Published: October 19, 2009 03:10 pm      

BILLS: Ugly win over the Jets gets Buffalo to 2-4

It was wild, sloppy and not easy to watch. The Buffalo Bills will take it, though, especially when few gave them a chance to beat the New York Jets.

“It feels great to win,” linebacker Paul Posluszny said with a smile. “We needed this big time.”

Rian Lindell kicked a 47-yard field goal with 2:44 left in overtime, making up for a miss at the end of regulation in the Bills’ stunning 16-13 win Sunday.

“They won’t quit, no matter what happens,” embattled Bills coach Dick Jauron said. “They just keep coming, and they kept coming.”

For a team that lost three straight, saw starting quarterback Trent Edwards leave with a concussion and had fans calling for a change in the coaching staff, the Bills (2-4) and backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick stepped up in a big way.

Buffalo had a chance to win it in regulation, but Lindell was wide right on a 46-yard attempt into the wind as time expired.

“We had to pick each other up,” Lindell said. “We made more mistakes than we’d like to. It’s nice to overcome that and battle back.”

The Bills took advantage of rookie Mark Sanchez’s fifth interception of the day to set up Lindell’s winning kick and send the sputtering Jets (3-3) to their third straight loss. Buffalo also overcame Thomas Jones’ Jets franchise-record 210 yards rushing on 22 carries.

“I feel disgusted,” right tackle Damien Woody said. “We had every opportunity to win this game.”

Added Sanchez: “It was an embarrassing day.”

And possibly a very costly one for the Jets. Nose tackle Kris Jenkins left late in the second quarter with what coach Rex Ryan called a “probably severe” left knee injury.

Ryan didn’t want to speculate on the future of Jenkins, one of the team’s defensive stars, until he had an MRI exam. Jenkins’ leg was heavily wrapped after the game, and he left the stadium on crutches.

“We’ll know much more about it (Monday),” Ryan said. “Unfortunately, I think it’s probably severe. I’m not sure, though.”

A week after holding Cleveland’s Derek Anderson to 2-for-17 passing for 23 yards in a 6-3 loss, Buffalo made things miserable for Sanchez. The rookie was 10 of 29 for 119 yards and the five interceptions, including two by Jairus Byrd, with the last coming by Posluszny to set up the winning drive.

“I don’t know if I could play any worse,” a dejected Sanchez said. “It was totally my fault and I owe these guys a lot.”

Fitzpatrick stepped in ably for Edwards, who left early in the second quarter. Fitzpatrick went 10 of 25 for 116 yards and a touchdown to Lee Evans and one interception.

“He stepped in and we didn’t miss a beat,” Evans said.

The Jets finished with 318 yards rushing, including 99 by Leon Washington, but it went for naught as they were called for 14 penalties — their most since 1996.

“We lost,” said Jones, who broke Curtis Martin’s team mark of 203. “I could’ve had 2 yards. We lost the game.”

Jay Feely had a shot at a winning 50-yard attempt early in overtime, but holder Steve Weatherford couldn’t handle the snap. Weatherford, the punter, ran to his left and lofted the ball, but it was picked off by John Wendling and gave the Bills possession.

“When you have a lot of penalties and a lot of turnovers and plays that get called back, just a lot of misfortunes in the game,” Jones said, “you’re not going to win.”

On third-and-2 from the Bills 43 early in the second quarter, Edwards was taken down by David Harris and Calvin Pace and remained on the turf for a few moments before being taken to the sideline, and then into the locker room.

“If Trent ends up being out, I’ll get some more time with those guys,” Fitzpatrick said. “I love playing the game. It was a lot of fun being out there.”

The Bills also took advantage of two third-quarter interceptions by Sanchez into a strong wind, getting 10 points to tie it. Ryan thought about pulling the rookie, but said he still believed in him.

“Of the six games, three losses, two of them I felt like you can blame No. 6 on offense,” Sanchez said. “That’s not a good feeling. I’ve got to turn this thing around.”

Jones’ 71-yard touchdown run, the fifth-longest in team history, gave the Jets a 13-3 lead with 7:31 remaining before halftime.

“We’ll have to find a way to bounce back,” Jones said.