Kelly Keeps Bills in First, 28-26 : AFC: Buffalo quarterback throws two touchdown passes to Brooks and late New York rally fails.

Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly rode the receiving of Billy Brooks and Steve Tasker and the running of second-stringer Darick Holmes to lead the Bills to a 28-26 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.

The Bills, however, got a scare when the Jets scored on the final play of the game, a 41-yard desperation pass that was tipped to Adrian Murrell, who fell into the end zone.

Buffalo was able to hold on when Thomas Smith broke up a two-point conversion pass to Murrell to end the game and keep the Bills (8-3) on top of the AFC East.

“I thought they were going to run the ball for two,” Smith said. “We were in a goal-line defense. I saw the back come out and he was open for a second. Thank God I’ve got long arms.”

With star receiver Andre Reed still sidelined by a hamstring injury, Brooks caught two touchdown passes from Kelly, who threw for 316 yards. Brooks had seven receptions for 103 yards.

Tasker, a special teams leader who had 15 receptions in 11 NFL seasons, caught four for 91 yards, including a 43-yarder that was the longest of his career.

“The hardest part was knowing where to line up,” Tasker said. “I was running around a little bit out there.”

Holmes, meanwhile, teamed with Thurman Thomas to balance the attack. Holmes converted a screen pass into a 47-yard gain one play after Matt Darby’s 37-yard interception return bailed out Buffalo’s defense in the third quarter. Holmes scored untouched on a six-yard run on the next play, making it 28-10.

Thomas was held to 43 yards rushing--he averaged five yards a carry and 86 yards against the Jets entering the game. He did cap a 90-yard, 17-play drive in the second quarter with a 12-yard touchdown run.

Brooks did the rest of the damage in the opening half with touchdown catches of 45 and 18 yards, both times beating safety Victor Green, who was overmatched in coverage by the 10-year veteran.

“Maybe they don’t know us and we surprised them,” said Brooks regarding his and Tasker’s contributions. “This is a team game and everyone on the team is expected to contribute.”

But the Jets (2-9) made a game of it behind Boomer Esiason, in his first action since Oct. 8, when he suffered a concussion on a hit by Buffalo’s Bruce Smith. Esiason connected with Johnny Mitchell on a 43-yard touchdown pass play that was the Jets’ longest of the season. That made it 21-10 only 1:24 into the second half.

Esiason also connected with Fred Baxter for a six-yard score in the fourth quarter, drawing New York within, 28-20. And his long pass to Murrell to complete a 99-yard drive almost produced a miracle finish, only to have Thomas Smith spoil the two-point try to force overtime.

“When you have a young team, you make them aware it is not over until it is over, to use an old cliche,” said Esiason, who was 24 for 43 for 312 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

“What we were able to do that last drive was exhilarating. But it is still very disappointing.”