Even better than the Jets having a winning record is that after all the penalties and turnovers of the last two weeks, plus their huge gift on opening day, Monday night they actually looked like a winning team.
Best Jet: Marty Mornhinweg. His smart short-passing game plan helped Geno Smith limit the interceptions to a big fat zero. The Falcons' linebackers were confused and beaten all night.
Next Best Jet: Geno Smith. He picked 'em apart like he was Joe Montana on the winning drive.
Best Throw: The one he floated over the safety to Kellen Winslow in the corner of the end zone.
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Best Play:** Winslow didn't have much room to keep both feet in but did.
Best Play Out of the Worst Play: Jeff Cumberland bobbled one right in the numbers, then reached out to pull it in for a first down.
Worst Play Out of the Best Play: Josh Bush separated Roddy White from the ball but Dawan Landry couldn't hold on and Julio Jones ran with it another 18 yards to set up the Falcons' first touchdown.
Worst Play Start to Finish: Darrin Walls' early drop of an almost certain pick six.
Worst Day at the Office: Landry couldn't bring in the fumble that landed right in his chest, and he was victimized on what would have been the winning Atlanta touchdown, although let anyone never beaten by a Matt Ryan throw cast the first stone.
Best Play Call: Direct snap to Mike Goodson, with Smith set out wide. Goodson ran for 26 yards to set up the first Jets touchdown. Bilal Powell and Willie Colon had good blocks clearing the entire side.
Best Sign: Smith didn't read that Osi Umenyiora would come free, didn't change the call and paid with a sack that killed one drive. But the rookie quarterback kept another one alive by reading a blitz and getting the ball out to Goodson for a first down.
Best Early Jet Pick for the Pro Bowl: Muhammad Wilkerson. In the backfield all night, his best play beat a double team to cause a Matt Ryan fumble that Leger Douzable recovered to set up a Nick Folk field goal.
Best Supporting Role: Sheldon Richardson was almost as dominant as Wilkerson.
Best Cameo: Richardson as a third tight end on the touchdown pass to Winslow.
Smartest Penalty You Will Ever See a Jet or Any Other Player Take: Both Demario Davis and David Harris were holding Tony Gonzalez in the end zone on the next-to-last play of the first half, knowing the worst that could happen was that the ball would be placed at the 1-yard line. Falcons coach Mike Smith went for it from there — worst decision of the night.
Most Instrumental Jet in Making That the Worst Decision of the Night: Quinton Coples had penetration, enabling his buddies to swarm to Jacquizz Rodgers and go into the locker room on a high with a two-score lead.
Best Stat: Just six Jets penalties.
Best Thing About Getting Out of the Georgia Dome with a Win: The confidence that comes with Smith's first game-winning two-minute drive on the road in primetime. Not just his, but the whole offensive unit's.
Next Best Thing About Getting Out of the Georgia Dome with a Win: The Jets never will have to face the retiring Tony Gonzalez again. He caught 10 passes for 97 yards. Davis and Harris played terrific games and they still couldn't stop perhaps the best tight end in history.
Best Thing About Being 3-2: It can go to 4-2 with a win over the 0-4 Steelers.
Biggest Myth Debunked: That the Jets are receiver-challenged. Even without Santonio Holmes to draw attention, Stephen Hill caught two passes and Jeremy Kerley one on the final drive. On Kerley's touchdown, he made an outstanding play to break the tackle of Robert McClain, then faked the last defender and successfully dived for the pylon.
Best Special Teams Play: Folk not only didn't miss, but that didn't even cross the mind of anybody who has been paying attention. He has been perfect through five games.
Second-Best Special Teams Play: Kerley slithered between the first two guys to reach him, broke down the sideline and took a horsecollar tackle for the team to set up the Winslow touchdown.
Third-Best Special Teams Play: Antonio Allen's block of Matt Bosher's punt on Atlanta's first series.
Worst Moment: Davis got caught holding when the Jets appeared to have gotten a fourth-down stop on the drive that put the Falcons ahead with 1:54 to go.
Next Worst Moment: Cumberland was in the huddle apparently when he was not supposed to be and the Jets took a penalty for an illegal substitution.
Best Reminder that the NFL Is a Year-to-Year Deal: The Falcons, the NFC's top playoff seed a year ago, are being exposed with offensive line and linebacking problems and are 1-4.
Another Reminder that the NFL Is a Year-to-Year Deal: The Jets are 3-2 after being picked 33rd in a 32-team league.
