This Victory Is Thomas’ Pride and Joy

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Thurman Thomas made his point during the week and backed it up against the New York Jets.

Thomas gained 104 yards in 18 carries and led the Buffalo Bills to a 20-10 victory over the Jets on Sunday after begging his teammates not to give up on a tough season.

“I’ve been around here long enough to know that even though our season might be over, a lot of players still play with a lot of pride,” Thomas said. “There’s no quit in the Buffalo Bills.”

Buffalo (6-7) still has a chance to make the playoffs, but would need to win its three remaining games and get help from other teams.

New York (8-5) started the day in sole possession of first place in the AFC East, but is now tied at the top with New England and Miami.

“ ‘Spoiler’ wasn’t our term,” Buffalo Coach Marv Levy said. “We want to win every time we go out on the field. This is a beginning, not an end.”

Thomas moved into ninth place in NFL career rushing with 11,325 yards. It was his first 100-yard game since Oct. 27, 1996, when he had 119 against New England.

Rookie backup Antowain Smith had 78 yards rushing as the Bills ran for 197.

“Thurman just went out there and led by example,” Smith said. “He let the young guys know [during the week] that we’re not ready to lie down yet.”

Buffalo scored a first-quarter touchdown for the first time since Nov. 24, 1996, on Todd Collins’ 22-yard pass play to Andre Reed 3:49 into the game.

“Scoring first is a big help,” Levy said. “[But] it doesn’t guarantee you anything. Once it happened, there was still a lot of game left to be played.”

Collins also teamed with tight end Lonnie Johnson for a 62-yard scoring pass play early in the fourth quarter.

Johnson, who had dropped three passes earlier in the game, caught the ball at the 40, ran over safety Victor Green and beat linebacker Dwayne Gordon to the end zone.

“If it’s me versus the safety, I put my money on myself,” Johnson said. “Every dog has his day. I might be called a dog, but I had my day.”

Neil O’Donnell completed 25 of 47 passes for 292 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown to Keyshawn Johnson that tied the score at 10 with 7:19 left in the third quarter.

“We didn’t want to lose this football game,” Jet receiver Keyshawn Johnson said. “We want to control our own destiny. We struggled and now we have to go back and regroup.”

Buffalo ended a losing streak at three games and won its sixth consecutive game against the Jets.

“I think there is plenty of opportunity,” Jet Coach Bill Parcells said. “We are going to have to suck it up and go from here. We did not do what I had hoped today.”