Delay of game penalty proved costly for the New York Jets

by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger

Sunday December 21, 2008, 10:53 PM

Elaine Thompson/Associated PressJets kicker Jay Feely had a 45-yard field goal wiped out by a penalty, then was upset the Jets passed on trying a 50-yarder.

SEATTLE -- There are some penalties that are understandable -- an occasional offside, a pass interference to save a touchdown, a false start.

A delay of game that erased a 45-yard field goal in a tight game? But that's what happened to the Jets in yesterday's 13-3 loss to the Seahawks at Qwest Field.

Trailing 10-3 early in the fourth quarter, Jay Feely's field goal was wiped out because of a delay of game penalty.

"I was more upset about the referee not resetting the play clock," said Feely, who has hit 13 consecutive field goals, including a 31-yarder in the first quarter. "When he put the ball down, it was just 10 seconds left. You're supposed to reset the clock."

Feely and coach Eric Mangini appeared to have a heated exchange afterwards but Feely said they were just discussing the situation.

Although Feely was good by about 10 yards on the 45-yarder, Mangini decided not to good for a 50-yarder.

"I felt like a 50-yard field goal, if you miss that, putting them in very good position," Mangini said. "Instead, we end up punting it and putting them on the 6 or 8 (yard line) or whatever it was. ... The official had his hand on the ball and we have to wait until he takes his hand off. (Long snapper) James Dearth does an excellent job, he is very aware of the play clock. He wasn't able to get set and snap the ball."

The Jets' run defense, which held five of its first 11 opponents to less than 50 yards rushing, has allowed 100 or more yards rushing in each of the past four games. One game after yielding a season-high 187 yards to the Bills, the Jets allowed 120 yards against the Seahawks in the snow.

Seattle RB Maurice Morris rushed for 116 yards on 29 carries.

"They had a good blocking scheme," LB Bryan Thomas said. "They tried to work a lot of angles with the tight ends and the linemen pulling. In this weather, that's what most of their runs were."

NT Kris Jenkins had a quiet five tackles.

"We just got out-executed," Jenkins said. "Our goal is to stop the run. We have to find a way to get it done."

RB Thomas Jones outrushed his little brother, Julius, 67 to 0, but Julius has won all three sibling rivalry games... FB Tony Richardson rushed five times for 34 yards... The Jets had no sacks and have had just five in the past four games, three of them losses... Much-maligned rookie CB Dwight Lowery had two forced fumbles. Although the Jets recovered both, they didn't convert them into any points... QB Brett Favre is now 67-24, including 2-2 this season, in games in which the temperature was 45 degrees or less.

Rookie LB Vernon Gholston, who was inactive last week, was active yesterday. Also active was WR David Clowney, who had a one-handed, 26-yard catch in his NFL debut last week. WR Chansi Stuckey was inactive for the first time. Special teamer James Ihedigbo, who had costly penalties on kickoff returns in the past two weeks, was also inactive.