Sanchez throws 3 INTs in Jets' final flop

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- No need to dust off a spot for that Lombardi Trophy Rex Ryan promised to deliver this season.

The Jets crashed spectacularly Sunday, giving a lethargic effort in a game they had to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. They gave up 16 straight points and were done in by a 21-play, 94-yard drive in a 19-17 loss to the Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium.

The way it ended -- with Santonio Holmes being pulled late in the game because he was sulking -- was a fitting end to an inconsistent season. And even if the Jets had won, the Titans' 23-22 victory over the Texans would have eliminated them.

"It's disappointing, to say the least, because I am at a loss for words," LaDainian Tomlinson said. "We still had an opportunity to finish strong and we didn't do that today."

The Jets (8-8) went belly up after gaining control of their playoff destiny, losing their final three games. So much for all that big talk.

"That's my responsibility," Ryan said. "I'll shoulder the blame. Eight-and-eight is clearly not what we are trying to get to. We have to ask ourselves how can we get better. We don't want to be average. We all know what we're chasing. Clearly, we're not there yet, and we've got to come up with answers."

The Jets' most pressing question heading into the offseason is whether Mark Sanchez is their long-term answer. He floundered in a season in which many thought he'd take a step forward. He turned the ball over nine times in the final three games.

Sanchez threw two touchdown passes but also had three killer interceptions, each when he was looking for someone out of the backfield on a checkdown, and never looked comfortable against the Dolphins (6-10). Two passes were intercepted by 305-pounder Randy Starks, who entered the game with one pick in his eight-year career, and one was returned 55 yards by Marvin Mitchell to set up a field goal that gave Miami a 19-10 lead.

"That's the first time I've ever had that happen," Sanchez said. "But it was really too bad because we played well at times, which is the story of the season.

"We played well in spurts, but just not consistent enough to win, and I've got to play better for us to win. I can't throw it to them three times."

Ryan still seems convinced that Sanchez is capable. "Well, I've told you guys I think he's the long-term solution," he said. "I don't think there's any doubt. He's won a lot of games for us. I think he's got all the tools to be a great quarterback. He's been a winning quarterback here. We've got to make sure we're doing everything we can for the New York Jets to be successful."

That had better include quelling a potential growing rift between the offense and defense. Asked if he thought the team gave enough effort against Miami, cornerback Antonio Cromartie said: "Uhhh . . . maybe on one side of the ball."

Cromartie also indicated that some people dwelled on problems a bit too much at times.

"You've got to play at a high level every single game," he said. "You can't let one play get you down and shut you down for the entire season, or somebody gets in your face and shuts you down. It can't be like that.

"You've got to come out and compete. That's what the NFL is about, winning your one-on-one battles. I don't feel like we did that for so many games."

So now the Jets are left to explain why they must watch the playoffs for the first time in Ryan's three-year tenure.

"We had higher expectations than anyone in the NFL, I'd say, or at least anyone that was willing to talk about it," tight end Dustin Keller said. "To not even make it into the playoffs when our goal is to win the Super Bowl is just really frustrating.''

Even so, don't expect Ryan to erase those two words from his vocabulary.

"I'm always going to chase the Super Bowl," he said. "I know I get criticized for it beyond belief. But if you don't, then you're probably a loser, OK? I'm not a loser . . . I believe we'll win the Super Bowl and I'll believe it for the next 15 years.

"But I'll find a way to make this team better. There's no question about it. Mike Tannenbaum is the general manager. We're side-by-side and believe me, we will always do what's in the best interest of this team regarding every situation."