LANDOVER - He wasn't Chad Pennington, but 39-year-old quarterback Vinny Testaverde showed enough veteran's poise last night to give the New York Jets a measure of hope for a season that seemed lost.
Testaverde didn't throw deep against the Washington Redskins, but he showed enough arm strength on sideline routes to be a threat.
He didn't complete a pass for more than 17 yards, but he also didn't throw an interception.
Testaverde, who will turn 40 in November, gave the Jets a workmanlike performance in a conservative game plan in Pennington's injury-forced absence. That they lost a 16-13 decision in the final seconds was symbolic of the difficult transition the team faces.
This was Testaverde's fifth straight opening day start for the Jets and almost certainly the last. But for a quarterback who got only 21 snaps in preseason, he was reasonably sharp.
"We lost the game. That's all I'm worried about, that's all I'm concerned about," he said later. "I know I have to play better, and I know I will. I saw things very well out there."
Testaverde, who was a Pro Bowl selection with the Ravens in 1996, completed 15 of 24 throws for 105 yards. The rust of so little work in the preseason was evident all night.
He threw behind his receivers on occasion, threw low on others, but always kept the ball away from the Redskins' secondary. His Washington counterpart, Patrick Ramsey, gave the ball up twice, on an interception and a fumble.
"Some of [his throws] were short," Jets coach Herman Edwards said of Testaverde's first start since Week 4 last season. "It was his first outing. He's not going to be clicking right away."
That the Jets went into the final three minutes with a chance to win it was remarkable in itself.
Once again, the Jets will have to be resilient this season. Just as they were last season, when they started the year 1-4 but rallied to win the AFC East and a playoff game.
The slow start in 2002 cost Testaverde his starting job. In the ensuing weeks, Pennington's star rose and Testaverde's waned. But when Pennington fractured and dislocated his left wrist in the preseason, it was back to the future for New York. Pennington is expected to miss nine games with his injury - he had seven pins inserted into his mangled hand - and the season now rests in Testaverde's hands.
His night started well enough. The Jets moved 72 yards on their first series, finishing with a 1-yard touchdown dive by former Maryland star LaMont Jordan, on a fourth-down call. Testaverde converted a third-down play with an 11-yard pass to Anthony Becht.
But it was an offense of diminishing returns after that. He threw behind Curtis Conway in the third quarter, and, on a play when Testaverde had time in the pocket, he couldn't get the ball to Wayne Chrebet in time on a series that led to a field goal.
Reduced mostly to slants and screens in the second half, Testaverde and running back Curtis Martin nearly ran into each other on a crucial third-and-one in the fourth quarter. Martin was stuffed on the play and the Jets punted.
It became a significant play moments later when Ramsey scrambled 24 yards and the Redskins maneuvered into position for John Hall's game-winning 33-yard field goal.
"I take full responsibility to get him the ball and get it clean," Testaverde said. "I take full responsibility."
