New York Jets return man Joe McKnight cut the Texans' lead to six midway through the third quarter with a 100-yard kick-off return touchdown, but that was as close as New York would get as they fell to the still perfect Houston Texans on Monday night, 23-17.

Tipped passes proved deadly to the Jets' offense. With time running down in the first half, the Jets had moved inside the Houston 10-yard line looking to tie the game at 14 before halftime. But a Mark Sanchez pass was tipped by Texans defensive end J.J. Watt and intercepted and returned 86 yards by cornerback Brian McKnight. Instead of a tie game, the Texans extended the lead, 17-7.

With the Jets mounting their final drive of the game trailing with under two minutes to play, a Sanchez pass deflected off a Jets wide receiver and was also intercepted. And with only four seconds left to play and the New York Jets needing a miracle, Sanchez's last pass was, of course, tipped and incomplete.

J.J. Watt continued his impressive season, adding another sack to bring his league-leading total to 8.5.

Mark Sanchez finished 14-of-31 for 230 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Shonn Greene was the leading rusher with eight carries and 26 yards.

The Texans were led by running back Arian Foster, who ran 29 times for 152 yards and one touchdown. Texans quarterback Matt Schaub was 14-of-28 for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

The Houston Texans remain perfect, moving to 5-0 on the season with the win. The New York Jets drop to 2-3.