Saints vs. Jets 2013, Week 9: Rex Ryan beats Rob again

Sunday’s Jets win was an upset. Rob seemed destined to clobber his both with the help of Sean Payton’s offense, but it was simply not to be. It seems that no matter what Rob does, Rex will one up him.

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The Saints hit a 43-yard field goal to pull within six with just over three minutes remaining, and the defense promptly got them the ball back after holding the Jets to a three-and-out. The Saints got the ball on their own 19-yard line with 1:58 remaining, but could not muster any sort of drive thanks in large part to a costly holding penalty that set up a 4th-and-19. A Jets defense that applied constant pressure all day hurried Brees into an off-target throw to end the drive.

The loss drops New Orleans to 6-2. The Jets’ back-and-forth season continues as they improve to 5-4.

Kerley suffered the injury during the second quarter against the Saints. He was seen walking to the sideline holding his left wrist and grimmacing in pain with what looked like a fairly serious injury. He has been taken to the locker room and is undergoing further evaluations by the medical staff.

Kerley had just one reception for one yard before exiting the game.

UPDATE: Darren Sproles has suffered a concussion and will not return to the game, according to John Clayton.

Sproles caught a short pass in the flats on the Saints’ first possession of the game and was met by a hard hit from safety Antonio Allen. Sproles looked shaken up as he headed to the sideline and is now in the locker room. Whether he will be able to return to help the Saints in their quest to improve to 7-1 is unknown.

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Game Date/Time and Location: 1 p.m. ET Sunday at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

TV schedule and distribution map: Fox; The506.com

Sunday’s game will have more than family bragging rights on the line, however, with both teams in playoff contention. The Saints enter atop the NFC South at 6-1, while the Jets are two games back in the AFC East at 4-4. New Orleans is not only playing for the division, but is also in contention for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, making every game vital. The Jets are one of seven teams at .500 or better in the AFC and enter the week just outside of the playoff picture.

The matchup will be just the third time the teams have played since 2001 and the first since 2009.

The Saints are considered 5.5-point favorites on the road against the Jets. The seven of the eight members of the CBS Sports panel picked the Saints with that spread, with only Will Brinson selecting the Jets. However, when the writers picked a straight up matchup, Brinson picked the Saints. The two-man crew at Yahoo! Sports believes the Saints will win on Sunday.

The SB Nation panel of six leaned toward the Saints as well, with a 5-1 vote.