EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Chad Pennington completed 22-of-30 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown Sunday as the New York Jets clinched a playoff berth with a 23-3 win over Oakland.
The win clinched at least the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs for the Jets, but they moved up to the fifth spot later Sunday, after the San Francisco 49ers beat the Broncos in Denver, 26-23.
Leon Washington picked up 53 yards and scored a touchdown on 15 carries, and Jerricho Cotchery caught seven passes for 53 yards for the Jets (10-6), who are going to the playoffs for the first time since they lost to Pittsburgh, 20-17, in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game in 2004.
Oakland quarterback Aaron Brooks finished with 15-of-26 passing for 136 yards, no touchdowns and one interception for Oakland. Justin picked up 79 yards on 17 carries for the Raiders (2-14), who lost their last nine games of the 2006 campaign -- and scored touchdowns in just 15 of the 64 quarters they played this season.
