EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Curtis Martin ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns Sunday as the New York Jets played their best all-around game of the season and gave coach Herman Edwards a victory over his mentor by pounding the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-7.
The game marked the 33rd time in NFL history that a player faced a former coach as a head coach. Edwards was a defensive back for Dick Vermeil's Philadelphia Eagles and was a key member of the team that reached Super Bowl XV in 1980.
"I'd like to thank the man I just played against, that's Dick Vermeil, for everything he did for me as a person, a man and a coach," Edwards said. "Probably one of the reasons I'm standing here is that man across the hall. I owe a lot of tribute to him on how he has developed me as a football player, a man. I can't say enough about the guy."
During the week, Vermeil, known for his emotional breakdowns, said he would probably have to hold back tears when meeting Edwards on the field at Giants Stadium prior to kickoff. In fact, Vermeil began to break up as the two were conducting a television interview prior to the game.
"I'm disappointed. I'm mad at myself," Vermeil said. "I'm mad at my coaches, I'm mad at my players. I think anyboy who gets their (butts) beat like that gets upset. I'm upset and disappointed, but I'm not any more upset at a player as I am at myself."
The Jets (6-3) took advantage of four Kansas City turnovers, including three interceptions by Trent Green, and ran over, around and through the Chiefs defense for 174 yards. New York has won three in a row.
Kansas City (2-7), unable to build on last week's victory at San Diego, lost for the fifth time in six games.
Martin, who carried 20 times, scored on runs of one and 25 yards in the second quarter and essentially put the contest away in the third period by barrelling his way for a five-yard touchdown that made it 24-0.
"(Martin) makes the good cuts in the hole," Chiefs cornerback Eric Warfield said. "I mean, the guy is a good running back. He doesn't fumble the ball that much. He makes big plays when they need them. You can see why he leads the league in rushing."
In addition to the Vermeil-Edwards subplot, the game was also a battle between the AFC's two-top rushers, Martin and Kansas City's Priest Holmes. Holmes gained 71 yards on 18 attempts.
Green completed 16 of 31 passes for 143 yards while counterpart Vinny Testaverde was 17 of 27 for 170 yards with an interception.
"The first two interceptions were tipped balls. (Green) has really got the bug this year," said Vermeil. "Every ball that a lineman hits, someone intercepts."
The Jets lost wide receiver Wayne Chrebet to an undisclosed injury early in the third quarter when he came down hard on his ribs in the end zone. New York remained a half game behind Miami in the AFC East.
After a sloppy first quarter in which neither team could do much offensively, the Jets embarked on a 13-play, 96-yard march that culminated in Martin's one-yard scoring plunge 7:32 into the second quarter.
"I think we've been getting what it (the West Coast offfense) is about, but at the same time, I still don't think we're at our full potential," Martin said. "I think we can do much better than what we've been doing."
The score was set up by the combination of Testaverde and Chrebet, who combined on pass plays of 19 and 14 yards, which set the Jets up at the one-yard line.
"I think it (the drive) kind of got us going," Testaverde said. "We get the ball on the four-yard line, started making plays and before you know it, we were in the end zone."
Kansas City ran just four plays on the ensuing possesion before punting and, when the Chiefs got the ball back again, Jets safety Victor Green came up with an interception to give New York possession just inside Kansas City territory.
Five plays later, on fourth and one, Martin ran to the left, broke through the line and went the distance for a 14-0 Jets' advantage with 24 seconds to play before halftime.
John Hall booted a 51-yard field goal early in the third quarter for the Jets, who shortly thereafter took advantage of another Kansas City turnover when Green was hit in the pocket and linebacker Mo Lewis recovered the fumble.
New York quickly moved 65 yards, including a 22-yard strike from Testaverde to Richie Anderson, before Martin ran for his third score.
For the fifth time in history, the Jets played a game without any penalties.
"I think we took a big step this afternoon," Testaverde said. "I thought last week after beating the Saints this team could possibly get on a role. We showed up today and played good football. Hopefully we can continue that."
