Johnson Makes Key Play for Jets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Jets, who have perfected the fourth-quarter fold, came up with a rally this time.

The Jets, who lost four games in which they led in the fourth quarter, turned around their game with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday on Keyshawn Johnson’s 43-yard touchdown reception with 9:31 left to play for a 12-7 victory.

Johnson awakened from a game-long slumber as the Jets (2-6), winning for the first time in five home appearances, was helped by Arizona’s sputtering attack. The Jets sacked Dave Brown six times.

“A fresh start, that was the message,” said Johnson, who didn’t catch a ball in the first half and finished with only two for 51 yards. “This is the second half of the season and we have every chance to do well in the second half.

“This helps the mental part for everyone,” Johnson added after he beat zone coverage on a post pattern with 5:29 remaining.

Johnson somehow was matched with linebacker Rob Fredrickson on the winning play. He easily got behind Fredrickson and then sped to the end zone.

“It was a good call,” said cornerback Aeneas Williams, who shut down Johnson for most of the day. “We were in a three-deep [zone] and a guy shouldn’t get open, and if he does, we should at least make the tackle.”

Tackling Curtis Martin also was a problem for Arizona (2-6), which has the 30th-ranked rushing defense in the league. Martin, inspired by the memory of Walter Payton, rushed for more than 100 yards for the third consecutive game, gaining 131 in a club-record 38 carries. His production was especially important in swirling winds that reached 23 mph.

“He is maybe the only player in the NFL who had an influence on my life,” Martin said. “I’m not big on idolizing; I didn’t grow up that way. But Walter is the one guy I emulated. When I got the ball in my hands in street games, I’d call myself ‘Sweetness.’ ”

Jet quarterback Rick Mirer once again had problems finding secondary receivers when under pressure from a Cardinal defense that yielded only 295 yards. But he did complete the big pass on third and 12.

“Not everything went the way we drew it up,” said Mirer, who was 12 for 18 for 122 yards in windy conditions. “But we worked it out.”