Resilient 49ers grind up Jets

Resilient 49ers grind up Jets
Sacramento Bee


"It was the type of miscue that would have tripped up weaker 49ers teams and sent them tumbling toward another second-half loss.

Midway through the third quarter of the 49ers' 24-14 victory Sunday over the New York Jets, a promising drive fell apart when a Shaun Hill pass was intercepted by Jets defensive end David Bowens. New York quickly took advantage of the turnover, scoring four plays later when running back Thomas Jones broke through the middle for a 17-yard touchdown that tied it 14-14.

Suddenly, the Jets had the momentum, and it seemed as if Brett Favre - fists and knees pumping as he celebrated the score - would dance out of Candlestick Park with another win.

But these 49ers were made of tougher stuff. Behind a fast-improving offensive line, they immediately wrestled back the lead with a 12-play drive that ended with a short Joe Nedney field goal. They sealed the win on their next possession, a 10-play drive capped by a diving touchdown catch by wide receiver Bryant Johnson.

Those two long drives were part of a theme: The 49ers (5- had the ball nearly twice as long as the Jets (8-5), giving coach Mike Singletary the type of strong finish he had been preaching about since taking over in October. The 49ers' 39:49 time of possession was their best since 1999.

"It says a lot for our guys. It says a lot for our coaches," Singletary said of the win. "They're working their tails off. … It says a lot about what we're trying to do and the statement that we're trying to make."

For the second week in a row, the 49ers - who were eliminated from playoff contention by a Cardinals victory - outworked a team in the thick of the AFC East race.

Last week, the 49ers eked out a win at Buffalo by denying the Bills touchdowns from inside the red zone. Sunday, the 49ers won by keeping the ball away from the Jets' playmakers.

Leading wideouts Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles each had one catch. Favre, meanwhile, had his most meager output - 137 passing yards - of the season.

"They don't get a lot of credit on defense, but they deserve more," Favre said. "They are aggressive. They have some guys who are fairly well known and some guys who aren't. But they fly around. They make plays.

"They are well on their way to being pretty good.""


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