(AP) -- EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Brad Smith's two long touchdown plays have lifted the New York Jets past the Cincinnati Bengals, 26-10 Thursday night to keep the Jets tied atop the AFC East.
Hours after the New England Patriots beat Detroit to improve to 9-2, the Jets matched them as Smith scored on a 53-yard run two plays into the third quarter, and on an 89-yard kickoff return in the final period. Smith lost a shoe midway through that return, which clinched an eighth straight loss for Cincinnati (2-9).
Santonio Holmes scored on a 13-yard reception from Mark Sanchez after Cincinnati's Andre Caldwell had a punt deflect off him while he was blocking.
The Jets have beaten Cincinnati three times in less than a year, including the 2009 season finale that got them into the playoffs, then in the wild-card game the following week.
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