Jets Defeat Saints, 26-20

Chris Ivory #33 of the New York Jets runs against  Keenan Lewis #28 of the New Orleans Saints during their game at MetLife Stadium on November 3, 2013 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The New York Jets climbed above the .500 mark on Sunday, after defeating the New Orleans Saints, 26-20, at Met Life Stadium in east Rutherford, New Jersey.

Place-kicker Nick Folk kicked four field goals, while former Saints running back Chris Ivory rushed for over 100 yards, to help guide the Jets to the win.

New Orleans had the first chance to score, going 55 yards, on eight plays, on the first possession of the game, but Garrett Hartley missed a 43-yard field goal attempt, keeping the game scoreless.

On the Saints' second possession, New York safety Dawon Landry deflected a Drew Brees pass, which was intercepted by DeMario Davis, giving the Jets the football at the New Orleans 48-yard line.

Five plays later, New York got on the scoreboard first, when Folk booted through a 39-yard field goal, giving them a 3-0 lead at the 5:44 mark of the first quarter.

New Orleans responded at the 2:45 mark of the opening frame, when Brees connected with tight end Jimmy Graham on a 51-yard touchdown pass, capping off a 6-play, 81-yard drive, giving them their first lead of the afternoon, 7-3.

The Jets trimmed that lead to one point at the 10:07 mark of the second quarter, when Folk kick through his second field goal of the game, this one from 21 yards away, ending an 11-play, 93-yard drive, to make it 7-6, New Orleans.

The Saints scored the second touchdown of the game of the very next possession, when Brees hit Graham with a 10-yard scoring strike, capping off a 5-play, 80-yard drive, extending their lead to 14-6 at the 7:56 mark of the second period.

New York got into the end zone for the first time on their next possession, as Ivory wrapped-up an 8-play, 61-yard drive with a 3-yard scoring run, cutting the New Orleans lead to 14-13, at the 2:37 mark of the second quarter.

The Jets grabbed the lead for good, right before the end of the half, when cornerback Antonio Cromartie intercepted a Brees pass, setting up a 3-yard run by quarterback Geno Smith, ending a 5-play, 39-yard drive, and giving them a 20-14 advantage, a lead they would take into the locker room, and hold on throughout.

New Orleans out-gained New York, in terms of first half total yardage, 245-221, including a 230-95 advantage in the passing department, but were also minus-two in the turnover margin in the opening half.

For the Saints, Brees finished the first half completing 15-of-23 passes, for 230 yards, along with two touchdowns, and two interceptions, while Ivory paced the Jets, with 93 rushing yards, including a touchdown run, on ten carries.

New York scored on their first possession of the second half, when Folk converted his third field goal of the afternoon, this one from 47 yards away, capping off a 7-play, 50-yard drive, extending their lead to 23-14, at the 12:02 mark of the third quarter.

New Orleans put their first points on the scoreboard in the second half, at the 1:52 mark of the third period, when Hartley nailed a 55-yard field goal, the longest of his career, capping off a 9-play, 34-yard drive, and cutting the New York lead to 23-17.

The Jets regained a two-score advantage on their very next possession, when Folk hit his fourth field goal of the game, this one from 45 yards away, ending an 8-play, 53-yard drive, and giving them a 26-17 lead at the 12:01 mark of the fourth quarter.

The Saints got to within six points at the 3:11 mark of the final frame, when Hartley capped off an 11-play, 60-yard drive, with a 43-yard field goal, closing the gap to 26-20.

That was as close as New Orleans would get however, as New York held on for the six-point win.

The Saints out-gained the Jets, in terms of total yards, 407-338, including a 366-140 advantage in passing yards, but New York finished the game plus-two in the turnover margin, and held a slim 30:28-29:32 advantage in time-of-possession.

Ivory led the way for New York, offensively, gaining 139 yards, along with a touchdown, on 18 carries, while Brees paced New Orleans in a losing cause, completing 30-of-51 passes, for 382 yards, with two touchdowns, and two interceptions

View the game box score.

With the win, the Jets improved to 5-4, while the Saints slipped to 6-2.

New Orleans plays host to Dallas next Sunday night, while New York has a bye week.