Testaverde Ignites Winning Rally By Dave Hutchinson New Jersey Star-Ledger 10/20/03 HOUSTON -- As quarterback Vinny Testaverde peered into the huddle as the Jets took possession at their own 14 with 2:48 left and the game -- perhaps the season -- hanging in the balance, he didn't lay an emotional pep talk on his teammates. He didn't have to. Testaverde's eyes told them all they needed to know yesterday. "Vinny is a great leader," running back Curtis Martin said. "Not only as a football player, but as a man. He's top-notch. You read the language of the quarterback. He's so confident, with that look in his eyes you know he wants to win. ... We knew that was it. It was do or die. You could see the urgency in everybody's face." "We've been in that situation before," Testaverde said. "Nothing has to be said. I just call the plays with confidence. They can see it in your eyes." And his actions. In what could be his final start as a Jet, Testaverde led an eight-play, 86-yard drive that culminated with an 8-yard touchdown run by LaMont Jordan with 1:26 remaining that lifted the Jets to a thrilling 19-14 victory over the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. The Jets, who rallied from a 14-0 deficit, needed a game-saving stand by their defense to clinch this one. After the Texans' J.J. Moses returned the ensuing kickoff 63 yards to the Jets' 27 (linebacker Quincy Stewart made a game-saving tackle) and Houston got a first down at the 15 with 39 seconds left, the Jets' defense stiffened. The final play was a fourth-and-four pass from QB David Carr, intended for tight end Billy Miller, that fell incomplete inside the Jets' 5 with 27 seconds left. The ball glanced off the chest of receiver Andre Johnson. "You have to deal with the experiences that confront you, and we never really panicked," Jets coach Herman Edwards said. "I just believe in this team." "This was big," left tackle Jason Fabini said. "To come out of here with a loss would've been tough. This is a great feeling. This was a big test and we have another in Philly next week. We just have to keep plugging away." It was the second straight victory for the Jets (2-4) and sets up an emotional return by injured QB Chad Pennington next Sunday against the Eagles (3-3). Edwards said he'll announce his decision today if Pennington will start, but it's a done deal, said someone close to Edwards. "I'm not going to hide anything," Edwards said. "I'm kind of leaning one way. We'll see." Testaverde, who turns 40 next month, went out with a bang against the Texans (2-4), leading the Jets on a pair of vintage drives. One came before the half on a seven-play, 91-yarder. The other was the game-winner. He completed 15 of 29 passes for 182 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Jets offensive coordinator Paul Hackett said the Texans began to play soft once they got a 14-point lead, and the Jets were able to capitalize, hitting them with some big running plays, especially in the final drive. Defensively, the Jets yielded 169 yards rushing (a Texans team record), with rookie Domanick Davis rushing for 129 yards on 27 carries in his first career start. Davis also caught nine passes for 70 yards. But the Jets held Carr to 15-of-23 for 170 yards, no TDs. But it came down to the final drive and it unfolded this way: After an incompletion on first down, Testaverde hit WR Santana Moss (six catches, 111 yards, one TD) for 25 yards, giving the Jets a first down at their 39. "It was an in-route," Testaverde said. "But for a second, I thought he was running the wrong route because he extended the (cornerback) out so far. It gave me a great window to throw the ball." On the next play, Testaverde scrambled for 13 yards to the Houston 48. "They were surprised to see me running out there," Testaverde said with a smile, before adding, "so was I." On first down, Martin (17 carries, 88 yards) ran off right end for 14 yards. Then, following an incompletion, Martin turned in the play of the drive. From the 34, he went off right tackle, faked linebacker Jamie Sharper and free safety Marlon McCree, and ran 20 yards to the Texans' 14. "I was surprised we called that play," said Martin, who was expecting a pass. "I don't think anyone in the huddle expected that play. We were excited. It was a great call. It caught the defense off guard. We gave them a good feel that it would be a pass play. It got me in the open field and that's where I like to be, one-on-one in the open field." Jordan took over from there. After he ran for 6 yards on first down, he blasted through the left side behind guard Dave Szott and Fabini for the game-winning, 8-yard TD. "The hole opened up," Jordan said. "(Houston) did a line stunt and our offensive line picked it up. I followed (fullback) Jerald (Sowell) up the hole. He threw a great block and I went over him." Said Szott: "We just kept believing that we could do it. We kept pointing guys out saying, 'It's your turn this time. It's your turn.' We just kept the faith."