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The win pushed the Jets (3-2) into a tie for second place in the AFC East while Atlanta, top seeds last year in the NFC after posting a 13-3 record, dropped to a dismal 1-4 for the season.

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“It took every one of us,” said Jets head coach Rex Ryan.

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“The biggest thing I’m proud of is that we didn’t turn the football over. We were not reckless, we were just the opposite, we were fearless. And that’s how we have to play.”

The Falcons took full advantage of a Jets penalty after a failed fourth down attempt near the end zone, quarterback Matt Ryan’s three-yard pass to receiver Levine Toilolo giving the hosts a 28-27 lead with just under two minutes remaining.

However, Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith drove New York from their own 20-yard line to the Atlanta 25 to set up the game-winning field goal.

Smith, who has led the Jets to an NFL-leading three game-winning drives for New York’s three wins, completed four successive passes and scrambled for an eight-yard gain that set up Folk’s game-winning kick.

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The young signal caller had committed 11 turnovers in New York’s first four games, including two interceptions and a pair of lost fumbles in last week’s lopsided loss to Tennessee.

“Everybody has complete confidence in me,” Smith said about taking the field for the last drive. “They told me to go out there and let it rip.”

Eliminating turnovers was a key focus on offence, he added.

“I made it my duty not to put the ball on the ground,” Smith said. “It came down to a last-second drive against a tough Atlanta team on the road. But we stood up tonight and that speaks volumes about the team’s character.”

Smith completed 16-of-20 passes for 199 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in an error-free performance.

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He hit tight end Jeff Cumberland on a 20-yard touchdown strike, connected with Jeremy Kerley for a 10-yard score and threw a one-yard touchdown to Kellen Winslow.

Said Jets coach Ryan: “I’m proud of Geno, proud of everybody.”

Falcons quarterback Ryan hit 36-of-45 throws for 319 yards and a pair of touchdowns, connecting with Jason Snelling for a four-yard score before his short scoring pass to Toilolo.

Running back Jacquizz Rodgers scampered 19 yards for a touchdown in Atlanta’s fourth-quarter comeback.

The Jets defence made a big contribution with a rousing goal line stand at the end of the first half, snuffing the Falcons’ rushing attempt from the one yard on their fifth try from the shadow of the goal line after a penalty gave Atlanta an additional crack at it.

New York went into intermission with a 17-7 lead.

“Felt like we could score those points, but we didn’t get it done,” said Atlanta coach Mike Smith. “In hindsight it wasn’t probably the (right) decision the way the game ended up.

Matthews suffered the injury in Sunday’s victory over the Detroit Lions.

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Demoted from projected starter to third team in the span of seven weeks, Matt Flynn has fallen another peg after being released by the Oakland Raiders.

Oakland was Flynn’s third stop in three seasons. He made one start and earned a total of $14.565 million since leaving Green Bay as an unrestricted free agent March 19, 2012.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of a hamstring injury, according to ESP.

Vick also could miss the following Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, according to a report by ProFootballTalk.com.

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Christian Ponder or Matt Cassel will start for the Minnesota Vikings this week against the Carolina Panthers, coach Leslie Frazier said at a press conference.

Josh Freeman, signed to a one-year, $3 million deal for the final 12 games of the 2013 season, will join the team late Monday and begin assimilating the offensive system. Freeman started 59 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert is expected to miss multiple games with a serious hamstring injury.

NFL Network reported that Gabbert heard his hamstring make an audible pop and could miss an “extended period” with his latest injury.

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Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone told as Buffalo radio station that he will turn to Thad Lewis to start at quarterback.

Since rookie EJ Manuel is expected to miss at least a month with a right knee injury, Marrone will give Lewis a shot Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

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The Bills have placed rookie kicker Dustin Hopkins on injured reserve with a groin injury.

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Chicago Bears defensive tackle Nate Collins is out for the year with a torn ACL, coach Marc Trestman said.

Collins was injured during Sunday’s 26-18 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

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Carolina Panthers starting left guard Amini Silatolu is out for the rest of the season after tearing his right ACL during Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

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The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and Detroit Free Press has reported that the Detroit Lions are looking into allegations that longtime centre Dominic Raiola verbally assaulted members of the University of Wisconsin marching band before Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

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The NFL will stop using pink penalty flags after Monday night’s game between the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons.

The pink flags were part of the league’s breast cancer awareness campaign. But with players wearing pink accessories, including gloves and towels, the flags caused confusion among broadcasters, fans, players and coaches during Sunday’s games American football news

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