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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Jets had a chance to have a laugher. Josh McCown had just connected with deep threat Robby Anderson on a 41-yard bomb to the Jacksonville 14-yard line on third-and-7, and the Jets were looking to pad their 20-10 lead with 10:33 left in the game.
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But then McCown threw a backward pass toward Bilal Powell, which appeared to hit off Powell's shoulder. Jacksonville's Myles Jack picked the ball up on a bounce and the Jaguars' comeback was on.
The Jets won in overtime, but most of them said it was a game they wouldn't have come back from last year, or even a few weeks ago. But now, the team filled with young players and new additions, has coalesced into one with an identity of never quitting.
"They didn't blink," Jets head coach Todd Bowles said. "Three weeks ago, we wouldn't have recovered from this. Right now, they're growing every week. They didn't flinch."
The defense remained stout despite the offense's miscues that allowed the Jaguars back in the game.
The Jets held Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles to 15-of-35 passing for 140 yards and rookie running back Leonard Fournette to 3.6 yards per carry.
Jacksonville's only offensive touchdown was Fournette's 10-yard catch in the first quarter.
The Jets also held the Jaguars to 4 of 15 on third downs, one week after they held the Dolphins to 1 of 12.
"Don't just mark us off on your calendar as a win," Jets cornerback Morris Claiborne said. "We're not perfect. There's still a lot of work that we have to do to become that playoff/championship team."
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McCown, who finished 22-of-31 passing for 224 yards, wasn't the only Jets player to attempt a pass on Sunday. Punter Lachlan Edwards completed a pass to cornerback Marcus Williams for 31 yards on fourth-and-21 from their own 47-yard line with 22 seconds left before the half. But after a delay of game, kicker Chandler Catanzaro missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt to keep it the score tied at 10.
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Jets running back Bilal Powell rushed for a career-high 163 yards on 21 carries. It was the fourth 100-yard game of his career and first since going for 122 in last year's season finale against Buffalo.
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At halftime, former All-Pro center Kevin Mawae became the 18th player inducted in the Jets' Ring of Honor. Now 46, Mawae spent eight of his 16 pro seasons with the Jets (1998-2005), making six Pro Bowls. He was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year and also served two terms as president of the NFL Players Association.
Before the game, Joe Namath, Curtis Martin and Don Maynard appeared on the field wearing their Hall of Fame Gold Jackets standing alongside their busts that are normally displayed at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. They each received a special ring from the Jets as Hall of Famers.
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The Jets again locked arms for the singing of the national anthem, with owner Christopher Johnson among them. Some Jaguars players locked arms, and others placed their hand over their heart.
