NFL: Baltimore 24, New York Jets 23

BALTIMORE, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Haloti Ngata returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the game Monday and Baltimore went on to edge the New York Jets 24-23.

The focus of the final game of the exhibition season's second week was on how New York rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez would do against Baltimore's fierce defense. The answer came in a hurry when linebacker Ray Lewis put pressure on Sanchez, who threw the ball right to Ngata.

On New York's next possession, Lewis dropped what should have been an easy interception.

Sanchez completed 3-of-8 passes for 43 yards and hit Leon Washington with a 19-yard scoring pass in the second quarter that cut the Jets deficit to 14-7.

Baltimore's Jameel McClain returned an interception of a Kellen Clemens pass 16 yards for a score and a 21-7 halftime lead.

New York's third quarterback, Erik Ainge, scored on a 1-yard run with 22 seconds remaining and the Jets went for two. Ainge's pass was knocked down, leaving Baltimore a one-point winner.