JETS REPORT CARD

QUARTERBACKS: D

Chad Pennington (22-35, 182 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 61.8 rating) wasn’t nearly as sharp as he was a week ago, sailing one INT right over Jerricho Cotchery’s head.

RUNNING BACKS: C-

Cedric Houston (18-50 yards) didn’t have the touch he had a week ago, either. Leon Washington (7-55 rushing, 7-28 receiving) ran well, but the running game never really became the weapon it needed to be.

WIDE RECEIVERS: D+

Jerricho Cotchery (5-37) and Laveranues Coles (4-67, 1 TD) were held in check by the Buffalo defense. Justin McCareins and Brad Smith had one catch each.

TIGHT ENDS: D+

Chris Baker (2-17) wasn’t the factor he was a week ago. Sean Ryan had a catch for 8 yards. Run blocking wasn’t great. Baker had a false start.

OFFENSIVE LINE: D

LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson and the rest of the line were eaten up by Bills DE Aaron Schobel (three sacks and a forced fumble). Run blocking was spotty and Pennington was pres sured pretty heavily.

DEFENSIVE LINE: D

DT C.J. Mosley led the way with five tack les. DE Shaun Ellis had three tackles as did NT Dewayne Robertson. Overall, not a very productive day, particularly with Willis McGahee again shredding the Jets’ defense.

LINEBACKERS: D

Victor Hobson had two sacks and six tackles. Eric Barton had six tackles. Bryan Thomas had a sack and four tackles. Brad Kassell and Matt Chatham each had three tackles.

SECONDARY: C

CB Justin Miller had the play of the game for the Jets on defense, tackling Bills RB Anthony Thomas, forcing a fumble and re covering it. S Kerry Rhodes had seven tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C+

Rashad Washington had two tackles in kick coverage. Miller averaged 29 yards on three KO returns. Coverage teams con tained Bills PR Roscoe Parrish (5.7-yard average on three returns). P Ben Graham and long snapper James Dearth each had tackles in coverage.

KICKING GAME B

Mike Nugent had FGs of 30 and 38 yards and Graham averaged 42.2 yards gross and 34.8 yards net. But Graham’s most im portant punt was a damaging touchback.

COACHING: D

Eric Mangini seemed more disappointed in his team than at any time this season. In hindsight, he probably should have gone for that fourth-and-1. He, too, should have opened the game by pounding the run a little bit more consider ing the Bills’ No. 29 ranking in run defense.