AFC wild-card game: Jets rookies Mark Sanchez, Shonn Greene star in 24-14 win over Bengals 
 
 Antonelli/News The Thrill of Victory: Jets QB Mark Sanchez celebrates after a touchdown pass to tight end Dustin Keller in the 2nd quarter of Gang Green's win over the Bengals. 
 
 Jets 24, Bengals 14 
 
 CINCINNATI - They won it for their grieving owner. They won it for their brash coach. They won it because they sensed everybody thought they couldn't. 
 
 The Jets won their first playoff game in five years, advancing to the AFC divisional round with a 24-14 wild-card victory over the Bengals Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium. Led by rookie Mark Sanchez and his cast of Cincinnati Kids, the Jets announced themselves as a serious postseason contender - just like Rex Ryan had predicted. 
 
 "I think this is just the first step in what we all feel is going to be a great journey," Ryan said after beating the Bengals for the second time in six days. 
 
 Ryan, his eyes red, looked as if he had been crying. Indeed, it was an emotional day for the entire organization, and it culminated in a poignant locker-room scene. Ryan gathered the players and made a presentation to Woody Johnson, who attended the game with family members less than a week after the tragic death of his daughter. 
 
 "There's only one game ball, and it goes to Woody," Ryan told the team, according to players. The coach choked up, they said. 
 
 It culminated a roller-coaster week in which the Jets beat the Bengals in the season finale, 37-0, and grew angrier by the day as they heard "excuses" coming from the Bengals' camp. Ryan stoked the emotions Friday night with a fiery speech to the team. 
 
 "(The Bengals) said they treated last week like a preseason game, but when the chips were on the table they couldn't get it done," tackle Damien Woody said. "So what's their excuse now?" 
 
 The Jets' improbable run will continue on the road, as they will meet the top-seeded Colts or the second-seeded Chargers next weekend. Their opponent will be determined by the outcome of today's Patriots-Ravens game. 
 
 "There is no ceiling for us," said Jets linebacker Calvin Pace. 
 
 Ryan laughed when asked how far the Jets could advance into the playoffs. 
 
 "We can't get much higher than what I predicted," he said, alluding to his headline-making boast that the Jets - a 50-to-1 shot to win the Super Bowl - deserved to be the favorite in the field. 
 
 Maybe it's time to believe. 
 
 In the crucible of the playoffs, the Jets played turnover-free football, took control after an early 7-0 deficit and dropped the hammer in the fourth quarter with two late sacks. 
 
 Sanchez, playing like the franchise quarterback the Jets believe he can be, was magnificent. He completed 12 of 15 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown, fooling the Bengals with bootleg passes off play-action. And two incompletions came on drops, including a killer by Braylon Edwards on what should have been a 41-yard touchdown. Sanchez became only the fourth rookie quarterback in NFL history to win a playoff game. ||||| Dallas Cowboys players bowed their heads and some of them placed their hands over their hearts during a moment of silence Sunday for a teammate killed in a car accident a day earlier in Texas. 
 
 In this Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, photo, Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent runs onto the field out of the team's tunnel after being introduced before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this 2012 file photo, NFL football player Jerry Brown of the Indianapolis Colts is shown. Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Josh Brent is facing an intoxication manslaughter charge after a one-vehicle... (Associated Press) 
 
 In this photo taken Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent looks on during warm ups before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Arlington, Texas. Brent is facing... (Associated Press) 
 
 Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) passes against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Keating) (Associated Press) 
 
 Dallas Cowboys players hang their heads during a moment of silence honoring teammate Jerry Brown who was killed in an automobile accident prior to an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals,... (Associated Press) 
 
 Owner Jerry Jones described his team as grieving before the kickoff of a game against the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium that had playoff implications for both teams. The Cowboys learned on their flight to Cincinnati on Saturday that linebacker Jerry Brown had died in an accident overnight. 
 
 Defensive lineman Josh Brent was charged with intoxication manslaughter in Irving, Texas, for the early morning accident. 
 
 "First of all, I think that our team is grieving and they know that," Jones told Fox for its pregame broadcast. "They also know that they can handle that better if they will go out and do their work and do it to the top of their abilities. 
 
 "So it is a way for them to respond and to some degree, I am sure that many of them are proud that they have this to do this afternoon." 
 
 It was the second week in a row that an NFL team played a game one day after a team member died. Kansas City linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend, then killed himself at the Chiefs' practice complex in front of his coach and general manager. 
 
 Coach Jason Garrett told the Cowboys (6-6) on Saturday night that it was important to play well against the Bengals (7-5). Both teams needed a win to stay in the thick of playoff contention. 
 
 "First of all we all know, but we remind ourselves that there is something more important than football, and this is life and certainly the lost life of Jerry," Jones said. "On the other hand, they know the best way they can honor Jerry, because he was such a hard worker, so conscientious and enthusiastic about his career." 
 
 The teams observed a moment of silence for Brown before the national anthem. Quarterback Tony Romo put his hand over his heart, as did other Cowboys. Most lowered their heads. 
 
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– Dallas won a laugher over Philadelphia, and the Jets took down Cincinnati on the road to advance in the playoffs. Tony Romo (2 TDs, 244 yards) and the Cowboys put up 27 points in the second quarter and cruised to a 34-14 win. Dallas Morning News coverage here. On the schedule Sunday: Ravens-Patriots and Packers-Cardinals. In the Jets game, QB Mark Sanchez (1 TD, 182 yards) showed no rookie jitters in leading New York to a 24-14 win. He got help from fellow rookie Shonn Greene, who ran for 135 yards, and from Bengals kicker Shayne Graham, who missed two critical second-half field goals. Daily News coverage here.