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Tim Tebow would have easily been the New York Jets' second-leading rusher in 2011. If things go well, Tebow may accomplish that feat with New York in 2012.

Tebow helped the Denver Broncos become the NFL's top running team last season. He rushed for 660 yards, six touchdowns and averaged 5.4 yards per carry. Here is how Tebow's rushing numbers compare with New York's running backs last season:


The Jets can certainly use addition production behind Greene. But what are realistic expectations for Tebow?

The former Broncos quarterback ran 122 times last year in 14 games (11 starts). That number of carries is unrealistic for a No. 2 quarterback. Tebow will be used primarily in Wildcat and gimmick packages several times a game.

If Mark Sanchez remains the starter all season -- is that a big if? -- I estimate Tebow gets five to 10 plays a game. The workload could hinge on the game plan, opponent, flow of the game, etc. Assuming most (not all) would be running plays, let's figure that Tebow averages about five carries per game. That would give Tebow 80 carries over a 16-game season. If Tebow averages last season's 5.4 yards per carry, he would rush for 432 yards.

That would be a good amount to add to the pile in New York. The Jets want to ground-and-pound, and Tebow has the toughness and running ability to help.

The key for Tebow will be his efficiency. He won't get nearly as many carries as last season, but making the most of each opportunity is what the Jets need to move the chains.

The 2011 season was an interesting one filled with ups and mostly downs for the AFC East. Only one team finished with a winning record.

But that doesn't mean the AFC East lacked great individual performances. For example, the division produced an MVP candidate at quarterback who threw for more than 5,000 yards and another stellar season from the best cornerback in football.

Here is our All-AFC East Team for 2011:

Quarterback: Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Analysis: There is no question about this one. Brady set a new career-high with 5,235 passing yards, which surpassed Dan Marino's old record. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (5,476) finished with more yards and has the new record. Brady is the single biggest reason the Patriots are 13-3 and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. His performance carried New England through injuries and inconsistencies in other areas. Brady will be chasing his fourth Super Bowl title in the playoffs.

Running back: Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills

Analysis: This might be a controversial pick, because two other running backs -- Reggie Bush and Shonn Greene -- had 1,000-yard seasons. But Jackson was the best running back I watched this season. He simply had some bad luck, suffering a season-ending leg injury. He was on his way to making his first Pro Bowl. Jackson rushed for 934 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games. He had an additional 442 yards receiving. His numbers would be off the charts if he'd played the final six games.

Fullback: Charles Clay, Dolphins

Analysis: Clay was one of the surprise rookies from Miami's draft class. He was a good blocker for Bush, has great hands and knows what to do with the football. Clay caught 16 passes for 233 yards. He averaged 14.6 yards per reception, which is astounding for a fullback. John Conner of the Jets is the best blocking fullback. But Conner is not a receiving threat.

Receivers: Wes Welker, Patriots; Brandon Marshall, Dolphins

Analysis: The best receivers in the AFC East this season are a pair of Pro Bowlers. Welker had an unbelievable year. He set a new career high with 1,569 yards. He also caught 122 passes and was one of the league's most sure-handed receivers. Marshall, in contrast, wasn't sure-handed. He had plenty of big drops, but still had a good season. Marshall caught 81 passes for 1,214 yards and six touchdowns. What's even more impressive is that Marshall put up big numbers despite Miami's in-season quarterback switch from Chad Henne to Matt Moore.

Tight end: Rob Gronkowski, Patriots

Analysis: Gronkowski showed flashes as a rookie. But no one knew he would explode the way he did in his second season. "Gronk" set an NFL record for tight ends with 17 touchdowns. He averaged more than one per game, despite many teams' focus on stopping him late in the season. Gronkowski finished with 90 receptions for 1,327 yards and made his first Pro Bowl. Considering he's only 22, it will most likely be the first of many Pro Bowls.

Center: Nick Mangold, Jets

Analysis: Jets head coach Rex Ryan says a lot of things. But we believe him when he says Mangold is the best center in the NFL. Mangold fought through an ankle injury but had another solid season. He was named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl. The Jets' offensive line was up and down but completely fell apart when Mangold missed two games. New York's entire running game and blocking scheme is built around its center -- and for good reason.

Guards: Logan Mankins, Patriots; Andy Levitre, Bills

Analysis: Mankins, who made his fourth Pro Bowl, stayed healthy right up until the end and played 15 of 16 games. He should be ready for the playoffs. Levitre was one of my favorite players to watch because of his versatility. He's a very good guard, a solid offensive tackle and struggled at center. Levitre was forced to play all three positions in Buffalo this season because of injuries.

Offensive tackles: Jake Long, Dolphins; Matt Light, Patriots

Analysis: Long played through injuries all season. His back bothered him, and he ended up on injured reserve after tearing his biceps. But Long at 80 percent is still better than most left tackles, and he was good enough to make his fourth Pro Bowl in four years. Light gets our last tackle spot over New York's D’Brickashaw Ferguson. The Pro Bowl nod went to Ferguson. But Ferguson struggled at times this season and didn't play up to his usual standards. I think Ferguson got in on reputation and name recognition.

Defensive ends: Andre Carter, Patriots; Mark Anderson, Patriots

Analysis: No one flinched when the Patriots quietly signed a pair of veteran defensive ends in free agency to bolster their pass rush. Most of the focus was on big-name acquisitions such as receiver Chad Ochocinco and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. But two of New England's best signings were Carter and Anderson. Each finished with 10 sacks, and Carter made the Pro Bowl despite a late, season-ending quad injury. For all of New England's issues on defense, arguably its biggest strength was rushing the passer. The Patriots registered 40 sacks, and Carter and Anderson combined for half of that total.

Defensive tackles: Vince Wilfork, Patriots; Sione Pouha, Jets

Analysis: Wilfork, 30, continues to improve with age. He combines strength and smarts to play defensive tackle/nose tackle. Wilfork finished with 52 tackles and 3.5 sacks. But it was his two interceptions this season that were most memorable. Wilfork rumbled for 28 and 19 yards, respectively, on his two picks. The second defensive tackle was one of the most difficult selections. But we went with Pouha over Miami's Paul Soliai. Pouha's numbers were more impressive for a nose tackle. He recorded 58 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. Soliai played well for Miami but registered only 27 tackles.

Outside linebackers: Cameron Wake, Dolphins; Calvin Pace, Jets

Analysis: It was a down year for outside linebackers in the AFC East. Wake and Pace were the best of a thin crop. Wake's sack numbers dipped from 14 to 8.5 this season. Teams put more focus on Wake, and he faced more double teams. Pace stayed healthy this season but recorded his lowest sack total (4.5) since 2006. Pace's backup, Aaron Maybin, led the Jets with six sacks.

Inside linebackers: David Harris, Jets; Karlos Dansby, Dolphins

Analysis: Harris continues to be one of the most underrated players in the NFL. Harris was the Jets' most consistent defensive player outside of Darrelle Revis. He was always around the football and recorded 86 tackles, five sacks and four interceptions. The second inside linebacker was another tough call. But we think Dansby had a slightly better season than New England's Jerod Mayo. A tailback getting 100 yards against the Dolphins' defense was rare, in large part due to Dansby. He established a physical presence in the middle for Miami and recorded 103 tackles and two sacks.

Cornerbacks: Darrelle Revis, Jets; Kyle Arrington, Patriots

Analysis: What more can you say about Revis? He had another great season for the Jets. He led New York with 21 passes defended, and tied for the team lead with four interceptions. One pick was returned 100 yards for a touchdown. Teams opted to attack Revis more this season, which allowed more chances for him to make big plays. Arrington was this year's version of Devin McCourty. New England gave up a lot of passing yards, but Arrington made the most of his interception opportunities. He led the Patriots with seven picks and had 88 tackles.

Safeties: Yeremiah Bell, Dolphins; George Wilson, Bills

Analysis: The safeties struggled in the AFC East this season. But Bell was probably the most consistent in the division. He led Miami with 107 tackles. He also had two sacks and one interception. Wilson played lights out at times, particularly early in the season. He set a career high with 106 tackles and tied a career mark with four interceptions. Wilson did all of this despite missing three games with injuries.

Punter: Brandon Fields, Dolphins

Analysis: Fields was spectacular this season. He averaged 48.8 yards per punt and had 32 punts inside the 20. Fields was the only Dolphins player exciting to watch during Miami's ugly 0-7 start. Fields had a Pro Bowl season. But Oakland Raiders punter and Pro Bowler Shane Lechler is probably the best punter in the NFL.

Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots

Analysis: Fantasy football players fell in love with Gostkowski this season. New England's high-scoring offense constantly put Gostkowski in position to rack up points, and he usually came through. Gostkowski led New England in scoring with 143 points. He made 28 of 33 field goals and all 59 extra points. The pressure of the playoffs always is different for kickers. But Gostkowski has shown no signs that he will be bothered by it.

Return specialist: Joe McKnight, Jets

Analysis: McKnight was a must-see because something exciting could happen every time he touched the ball. McKnight was fun to watch in the open field. He averaged 31.6 yards per kick return and is a Pro Bowl alternate on special teams. His longest of the season was a 107-yard touchdown return. The next step for McKnight is to develop as a running back. With LaDainian Tomlinson a free agent, McKnight could get a chance to backup Greene next season.

Four of the 13 players with at least 1,000 yards rushing this season call the NFC West home.

All four run with power.

Two in particular -- Arizona's Beanie Wells and Seattle's Marshawn Lynch -- have racked up yardage after contact. Both rank among the NFL's top four in total yards after contact. And among those players with at least 1,000 yards, Wells and Lynch rank high in percentage of yards gained after contact (see chart, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information).

Week 17 gives us one last chance to see Wells, Lynch and St. Louis' Steven Jackson in action this season. Along with San Francisco's Frank Gore, they give the NFC West more 1,000-yard rushers than any division. The AFC North, AFC South and AFC West have two apiece. The AFC East, NFC East and NFC South have one apiece. The NFC North has none after injuries sidelined Matt Forte (997 yards) and Adrian Peterson (970).

Six other backs are within 150 yards of 1,000 this season: Shonn Greene (999), Chris Johnson (986), Fred Jackson (934), Michael Bush (911), DeMarco Murray (897) and Rashard Mendenhall (890). Murray is sidelined by injury.
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» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. New York Jets' playoff chances: It was just one week ago that the talented but inconsistent Jets controlled their own playoff fate. It was a simple formula: Win the final two games and they're in. But the Jets laid their second egg in a row, to the cross-town rival New York Giants. Now, the Jets need to beat the Dolphins and get a ton of help. Three teams need to lose next week or the Jets will be watching the playoffs from home. This team had Super Bowl expectations entering the season. The Jets have no one to blame but themselves if they don't get into the postseason.

2. Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer: The Jets have the NFL's 27th-ranked offense. Although there's plenty of blame to go around, the offensive coordinator will probably get the brunt of it. Schottenheimer has underachieved with talented weapons such as tight end Dustin Keller, receivers Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress and running backs Shonn Greene, Joe McKnight and LaDainian Tomlinson. There are already rumblings in New York that Schottenheimer's job may be in jeopardy. I think, at the very least, Jets head coach Rex Ryan and the front office will take a hard look at ways to improve the offense and its coaching staff in the offseason.

3. Miami Dolphins' draft stock: The Dolphins are 5-10 and currently own the No. 8 overall pick in April’s NFL draft. Sounds good, right? Well, not so much. Miami is searching for a top quarterback and may be on the outside looking in this offseason. Three very good quarterback prospects were expected to be available: Stanford's Andrew Luck, Baylor's Robert Griffin III and USC's Matt Barkley. Luck will be gone with the first pick, Griffin is projected to go before No. 8 and Barkley opted to return for his senior season. The Dolphins could roll the dice with Oklahoma's Landry Jones, but he's considered a drop-off from the other three college quarterbacks. It's looking more and more like Miami could stay with Matt Moore in 2012 or see whether there are any intriguing veterans available in free agency.

RISING

1. Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots linebacker: New England needs someone to step up defensively down the stretch. Mayo is the most likely candidate to do it. He is coming off his best game of the season in a key win over Miami. Mayo recorded 13 tackles and a season-high two sacks. Mayo is one of the few consistent players on New England's inconsistent defense. Keep an eye on Mayo in the playoffs.

2. Leodis McKelvin, Buffalo Bills cornerback: Buffalo fans expected more from McKelvin when the team drafted him in the first round in 2008. The Bills were counting on McKelvin to develop into a shutdown corner. That hasn't been the case. But one area where McKelvin has been as good as advertised is his ability to return kicks, which came in handy during Buffalo's win over the Denver Broncos. McKelvin set a team record with 136 punt return yards, including an 80-yard touchdown in the second quarter that was Buffalo's final lead change.

3. Wes Welker, Patriots receiver: What more can you say about Welker? He continues to produce and had another big game against Miami. Welker recorded 12 receptions for 138 yards. Teams are focusing on Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski more, which should open up opportunities for Welker. Welker was targeted 19 times last week by Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Welker has 116 receptions for 1,518 yards in what will surely be another Pro Bowl season.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 16:

Sanchez missing the mark: The New York Jets haven't made many big plays this season. A major reason is that Jets starting quarterback Mark Sanchez is missing the mark on deep passes. Sanchez is completing just 25.6 percent of his passes of more than 20 yards. He also has four interceptions and an abysmal Total Quarterback Rating of 14.4 when throwing deep. The Jets' offensive line hasn't protected well, and that's affecting their deep passing game. The New York Giants have a solid pass rush and will try to pressure Sanchez. But if the Jets' pass protection holds up, big plays can be had against the Giants, who rank No. 29 in pass defense.

Greene for 1,000: Another key in the "Battle for New York" will be Jets running back Shonn Greene. He's come on strong in the second half of the season and is just 59 yards shy of 1,000. The Jets are at their best offensively when Greene has it going and Sanchez can throw it successfully off play-action. The Giants' defense also allows 127.6 yards per game on the ground, which is 22nd in the league.

Taking care of business: The New England Patriots (11-3) have to win their final two games at Gillette Stadium to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. It starts Saturday against the Miami Dolphins (5-9). Miami hasn't quit this season. The Dolphins are 5-2 in their past seven games but are just 2-5 on the road. Chances look pretty good for the Patriots, who are 22-1 in their past 23 regular-season games at home.

Big game for Moore: It's a critical time for Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore. He is 5-5 as a starter this year, but this is by far his biggest game of the season. Moore, liked other quarterbacks in the AFC East, ultimately will be judged on whether he can compete with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. If not, the Dolphins need to find someone else who can. Moore's performance Saturday in Gillette Stadium will go a long way toward making that determination.

Bills face TebowMania: The disappointing Buffalo Bills (5-9) have lost seven straight games. But Buffalo has a good opportunity to play spoiler to one of the biggest stories in the NFL. The Bills (5-9) host quarterback Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos (8-6), who are trying to hold onto a one-game lead in the AFC West over the Oakland Raiders (7-7) and San Diego Chargers (7-7). Most expect Tebow to lead Denver to the playoffs. But a Buffalo upset would put Denver at risk in the final week.

As you get ready for this afternoon's home game against the New York Jets, here's one reason for Philadelphia Eagles fans to feel good and one reason for concern:

Feeling good: The Jets' offensive line is not their strength, and Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is not at his best when under pressure. The Eagles are second in the league in sacks. They should be able to get to Sanchez and rattle him, and if they do that they will have a chance to take advantage of some Jets mistakes. As long as the Eagles limit their own turnovers, they have shown the ability to be in any game they play. Forcing the Jets into a few of their own would give them the opportunity to pull the upset.

Cause for concern: The Jets love this time of year, and they're playing well coming in. They ran the ball for 149 yards last week against the Chiefs, and if they can continue to run the ball effectively and make their offense multi-dimensional, they'll cause problems for an Eagles defense that does live off its ability to pressure the quarterback. The Jets are very good at limiting big plays on defense, so the Eagles will have to make sure and limit them as well. It's not likely to be a shootout, so the Eagles will have to make sure and account for Shonn Greene and the Jets ground game enough to limit the scoring.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Miami Dolphins' offensive line: There is a reason one starting quarterback (Chad Henne) is on injured reserve and the other (Matt Moore) could miss this week's game with concussion-like symptoms. Miami's offensive line is solid at run blocking but horrible sometimes at pass protection. The Dolphins allowed nine sacks in last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Miami lost Moore in the game and finished with backup quarterback J.P. Losman. If Moore can't return, Losman would start against his former team, the Buffalo Bills, on Sunday.

2. New England Patriots' pass defense: The Patriots gave up 293 passing yards against Washington. There have been weeks New England allowed more yards, but considering the competition, this was one of the worst performances I've seen from the Patriots' secondary this season. Washington quarterback Rex Grossman looked like Joe Montana at times. Redskins receivers were running free all game. It's a combination of poor coverage and poor discipline -- a season-long issue. I'm not sure New England can fix this before the playoffs.

3. Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick: Buffalo's franchise quarterback is in a tough spot. His team is playing poorly, and Fitzpatrick has a lot of pressure because of his $59 million contract extension. The Bills have lost six in a row, and Fitzpatrick has been very streaky. He threw for 176 yards and two interceptions in a 37-10 loss to the San Diego Chargers. Critics are questioning whether Fitzpatrick is the long-term solution. He can silence them with a string of good games to end the season.

RISING

1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots tight end: I don't know whether Gronkowski is the best tight end in the NFL. But Gronkowski is playing the best football of any tight end the past few weeks. "Gronk" recorded six receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns against Washington. He set a new scoring record for tight ends with 15 touchdowns this year. The scary part is that he's only 22 and in his second season.

2. Shonn Greene, New York Jets running back: Greene has made a habit of saving his best for last. New York's bruising running back is again playing his best football late in the season and has four rushing touchdowns the last two weeks. Greene recorded a season-high 129 rushing yards and a touchdown in New York's 37-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He also led the Jets with 58 receiving yards. It's no coincidence New York (8-5) has won three in a row and has become one of the hottest teams in the AFC.

3. Todd Bowles, Miami Dolphins interim coach: Bowles has a golden opportunity. He was promoted to interim head coach after the firing of Tony Sparano this week. Bowles is a long shot to be Miami's head coach in 2012, but these final three games are a showcase for him. Unlike many interim coaches, Bowles takes over a Miami team that is playing good football lately. The Dolphins are 4-2 in their last six games.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Forget about quarterback Mark Sanchez. He's not going to single-handedly carry the New York Jets.

Don't worry about New York's defense. That group will be there when it matters.

The most important factor that will determine the Jets' future this season is their up-and-down running game.

Memo to tailbacks Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson: It's your time.

New York's ground game was dominant Sunday in a 37-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, with Greene and Tomlinson combining for 251 total yards and two touchdowns.

The Jets won their third straight game, improved to 8-5, and currently hold the sixth seed in the AFC. New York simply must continue winning to make it to the playoffs for the third time under head coach Rex Ryan.

New York, which had three rushing touchdowns, imposed its will against Kansas City by winning the battle on the line of scrimmage. The Jets' run-to-pass ratio was 2-to-1 (42 runs, 21 passes).

"That's how you win games in December, because there's going to be a lot of cold games, a lot of snowy games and you have to be able to effectively run the ball," Jets guard Matt Slauson said. "It's really nice to see that our confidence is building as a unit on offense. We really feel like we're starting to be able to do whatever we want, and everybody is executing well."

The Jets' offense is going in the right direction because the running backs are trending upward. Tomlinson said he had a feeling things would go well Sunday following the coin toss.

New York won the toss and uncharacteristically took the football; Ryan usually defers to the second half. But lately the Jets have relied too much on fourth-quarter comebacks, so Ryan's message was clear.

"That kind of set the [tone] for us to start fast," Tomlinson said. "Once we got that first touchdown, we really felt like it was going to be a good day for us."

Greene's first run was for 31 yards and led to New York's first touchdown. He finished with a season-high 129 rushing yards, just his second 100-yard game of the season, and led the Jets in receiving with 58 yards. Greene often has been criticized this season for not making enough big plays, but he averaged 5.4 yards per carry against the Chiefs and carried the offense.

Tomlinson added 64 total yards and a touchdown. His best play was a 19-yard touchdown reception from Sanchez before halftime. This was Tomlinson's second game back from a knee injury, and he appears to have fresh legs for the final stretch of the season.

Also keep in mind that New York was without its most dynamic running back, Joe McKnight, who missed the game with an elbow injury. McKnight adds big-play ability to the backfield and on special teams that the Jets don't get from Greene and Tomlinson.

The Jets haven't had all three running backs healthy for a while. But they could have their full group of running backs together as early as next week.

"It can be really dangerous," said Jets fullback John Conner, who blocks for all three. "Shonn is pounding it and running real hard. LT and Joe have great speed and quickness. That's going to cause some problems for defenses in the future."

The immediate future looks bright for the Jets if they can continue running the football. There was a point earlier in the season when the running game was one of the weakest areas of the team.

"We're built for this," Slauson said. "Unfortunately, it took us a little bit to get it going. But everything is meshing great now, working really hard and it’s coming together now."

Despite the team's many struggles this season, New York has found a way to control whether it makes the playoffs. The Cincinnati Bengals (7-6), Tennessee Titans (7-6) and Oakland Raiders (7-6) all lost in Week 14. That gives the Jets a one-game lead in the wild-card race with three weeks remaining.

The Jets needed a lot of help and they got it. Now, they must hold their spot by staying focused and continuing to win.

"You've got the Eagles, the Giants and Miami to close it out. There are no easy games," Ryan said of the Jets' remaining schedule. "As far as being overconfident, we're always confident -- period. Overconfident? I don't think so."

The Jets have their swagger back at just the right time. Much of it has to do with their ability to run the football.

Here are some early thoughts on the New York Jets' 37-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs:

What it means: After back-to-back fourth-quarter comebacks, the Jets (8-5) finally got an easy game. New York jumped to a 28-3 lead at halftime and cruised the rest of the way. It was the third straight win for the Jets and keeps them in the thick of the AFC wild-card chase. New York played like it couldn't afford to lose this game.

Gang Greene: Jets starting running back Shonn Greene is playing his best football of the season. Greene rushed for a season-high 129 yards and a touchdown. He also added another 58 yards receiving. Greene has four touchdowns the past two weeks. Sunday also marked his second 100-yard game this season.

Defense batters Palko: As expected, New York's blitzing defense battered and confused Kansas City quarterback Tyler Palko. The Jets held Palko to just 195 yards passing and one touchdown pass. New York also registered six sacks and one pick. Palko had just 11 yards passing in the first half and picked up most of his yards in garbage time.

Leonhard hurts knee: The Jets suffered a big injury in their secondary when starting safety Jim Leonhard twisted his right knee in the second quarter. Leonhard needed help off the field and never returned. He will be further evaluated this week and could be out for an extended period.

Getting help: The Jets got the big help they needed in the wild-card chase. The Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) suffered a last-second 20-19 loss to the Houston Texans (10-3) to give up the sixth seed in the AFC. The Jets don't hold any tiebreakers among playoff hopefuls in the conference and need to continue winning.

What's next: The Jets continue their string of must-win games in the final month of the season. New York will travel to play the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Jets lead the Kansas City Chiefs, 28-3, at intermission.

Here are some notes at halftime:

• With the game already in hand, the biggest news is the injury to Jets starting safety Jim Leonhard. He injured his right knee following a second-quarter interception when his leg was twisted on the tackle. He was unable to put any weight on his knee and was carted to the sideline. Leonhard won't return in this game. The Jets may have to play without him for an extended period.
• Jets running back Shonn Greene is having a good game. Green’s first carry went for 31 yards. He has 67 yards rushing, 58 yards receiving and a touchdown. Greene now has four touchdowns in his last two games.
• The Jets are confusing Chiefs quarterback Tyler Palko. New York has kept players in his face all first half and has three sacks. The Jets also rushed Palko into a key interception to Leonhard that led to a second-quarter touchdown. Palko is 3 of 8 for 11 yards and the turnover.
• New York (7-5) isn't getting much help in the wild-card chase. The Cincinnati Bengals (7-5) hold the final wild-card spot and lead the Houston Texans, 16-3, at halftime.

Some thoughts on the Washington Redskins' home loss to the New York Jets on Sunday:

What it means: The result of this game means the Redskins will not have a winning record this season. They are 4-8 with four games left to play. Other than that, it doesn't mean a whole lot, since any reasonable expectation of a playoff appearance for Washington this year went out the window during its six-game losing streak.

Swan Song for Fred and Trent: In what appears as though it will be his final game of the season, Redskins tight end Fred Davis caught six passes for 99 yards. He has been the most reliable and important receiving target for the Redskins this year regardless of which quarterback has been under center. But since he and left tackle Trent Williams have been suspended for drug violations for the final four games of the season, neither will play again in 2011. The Redskins will seriously struggle to score points in the season's final months without their very good second-year left tackle and their breakout fourth-year tight end.

Fourth-quarter collapse: The Redskins took a 16-13 lead with 7:52 left in the game, but things completely fell apart after that. A nice kick return set the Jets up at midfield, and Santonio Holmes got behind the defense for a 30-yard touchdown catch from Mark Sanchez. On the following Redskins possession, Rex Grossman took a third-down sack and fumbled the ball away on his own 9-yard line, and Shonn Greene ran in for a touchdown two plays later. Then, after a Graham Gano field goal cut the lead to 27-19, the Redskins flubbed the onside kick attempt and Greene ran in from 25 yards out for the clincher. All that remained was the obligatory Grossman interception, which came on his last pass of the game and extended his streak to eight straight games with at least one.

What's next: The Redskins play another home game against another AFC East team Sunday, this time against the first-place New England Patriots (9-3), who have won four games in a row and have outscored their opponents by an average of 9.5 points per game this season.

As you get ready for this afternoon's home game against the New York Jets, here's one reason for Washington Redskins fans to feel good and one reason for concern.

Feeling good: The Redskins' outside linebackers should be able to win all day against the Jets' offensive tackles, which will not only put pressure on Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez but will also keep him from escaping the pocket. That's important, since Sanchez is pretty good outside the pocket and not as accurate as he should be while in it. Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan are the keys to the Redskins' defense, and they could be in line for a good game today.

Cause for concern: The Jets were able to run the ball with success against the Bills last week, and defending the run has been a problem for the Redskins for much of the year. If Shonn Greene can get into an early rhythm and stay healthy for the entire game (which has been an issue for him), that's the best way for the Jets to keep the Redskins' pass rush off of Sanchez. If the Jets succeed with it, Washington will have to alter its defensive game plan and won't be able to pressure Sanchez as much as they'd like.

New England Patriots (8-3)

Opponent: Indianapolis Colts (0-11)

X factor: LB Rob Ninkovich

Analysis: The Patriots do not really need an X factor against the winless Colts. But a player who is quietly playing well in recent weeks is Ninkovich. He's a heady player who stays around the football, which has resulted in some big plays for New England's defense. Ninkovich has two sacks, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown the past three games. Keep an eye on Ninkovich this week and down the stretch.

New York Jets (6-5)

Opponent: at Washington Redskins (4-7)

X factor: RB LaDainian Tomlinson

Analysis: Tomlinson is back, and he returns at a good time. The Jets are in must-win mode and need their running game. Starting tailback Shonn Greene is banged up and Joe McKnight still is inexperienced. Tomlinson can be a solid bridge between the two. He's proven and has fresh legs. He's sat out the past two games with a knee injury and only has 46 carries this season. Look for the Jets to rely on Tomlinson more down the stretch.

Buffalo Bills (5-6)

Opponent: Tennessee Titans (6-5)

X factor: DL Marcell Dareus

Analysis: Buffalo's defense can't stop anyone right now. The Bills are struggling against the run and pass and need someone to step up and turn it around. This is where Dareus has to come in. Yes, he is a rookie. But Dareus is this year's No. 3 overall pick and one of the few difference-makers on Buffalo's defense. Dareus has shown flashes of dominance — but the Bills need him to be consistently stout in the middle, especially this week against the Titans and Pro Bowl running back Chris Johnson.

Miami Dolphins (3-8)

Opponent: Oakland Raiders (7-4)

X factor: S Yeremiah Bell

Analysis: Bell is playing solid football. He has eight tackles and an interception his past two games. But here is why Bell is very important this weekend: Oakland has tremendous speed on offense. Expect the Raiders to challenge the Dolphins vertically with deep threats such as receivers Denarius Moore, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jacoby Ford. It will be key for Bell to maintain his deep responsibility. Oakland's offense thrives on big plays.

New York Jets (6-5) running back LaDainian Tomlinson (knee) returned to practice Thursday. He missed the previous two weeks with a knee injury, but expects to play Sunday in a must-win game against the Washington Redskins (4-7).

"It felt good running around and cutting," Tomlinson told reporters. "I really pushed myself to see where I really was, and I was happy with the way I responded. It wasn’t too sore, it didn't swell up at all, so that let me know that I'm ready to go."

Tomlinson says he feels fresh for the stretch run, which is good news for the Jets. Starting running back Shonn Greene has been banged up, and the team is still learning to trust inexperienced backup Joe McKnight.

A healthy Tomlinson will be a much-needed addition to New York's backfield. He only has 46 carries this season, which is a career-low.

"That was pretty much the gameplan for the year, to keep me fresh and down the stretch possibly increase my workload," Tomlinson said. "So I am fresh and feeling good, so the coaches have that option, if they want to use me more."

The Jets have little margin for error. They are behind teams such as the Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) and Denver Broncos (6-5) for the final wild-card spot in the AFC.

DENVER -- The New York Jets got Tebow-ed, falling to the Denver Broncos, 17-13, in a stunning, last-minute collapse Thursday night. Broncos QB Tim Tebow led a 95-yard drive, scoring on a 20-yard run with 58 seconds left.

What it means: The Jets fell to 5-5 in the most unimaginable fashion, blowing leads of 10-3 and 13-10 in the fourth quarter. The Jets have serious issues -- a mistake-prone Mark Sanchez, injuries to their running backs and an offense that doesn’t have a clue.

Tebowmania: With only three full days to prepare for Tebow and the Broncos’ college-style offense, the Jets’ defense was stellar for 56 minutes. Then came an utter collapse. Tebow came to life, leading a 12-play, 95-yard drive. In Denver, they will call it The Drive II. He made plays with his feet, and occasionally with his arm. The Jets fell asleep on the game-winning plays, allowing Tebow to scramble -- untouched -- into the end zone.

It may have been the death knell for the Jets’ season.

Bad Mark -- again: Sanchez did it again. For the second straight week, he threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. This was a momentum-changing killer, a forced throw to Plaxico Burress that was picked by cornerback Andre Goodman. It made it 10-10. It was Sanchez’s third pick-six of the season.

It was another maddeningly inconsistent performance by Sanchez. He completed 11 straight passes at one point, but he missed a wide-open Dustin Keller in the end zone and made two clock-management errors -- one week after getting ripped by Rex Ryan for a botched timeout.

But say this for Sanchez: He’s one tough hombre. He took a beating in the second half, drilled twice by Denver pass rushers, but he managed to lead a 42-yard field goal drive for a 13-10 lead. Nevertheless, the Jets have to be concerned as they look forward.

Brutal special teams: This is supposed to be a strength, but the special teams were awful all night. Joe McKnight fumbled on a third-quarter kickoff return (his second lost fumble in five days), Nick Folk missed two field goal attempts (52 and 61 yards) and punter T.J. Conley shanked a 13-yarder. Give Folk credit; he rebounded to make a 45-yard field goal that could have been the game winner.

Painful injury: The Jets, already without the injured LaDainian Tomlinson (sprained knee), lost starting running back Shonn Greene (ribs) in the first quarter. Greene caught a 4-yard screen pass and landed on the ball as he hit the ground, grimacing in pain. It’s a familiar injury for Greene, who suffered a severe rib injury in the 2009 AFC Championship Game.

Makeshift backfield: Without Greene and Tomlinson, the backfield consisted of special-teams star Joe McKnight and rookie Bilal Powell, who made his NFL debut. That hurt the Jets’ pass protection because neither McKnight nor Powell is a good blocker.

Powell actually made the best bad play of the game -- yes, you read that correctly. On a second down from the Broncos’ 1, Powell fumbled in a crowd. It squirted across the goal line and left guard Matt Slauson pounced on it for the touchdown to give the Jets a 10-3 lead.

McKnight is an undisciplined runner, but he ran hard between the tackles and was effective on screen passes. The Jets aren’t a big screen offense, but they exploited the Broncos’ rush with well-timed screen passes.

Rare score: How fitting that the first touchdown in the ugliest of games was scored by a 325-pound guard from Nebraska. The way the Jets’ offense was playing, it wasn’t going to come from one of their skill-position players. Get this: Slauson’s TD was the first by a Jets offensive lineman since guard Randy Rasmussen in 1972.

All quiet on Revis Island: Just as he expected, Darrelle Revis didn’t get much action against the run-heavy Broncos. Best we can tell, he didn’t fall asleep.

What’s ahead: The Jets get a 10-day break before resuming against the Buffalo Bills in a home game. The Jets dominated the first meeting, 27-11.