NY Jets 13, Carolina 12

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Curtis Martin ran for 159 yards and cornerback Aaron Glenn had a 22-yard interception return to set up the game-winning field goal Sunday as the New York Jets squeezed out a 13-12 win over the Carolina Panthers.

Martin, who entered the contest as the league's leading rusher, reeled off runs of 30 and 36 yards -- his longest of the season -- on two of his 27 carries as the Jets outrushed the Panthers, 186 yards to 92. Martin increased his season total to 738 yards on the ground but failed to add to his haul of seven touchdowns.

"Usually in games, we've been moving the ball, we're able to score. Today wasn't the day," Martin said. "I think we're still building, still growing. I do believe we're getting better. Take away some of the mistakes and I feel real good about where we are."

With the Jets trailing, 12-10, Glenn recorded their lone interception of the game with seven minutes left. The cornerback outjumped receiver Muhsin Muhammad at the Carolina 43 before returning the ball to the 21.

Four plays later, John Hall split the uprights with a 34-yard effort as New York (4-3) secured its third victory in the last four games.

"We won the game, that's the most important thing," Jets coach Herman Edwards said. "We didn't play on all cylinders today. But we kept fighting and won the game."

The Jets overcame three interceptions from Vinny Testaverde, who did not throw one during the first five games of the season. The former Pro Bowl quarterback seemed to struggle without trusted receiver Wayne Chrebet, who sat out Sunday's game with what the team called "post traumatic migraine."

Laveranues Coles shouldered the receiving load, making seven catches for 91 yards. Martin also finished with seven receptions for 39 yards. Kevin Swayne started in Chrebet's absence. The Arena League and XFL alumnus contributed three catches for 35 yards.

Severely criticized for its inferior play this season, New York's defense took advantage of Panthers rookie quarterback Chris Weinke. The Florida State product completed just 12 of 34 passes for 76 yards.

Doug Evans registered one of Carolina's interceptions, increasing his season total to a career-high six. The cornerback also extended his streak of games with an interception to six.

But that failed to stop the Panthers (1-6) from losing their sixth straight game, marking their longest skid since an 0-7 start to the 1998 season.

"It's very frustrating," said Panthers tight end Wesley Walls, who had a mere two catches for 11 yards. "Our defense played their guts out. They played well enough for us to win. Offensively, we didn't. When we had our chances, we couldn't make the plays."

The Panthers marked the third of four NFC West foes for New York, which lost home contests to San Francisco on Oct. 1 and St. Louis last week. The Jets also play at New Orleans next Sunday night.

Shoddy play permeated the first half as all points came off turnovers.

The Jets marched 63 yards on the first drive of the game to the Carolina 10. Pro Bowl fullback Richie Anderson collected Testaverde's short pass, but was stripped by linebacker Dean Wells. Cornerback Rashard Anderson gathered the loose ball and sprinted 94 yards down the sideline for the opening touchdown and the longest fumble return in franchise history.

But very little has come easily to the Panthers this season. John Kasay's ensuing extra-point attempt hit the right upright, representing the Jets' eventual winning margin.

New York answered with 1:46 remaining in the first quarter, when Todd Sauerbrun endured the first blocked punt of his seven-year NFL career. Rookie Jamie Henderson got in the way of the kick -- the Jets first blocked punt since 1997 -- and Chris Hayes recovered it before strolling into the end zone from seven yards out.

Hall converted his extra point, providing the Jets a 7-6 advantage.

Completing three passes and giving a handoff to Martin, Testaverde marched the Jets 45 yards during the final 1:19 of the opening half to put them in field-goal range.

But the 15-year veteran telegraphed a sideline pass to Matthew Hatchette, inviting Evans to reverse the situation. He ran the interception 49 yards to the New York 27, wisely going out of bounds with two seconds until halftime.

"We definitely had too many turnovers," Testaverde said. "I made a real bad decision right before the half. That turned the momentum and we had a tough time following that. We have to be more consistent. We seemed to make the wrong mistake at the wrong time."

Kasay booted a 45-yard field goal as the Panthers took a 9-7 lead into the locker room.

Richard Huntley failed to impress in his first start after running back Tim Biakabutuka suffered a broken right foot last week against the Washington Redskins to end his season.

Against a Jets defense ranked last in the league against the run prior to Sunday, Huntley gained just 13 yards on eight second-half carries.

"I thought Richard did a good job. Sometimes the holes weren't there," said Panthers coach George Seifert, who lost for the first time in three career games against the Jets.

"We dug ourselves a pretty deep hole," Seifert continued. "It's tough to fight your way out. We didn't execute well enough and they played good defense. Our passing game, when we did attempt to pass, was inconsistent. They seemed to pressure us and played a lot of man coverage agaisnt us."

Carolina still had almost five minutes to engineer a scoring drive at the end of the game. But Walls dropped a pass over the middle on third and 14 to stall the Panthers.

"I let the defense down when I didn't make that play," Walls said. "I didn't do the No. 1 thing -- watch it in."