If anyone still cared about the Jets in New York, the airwaves would be filled with questions and concerns about Eric Mangini’s decision to kick a 38-yard field goal, down five, with less than two minutes to go. He “liked his chances” of getting a 2nd consecutive successful onsides kick and the ball back with all three timeouts in his pocket.

Instead, Cleveland recovered the kick, as most teams do when they know it’s coming, and marched down the field and into the end zone to halt the Jets’ season-best winning streak at one. On that last 31-yard TD run by Jamal Lewis, it seemed every Jets’ defender had a chance to tackle him, some even twice, and yet he rumbled into the rain-soaked end zone in front of the few, actually very few, fans left sitting in the pouring rain wondering how this season could get any gloomier.

Kellen Clemens had another critical red-zone interception (two total for the day) and Leon Washington fumbled the ball twice on kick-off returns (both recovered by the Jets). The defense had zero sacks and managed to create just one turnover on an interception by Kerry Rhodes.

If you are looking for bright spots you’d have to look at Thomas Jones’ 106 rushing yards or Jerricho Cotchery’s 119 receiving yards. Or Mike Nugent’s perfect day (4/4) kicking field goals. Other than those performances, Mangini’s baffling decision at the end kind of summarizes the season.

Foxborough awaits. The Patriots are three games from making history and the Jets stand in their way. Yes, the same Jets who turned them into the league for spying during the opening game, costing Coach Bill Belichick $500,000. Something tells me the Patriots will not only be going for another victory, but trying to score a point for every dollar that first game cost Coach Bill. And they have the weapons to do it.

Let’s hope the Jets at least “man up” and don’t become the lastest sacrificial lamb on the Foxborough altar.

Jon Buzby is a nationally-syndicated columnist who can be reached through his website at www.jonbuzby.com.