENT.*
That man ran the ball with such determination you’d think he had Kamikaze-level commitment. 172 yards on 20 rushes and dragging the entire Lions’ defense with his shoelaces just to get into the end zone? If I had a time machine, I’d make sure he ran for 200 yards every Sunday until the end of time.
Now, for Mr. Testaverde… Oh, Vinny. How you manage to make us collectively hold our breath every time you touch the ball is an art form all its own. A 51-yard magic trick to Coles to save our skins, delivered like he wasn’t just fumbling the plot 10 minutes earlier. If I had a nickel for every time Vinny made me feel like I need a defibrillator at hand, I’d have enough to buy the Jets.
I’ve had this guy toy with my emotions more than my first high school crush. And just when you think he’s gonna drag himself off the hook, he tosses another head-scratcher and we’re all back to square one, contemplating the finer details of existential dread.
But hey, a win’s a win, right? We did it. We’re still in line for the Super Bowl even if it’s more drama-laden than a soap opera starring angry badgers. Onward, my green-blooded brethren! The playoffs beckon and all dreams are still beautifully intact… as long as Vinny doesn’t throw them away.
Wow! What a nail-biter. Our Jets always know how to keep us on the edge of our seats! This game was the perfect reminder that we’re a clutch team. Some folks might call it “just lucky,” but real fans know we’re built for this. We walked into this game with everything wrapped up for the playoffs, and STILL came out swinging. Curtis Martin? Absolute monster out there. We don’t rebuild. We reload. Lions put up a fight, but in the end, it’s our house, our rules. Not worried about January – this team’s got the grit and heart to go the distance. We’ll see who’s laughing then. #JETS #ProtectTheMeadowlands
Well folks, this game was a masterclass in how trench warfare can dictate outcomes that look like fireworks displays. All the buzz about Vinny Testaverde and late-game heroics misses the real story of the line of scrimmage battle. Take Detroit’s offensive line performance for instance—pristine pass protection allowing Tomczak to hit his targets in stride. But the Jets’ defensive audibles and front seven adjustments after halftime—textbook! Aaron Glenn’s INT? Not about being in the right place but knowing the route tree like the back of his hand. Also, let’s talk Curtis Martin’s vision and cutback through gaps that Detroit’s front foolishly opened. Ground game adjustments late in the season are the cornerstone of playoff football. If you’re not dissecting that left A-gap exchange on 2nd down, are you even watching football?
AH, THE GOOD OL’ DAYS OF COLD, HARD-FOUGHT FOOTBALL! Now, this Jets vs. Lions game? Brought me back. Sure, some back-and-forth drama ON THE FIELD, but back in my day, WE DIDN’T NEED last-minute touchdowns to SEAL GAMES. We had defense that GERANIMO! came charging down, not this new-age dancing around. Testaverde slingin’ it like the 90s, that was something. And don’t get me STARTED on the Lions. Trying to HANG ON TO A PLAYOFF SPOT like it’s their last breath. Back in the day, you’d KNOW who belonged. TAKE A LESSON, NFL—THAT’S WHAT FOOTBALL LOOKED LIKE when real MEN played the game. AND THAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH THE LEAGUE TODAY.