By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.(AP) -- Darrelle Revis saw the ball deflect
off Steve Smith's foot and float right into his hands.

Finally, the New York Jets thought, a lucky bounce that went
their way.

Revis returned one of the Jets' four interceptions 67 yards for
a touchdown in the first quarter and New York overcame an injury
scare to quarterback Mark Sanchez before holding on to beat the
Carolina Panthers 17-6 on Sunday.

"That was a sigh of relief," Revis said of his early touchdown.
"That was an easy score right there. It doesn't get any better
than that to start us off."

Thomas Jones had a 3-yard touchdown run as the Jets (5-6) won at
home for the first time since beating Tennessee in Week 3,
sending the Panthers (4-7) to their second straight loss.

New York can't celebrate for long, though, with a game against
Buffalo in Toronto on Thursday night. The Jets won for just the
second time in eight games.

"We're rolling now and we can't think about a month ago," said
Sanchez, who left for four plays after injuring his left leg.
"We've got to think about now."

Sanchez finished 13 of 17 for 154 yards and an interception in
the first game since coach Rex Ryan took a more active role in
the offense. The coach and quarterback established a color-coded
system that would help make the rookie more aware of the task at
hand.

"You see what happens when I play smart," Sanchez said. "I don't
know how to explain it, but it works."

New York's win didn't come without some tense moments. With the
Jets leading 14-3, Sanchez scrambled to the right sideline on
first-and-10 from New York's 46 and was tackled out of bounds by
Richard Marshall after an 8-yard gain.

He stayed down for a few moments as the trainers checked out his
left knee.

"It didn't look good the way he was grabbing his knee," wide
receiver Jerricho Cotchery said.

Helped to the sideline, Sanchez put very little weight on the
leg. Sanchez was replaced by Kellen Clemens, but came back on
the next offensive series to cheers from the Meadowlands crowd.

"Once we saw him throwing the ball, I said, 'Hey, he's cool,"'
Cotchery said.

After the game, Sanchez said he was totally fine.

"I guess it was just an awkward fall and he kind of landed on my
leg," he said. "They checked out all the ligaments and stuff and
it looks good."

On his first throw after returning, Sanchez was intercepted by
Chris Gamble. It appeared Carolina had cashed in on the turnover
with a touchdown when Smith came down with a 10-yard catch in
the end zone, but Ryan challenged the call.

After a video review, the ruling was reversed. Referee Jerome
Boger said Smith didn't have possession when he went out of
bounds in the back of the end zone. It turned out to be a huge
call because after another incompletion, the Panthers settled
for a 28-yard field goal by John Kasay to make it 14-6 with
11:45 left.

"It doesn't matter what I think," Smith said. "It only mattered
what the ref said. That's how it goes. I believe I caught it."

Revis, who had two interceptions, gave the Jets a 7-0 lead on
the fluky play midway through the first quarter. After
converting three third downs on their opening drive, the
Panthers had another shot on third-and-9 before Jake Delhomme
and Smith had a miscommunication when the quarterback changed
the call at the line.

"It was an error by me," Smith said. "The chances of the ball
hitting you in the foot and popping up, it's just one of those
things. When it rains, it pours."

Carolina had a chance late to make it a one-score game, but
Dwayne Jarrett's 28-yard touchdown catch was wiped off the
scoreboard when he was called for offensive pass interference.

"It wasn't good," Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme said.
"There's no other way to put it. We didn't run it well. We
certainly didn't throw it well."

Kerry Rhodes, demoted in favor of Eric Smith, picked off
Delhomme on the next play for his second interception of the
game to all but seal the win. A tough week for Rhodes ended on a
high note - he didn't start for the first time in his NFL career
but got a game ball for his performance.

"I got the message," Rhodes said in a brief statement after the
game. "The message was sent. Now, I am moving on and you're
going to see Kerry Rhodes."

Delhomme was 14 of 34 for 130 yards and the four INTs, and the
Jets also held Smith to one catch for 5 yards and DeAngelo
Williams to 40 yards rushing on 16 carries.

"This was a great win," Ryan said. "It feels good to say that.
It's been a while."

NOTES: Panthers DT Tank Tyler left late in the first half with
an injured right leg and didn't return. Coach John Fox said
Tyler got "rolled up, but there were no broken bones." ... In
his first start of the season, Eric Smith had eight tackles to
lead the Jets.