By Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY  Smith, on an end around, streaked 53 yards for a score on the second play of the second half to give New York a 10-7 margin.  Smith noted the open field created when tight end Dustin Keller and wide receiver Braylon Edwards each made crushing blocks. "I would have felt sick if I didn't score, it was so well-executed," he said.  The wide receiver and former college quarterback put an exclamation point on the victory with a 90-yard kick return early in the fourth quarter. He ran so far, so fast in dashing first to his left and then cutting all the way back to the right sideline that he lost his left shoe midway through the dazzling run.  "I was running trying to stick my shoe back on," Smith said.  New York improved to 9-2 with its fourth consecutive victory to keep pace with the New England Patriots for the NFL's best record. The Patriots rallied to drub the Detroit Lions 45-24 earlier in the day.  The fierce AFC East rivals will not remain deadlocked for long. The Jets visit New England on Dec. 6 for a Monday night showdown.  Rex Ryan, New York's outspoken second-year head coach, is already ramping up the rhetoric for that confrontation.  "They clearly are the best team in football. That's what all the experts say — except me," he said.  The quality of New York's defense had been questioned after recent breakdowns, including a number of miscommunications in a 30-27 win against the Houston Texans last Sunday. Cincinnati wide receiver Terrell Owens was only too happy to chime in. He described Darrelle Revis, the Jets' star cornerback, as "just an average corner."  Revis and his teammates responded with one of their best efforts in handing Cincinnati (2-9) its eighth consecutive defeat. They produced three turnovers, including two interceptions of Carson Palmer. The Bengals were held to 163 yards and one rushing first down.  Owens? He had little to celebrate while Cincinnati made its first Thanksgiving appearance in the franchise's 43-year history. Revis and Co. limited T.O. to three catches for 17 yards.  Revis, after a prolonged training camp holdout, was slowed early in the season by a hamstring injury. But Ryan countered Owens' criticism when he said, "He's back to being Revis, the best in the league."  New York intercepted Palmer on Cincinnati's first two possessions of the second quarter. The Jets converted the first of those turnovers, a pick by safety Jim Leonhard, into the game's first points.  With LaDainian Tomlinson carrying five times for 28 yards, New York covered 69 yards in 9 plays before stalling at the Bengals' 8-yard line and settling for Nick Folk's 27-yard field goal.  Cincinnati got excellent field position when Bernard Scott returned the ensuing kickoff 33 yards to his own 47-yard line.  The visitors penetrated to the Jets' 28 only to have Palmer's deep throw over the middle, intended for Owens, snagged instead by cornerback Antonio Cromartie, one of three defenders surrounding T.O.  The Bengals would not be denied on their next possession. They put together an impressive 10-play, 63-yard drive culminating in Palmer's 5-yard bullet to impressive rookie Jordan Shipley at the goal line for a score with 43 seconds left in the opening half, helping them to a 7-3 advantage.  New York tried to counter and quickly worked its way downfield, positioning Folk for a 44-yard field goal try that he made, only to have it waved off because Cincinnati had used its third and final timeout immediately before the boot.  Folk lined up again, but this time his boot fluttered wide left.  "We always say we know we're going to win," Ryan said, "we just don't know how. I know that upsets people, but that's just the way it is."  You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference.
Two big plays by Brad Smith and countless big stops on defense allowed the New York Jets to feast on the Cincinnati Bengals 26-10 Thanksgiving night.