Closing games still problem for Jets' 'D'

Rex Ryan's defense isn't where he thought it would be at this point.

The Jets (5-5) have slithered back up the statistical charts, climbing to No. 7 overall in total defense. But they have yet to achieve that elite level Ryan is seeking, something that's becoming more noticeable with each passing week in their roller-coaster season.

"Yeah, I expect us to close out games better," Ryan said. "I think that's the biggest criticism, similar criticism we had that first year.

"It was like remember against Miami," Ryan said, referring to the Jets' 31-27 loss in 2009 in which they yielded 413 yards to the Dolphins.

"Of course we gave up a million yards that first time we played them. But it's similar to that, like hey, if we get the lead, I don't care when they get the ball in the fourth quarter, you've got to close it out, and that's the kind of mentality that you want your defense to have.

"Obviously, that's tough, but we expect to have that kind of defense."

The Jets' defense ranks among the best in a few categories. It's No. 2 in third-down percentage, allowing only 39 of 128 (30 percent) to be converted. It's surrendering only 200.1 passing yards per game, ranking fifth.

Still, that continuous cohesion is missing, as demonstrated by the winning 95-yard march the Jets allowed in their 17-13 loss at Denver on Nov. 17.

"I think we've been solid, but I think there is so much room for improvement," defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said. "We're young at some positions. I think we've had some inconsistencies, but statistically, I think if you look at us, I think there are a lot of teams around the league, you could [ask], 'Statistically, would you take this defense?'

"But again, our standards are different . . . We'll always shoot for perfection."

The Jets were anything but perfect on the Broncos' final drive, a disappointing end to an otherwise solid effort defensively before Tim Tebow's heroics. Tebow accounted for 92 of the 95 yards on the drive, which began with 5:54 remaining and the Broncos' backs against their own end zone.

However, rather than finishing off a Denver team that punted on its previous eight possessions, the Jets let the Broncos' offense deliver the deciding blow.

"It was a tough situation to be in," Pettine said. "We didn't execute. There were a lot of circumstances involved with that, but that's on us. That's on me as a play-caller. That's on our guys to be able to rise up in those critical situations. Most defenses, you're going to have a drive like that a game. It can't be the last one, and that's something that we need to get fixed starting from the coaching part of it down to the execution and the players' part of it.

"We're close, but again, that's the difference," he added. "If we want to be elite, and I have been around some elite defenses in Baltimore, and two years ago, we were close to it, and not that far away from it last year -- again, it's the closing games part of it."

That's a leaky aspect they'll have to plug during these last six games. Otherwise, those already faint playoff hopes will start diminishing quickly.

"If you want to put yourself in there as the best defense, then sometimes you've got to get it done," Ryan said. "I remember in Baltimore, we went five games without scoring an offensive touchdown and we still were dominant, still won two or three of those games, I forget. But that's what you want.

"If you look at yourself that way, as soon as you get the lead, game over. That has to be the mentality.

"Are we there yet? No, we're not there yet."

Notes & quotes:RB LaDainian Tomlinson (knee), WR Jeremy Kerley (knee) and RB Bilal Powell (illness) didn't practice Thursday.