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Titans end Jets’ quest for playoff spot with 14-10 win

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez scrambles away from Tennessee Titans defensive end Kamerion Wimbley. (Associated Press)
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez scrambles away from Tennessee Titans defensive end Kamerion Wimbley. (Associated Press)
Teresa M. Walker Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The New York Jets’ playoff hopes are gone, lost in a wave of turnovers by struggling quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Chris Johnson went 94 yards for the longest touchdown run in the NFL since 2006, and the Tennessee Titans beat the Jets 14-10 on Monday night to eliminate New York from postseason contention.

“Obviously, it’s a devastating loss, out of the playoffs, and it hurts beyond belief,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “I think the thing that really hurts the most is we’ve got no one to blame but ourselves.”

Jake Locker’s first touchdown run of the season put Tennessee ahead to stay late in the third quarter, and the Titans intercepted four passes by Sanchez to snap a three-game skid.

“The bottom line is we hung in there, something we haven’t been able to do the last two, three weeks to hold onto a lead or find a way to win in the fourth quarter, and this time we did,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said. “It’s good to win again. It’s been a while.”

After bumbling around all night, the Jets somehow still had a chance to win when they took over at the Tennessee 25 with 47 seconds left following a 19-yard punt by Brett Kern.

But Sanchez fumbled a low shotgun snap, running back Bilal Powell inadvertently kicked the ball away and the Titans (5-9) recovered to seal the victory.

“I saw him bobbling the snap,” Titans rookie linebacker Zach Brown said. “Then it just came out, and I just fell on it. I was thinking sack because it was play-action. I was thinking I’m going to get me a sack, but he fumbled the snap.”

It was a fitting end to an ugly game that left Ryan cursing to himself as he walked off the field. Sanchez finished with five turnovers – one on each of his team’s final three possessions. He has 24 this season and 50 total in the past two seasons combined.

“It doesn’t feel good hurting your team like that,” Sanchez said. “It’s not a winning formula. It never feels good.”

The Jets (6-8) needed to win their final three games and get help elsewhere to earn a playoff spot. Instead, the Titans sacked Sanchez three times and got a fourth on Tim Tebow. Jason McCourty and Michael Griffin each had two interceptions, keeping the Jets out of the playoffs for a second straight season after reaching consecutive AFC title games.

Johnson, with the names of the victims of Friday’s shootings in Connecticut written on his cleats, ran a franchise-record 94 yards for a TD in the second quarter. Johnson said he followed a block by center Kyle DeVan, the Titans’ latest player at the position after replacement Kevin Matthews sprained his right ankle.