Lions 10, Jets 7

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — It was representative of such a sloppy game in wet conditions that the guy who scored the only touchdown botched his spike attempt.

Of course, Jeff Hartings is a guard, and the only reason he had the ball in the end zone Sunday was because he recovered James Stewart’s fumble. That was enough for the Detroit Lions to edge the New York Jets 10-7.

Detroit (9-6) kept its postseason hopes alive and severely damaged those of the Jets (9-6). The Lions, who beat the other Meadowlands tenant, the Giants, 31-21 a month ago, rode Stewart’s career-best 164 yards rushing and some timely takeaways.

Stewart fumbled while diving toward the end zone from the New York 1 with 5:43 to go. But Hartings dived on the loose ball for the first touchdown of his five-year career.

“I wish there was a last time,” he said of his personal scoring memories. “It will probably be the only time. I had a lot of touchdowns in the backyard with my brothers.”

None meant as much, however. Hartings even attempted a celebratory dance. It, too, was sloppy.

“That was pure adrenaline,” he said. “Offensive linemen don’t get touchdowns, don’t think about touchdowns. We just think about getting touchdowns for the other guys and letting them dance.”

The TD would not have come without Pro Bowl linebacker Stephen Boyd’s interception at the Jets 46 with 10:32 to go. The Lions, who led the NFC in takeaways and interceptions coming in, now have 39 takeaways and 25 interceptions.

“The defense said we would have to play a full game, which we didn’t do the last two weeks,” Boyd said of losses to Minnesota and Green Bay. “We’ve got some guys hurt and the younger guys stepped up and just did a great job.”

New York moved to the Detroit 17 in the final moments, but John Hall missed wide left on a 35-yard field goal attempt with nine seconds remaining.

“I thought I heard a double thud, like someone got a finger on it,” said Hall, who also missed from 47 yards in the first half. “I’ll hit my next pressure kick and everyone will forget about this. I feel like Sunday can’t get here quickly enough.” Next Sunday, the Lions are home for Chicago and the Jets are at Baltimore. The Lions need to win and get help to squeeze into the playoffs. But at least they are alive.

“We put ourselves at this point that made us need this win so much, and at least we played like it,” said quarterback Charlie Batch, who was sacked five times and passed for just 110 yards. The Jets must win at Baltimore next Sunday or get lots of help elsewhere. After a 4-0 start, the Jets have been mediocre, and they were much worse than that on offense Sunday, with some very strange play-calling.

“We let a hell of an opportunity slip away,” quarterback Vinny Testaverde said. “We don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves.” The Jets, who gained just 240 yards overall, also lost linebacker Bryan Cox with a broken right leg. And while Stewart was having a big day in the muck, Curtis Martin ran for just 52 yards.

An early gamble hurt the Lions. After Tom Tupa’s punt went out of bounds at the Detroit 1, Batch’s pass down the middle sailed too high and Victor Green intercepted. He returned it 27 yards to the 1, then Martin ran it in.

But the Lions responded with an 89-yard drive; unfortunately for them, they needed 90 to score. The line opened huge holes for Stewart and Mario Bates, as Stewart’s 30-yard run — which put him over 1,000 for the season — and Bates’ 23-yarder helped Detroit get to the New York 1. On fourth down, Marvin Jones’ monster hit stopped Stewart short of the goal line.

The Lions got nothing from a drive of 9:04 in which they snapped the ball nine times from the 10 or closer.

They finally got some points when Jason Hanson connected on a 5-yard field goal in the third quarter.