As Thanksgiving night fell on New York, the Jets started their game as if they, just like many of their fans, were affected by a food coma. But after a low-scoring back-and-forth first half, the Jets finally broke out in the second half. Brad Smith returned a kickoff 89 yards for a score and also scored on a 53 -yard run to give the Jets (9-2) a 26-10 win and set up a showdown with the 9-2 Patriots on Monday, Dec. 6.
Smith's kickoff return came after one of his cleats fell off, so it must not be the shoes. Cincinnati, much like Cleveland and Detroit, two other recent Jets victims, has no shot at the playoffs. The Jets trailed at halftime and appeared destined for another close game. But Smith and the defense, which held the Bengals to 163 total yards, had something to say about that. The Jets are off to their best start since 1986 and the second-best 11-game start in club history.
