JET NOTES
The feel-good story of the Jets’ 24-17 win over the Titans Monday night was little-used receiver Kevin Swayne, who caught the touchdown pass that gave the Jets a 16-10 lead in the second half of a 24-17 win.
For Swayne, who was quietly demoted to fourth on the depth chart recently but never complained about it, the catch was his first reception of the season and his first NFL TD.
“It feels like a big weight lifted off of me, like being able to exhale,” Swayne said of the TD. “I’m just happy to be able to contribute.”
The Jets, too, are happy for his contribution.
“I know it means a lot to Kevin and it means a lot to me and our team to see Kevin succeed, because he is a man of character,” Chad Pennington said.
What Swayne did is what he and the rest of the receivers must do now that teams are double-teaming Santana Moss. On the TD, a Titans safety rolled coverage to Moss’ side to help a cornerback, and Pennington threw to Swayne in single coverage against former Hofstra player Lance Schulters.
“If they’re going to take away your best player, the other guys have to step up,” Herman Edwards said.
* Edwards said DE John Abraham (strained groin) will remain listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game in Buffalo. Abraham, who has missed four games because of the injury and five overall this season, was in yesterday for treatment. S David Young remains out with a hamstring injury.
* RB Curtis Martin, who rushed for 26 TDs in the previous three seasons, finally got into the end zone Monday night, scoring his first TD of this season.
“It was like a new world to me,” Martin said. “It was just good to get in. It’s about time.”
Moss had his consecutive-games TD streak ended at seven. Moss has 10 receiving TDs this season.
* Edwards, asked why the Jets didn’t simply kneel on the ball after taking possession with 1:52 remaining and a touchdown lead, said, “We screwed it up.”
The Jets first ran Martin, then there was an illegal motion penalty called on Moss to stop the clock.
* Edwards, asked which loss this season eats at him most, said, “The first game of the season [in Washington, 16-13]. That was one where if we win that game it kind of propels you in a different direction. The game was tied, it was on the road with all the fanfare, and we had a chance to win it. If we win that game we get a little shot in the arm.”