Leon Washington

As we enter the stretch drive before Thursday's draft, let's take a look at what's being said by the Patriots' rivals in the AFC East. Jets (10 picks; first at No. 16) There has been speculation - fueled even by some Jets players, including guard Matt Slauson - that they will be running two distinct offenses: a traditional scheme led by Mark Sanchez and a spread option with Tim Tebow. But vice president of college scouting Joey Clinkscales said that isn't the case.

As we enter the stretch drive before Thursday's draft, let's take a look at what's being said by the Patriots' rivals in the AFC East. Jets (10 picks; first at No. 16) There has been speculation - fueled even by some Jets players, including guard Matt Slauson - that they will be running two distinct offenses: a traditional scheme led by Mark Sanchez and a spread option with Tim Tebow. But vice president of college scouting Joey Clinkscales said that isn't the case.

MIAMI -- The stadium was two-thirds empty by the fourth quarter, and small clusters of New York Jets fans let out a hearty cheer when Mike Nugent kicked the winning field goal with 10 seconds left last night. A playoff atmosphere? Hardly. But the Jets moved closer to the postseason with an ugly but crucial comeback victory. New York overcame steady rain, a sputtering offense, and two late scores by the Miami Dolphins to win, 13-10. "For us it was all about chipping away and waiting for our moment," Jets coach Eric Mangini said.

The Raiders made the big trade for a quarterback that had been rumored for much of the offseason, acquiring former first-round pick Jason Campbell yesterday from Washington. The teams agreed on the final day of the draft for a 2012 fourth-round pick, possibly signaling the end of JaMarcus Russell’s tenure in Oakland. Campbell previously signed a restricted free agent tender that pays him $3.14 million this season. He agreed to a $4.5 million extension for 2011, a person with knowledge of the deal told the AP on condition of anonymity because the extension had not been announced.

The Raiders made the big trade for a quarterback that had been rumored for much of the offseason, acquiring former first-round pick Jason Campbell yesterday from Washington. The teams agreed on the final day of the draft for a 2012 fourth-round pick, possibly signaling the end of JaMarcus Russell’s tenure in Oakland. Campbell previously signed a restricted free agent tender that pays him $3.14 million this season. He agreed to a $4.5 million extension for 2011, a person with knowledge of the deal told the AP on condition of anonymity because the extension had not been announced.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Rian Lindell made good on his second chance at giving the Buffalo Bills a stunning victory. 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’ 16-13 win over the New York Jets yesterday. “I told them, ‘Let’s get inside the 30 and hammer away,’ ’’ Lindell said. “I’ve got to make that.’’ The Bills (2-4) took advantage of rookie Mark Sanchez’s fifth interception of the day to snap a three-game losing streak, and send the sputtering Jets (3-3)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - If this season’s been a little weird in New England, then what happened yesterday makes all the sense in the world. The Patriots established themselves as the favorite in the AFC East. Without playing. First, you can forget about Buffalo, which took a 10-6 halftime lead at home and promptly blew it in a 31-10 loss to visiting Houston. Second, even after what became an exciting game at the Meadowlands, the Jets and Dolphins left with more questions than they possibly could have arrived with.

The New York Jets silenced the Terrible Towels and stunningly left the field winners for the first time in almost two months. With thousands of Pittsburgh fans in Giants Stadium waving their yellow Steelers towels, Mike Nugent kicked a 38-yard field goal 5:03 into overtime to give the Jets an unlikely 19-16 victory yesterday. The winning kick broke a six-game losing streak for the Jets (2-8), who stormed the field after the victory and celebrated in a huge circle around Nugent.

With a ball-hawking defense and a punishing running game, the New York Jets took the pressure off struggling rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez and handed the Oakland Raiders their most lopsided home loss ever. Sanchez shook off the worst start of his young career by running for one touchdown and throwing for another, fellow rookie Shonn Greene ran for 144 yards and two scores, and the Jets snapped a three-game losing streak by pummeling the Raiders, 38-0, yesterday. It was a low-pressure game for Sanchez, who started two of his first three drives for the Jets (4-3)

MIAMI -- Winning conference championships and playing for national titles have become almost routine for Florida State and Miami. Not this year. When No. 9 Florida State plays No. 10 Miami in the Orange Bowl tonight, it will end a five-year run in which one or the other played for the national championship. It also will mark the final meeting between the instate rivals before they become conference foes. And with the Hurricanes joining the Atlantic Coast Conference next season, it will make winning conference and national championships much more difficult for both teams.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - If this season’s been a little weird in New England, then what happened yesterday makes all the sense in the world. The Patriots established themselves as the favorite in the AFC East. Without playing. First, you can forget about Buffalo, which took a 10-6 halftime lead at home and promptly blew it in a 31-10 loss to visiting Houston. Second, even after what became an exciting game at the Meadowlands, the Jets and Dolphins left with more questions than they possibly could have arrived with.

With a ball-hawking defense and a punishing running game, the New York Jets took the pressure off struggling rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez and handed the Oakland Raiders their most lopsided home loss ever. Sanchez shook off the worst start of his young career by running for one touchdown and throwing for another, fellow rookie Shonn Greene ran for 144 yards and two scores, and the Jets snapped a three-game losing streak by pummeling the Raiders, 38-0, yesterday. It was a low-pressure game for Sanchez, who started two of his first three drives for the Jets (4-3)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Rian Lindell made good on his second chance at giving the Buffalo Bills a stunning victory. 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’ 16-13 win over the New York Jets yesterday. “I told them, ‘Let’s get inside the 30 and hammer away,’ ’’ Lindell said. “I’ve got to make that.’’ The Bills (2-4) took advantage of rookie Mark Sanchez’s fifth interception of the day to snap a three-game losing streak, and send the sputtering Jets (3-3)

The New York Jets silenced the Terrible Towels and stunningly left the field winners for the first time in almost two months. With thousands of Pittsburgh fans in Giants Stadium waving their yellow Steelers towels, Mike Nugent kicked a 38-yard field goal 5:03 into overtime to give the Jets an unlikely 19-16 victory yesterday. The winning kick broke a six-game losing streak for the Jets (2-8), who stormed the field after the victory and celebrated in a huge circle around Nugent.

MIAMI -- The stadium was two-thirds empty by the fourth quarter, and small clusters of New York Jets fans let out a hearty cheer when Mike Nugent kicked the winning field goal with 10 seconds left last night. A playoff atmosphere? Hardly. But the Jets moved closer to the postseason with an ugly but crucial comeback victory. New York overcame steady rain, a sputtering offense, and two late scores by the Miami Dolphins to win, 13-10. "For us it was all about chipping away and waiting for our moment," Jets coach Eric Mangini said.

Peyton Manning has spent 12 seasons being a pain in the neck of NFL opponents. Now the four-time league MVP is trying to alleviate the pain in his own neck. The Colts announced yesterday that Manning had surgery in Chicago to fix a pinched nerve, a procedure that is not expected to interrupt Manning’s offseason workouts or his availability for next season. “This condition has existed intermittently for the past four years, but at no time did it interfere with his training, practice, or playing regimen,’’ the team said in a statement.

Terrell Owens is going to have to practice more before he plays for Bill Parcells . After Parcells said Owens wouldn't play in the Cowboys' second exhibition game tomorrow night, the receiver sat out the team's practice late yesterday afternoon. Dallas quarterback Drew Bledsoe said Owens's hamstring tightened up on him. Owens had taken part in the morning practice, his fifth straight since missing 14 in a row because of a hamstring problem. Owens didn't talk to reporters after either practice.