TORONTO — Looks like quarterback Mark Sanchez needs to take some more sliding lessons. At least the New York Jets' bid to make a late-season playoff push is back on better footing.

Sanchez threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards before hurting his right knee, and the Jets' stingy defense finished the job in a 19-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills last night.

The Jets (6-6) won their second straight game and moved within a victory of AFC East-leading New England (7-4), which plays at Miami on Sunday.

Not all the news was good.

Sanchez was wearing a brace after sustaining what coach Rex Ryan described as a mild sprain that happened when the quarterback hurt himself with a headfirst dive at the end of an 8-yard run early in the third quarter. Sanchez had hurt his other knee in a 17-6 win over Carolina last weekend, which led to the team bringing in Yankees manager Joe Girardi to provide sliding lessons for the first-year quarterback.

"He's got to understand that it's in the organization's best interests to slide, and that was disappointing," said Ryan, who added it's uncertain whether Sanchez will be able to play at Tampa Bay on Dec. 13. "I love the kid, but he's got to grow up and understand that he represents our entire organization."

Sanchez stayed in the game for two more plays before being replaced by Kellen Clemens.

"It started to hurt shortly after that play," said Sanchez, who finished 7 of 15 for 104 yards and one TD. "It just didn't feel right when I got back to the huddle. I put some weight on it to bend down under center and it just didn't feel right when I tried to hand it off and get it to (David) Clowney on the end-around."

The Jets, at least, didn't let down after Sanchez was escorted to the locker room.

Thomas Jones had 109 yards rushing to lead a Jets' ground attack that registered 249 yards.

And New York's defense did the rest, limiting Buffalo to 36 yards and four first downs in the second half.

NOTES

Cardinals: Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said he doesn't expect to decide who will start at quarterback Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings until just before game time. Kurt Warner and Matt Leinart split practice time with the starters again yesterday, and Whisenhunt said he has made no decision.

Colts: Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney returned to practice yesterday and cornerback Kelvin Hayden worked out for the second straight day, meaning both could play Sunday against Tennessee. Freeney missed last week's game with an abdominal injury. Hayden has missed four straight games with a knee injury.

Rams: St. Louis running back Steven Jackson has been fined $5,000 for throwing a ball into the stands. He does not plan on appealing. Jackson said he knew the fine was coming after he scored in the final minute of Sunday's loss to Seattle. He said he just wanted to toss a present to the handful of fans who were still around at the end of the game.

Seahawks: Tim Ruskell has resigned as president and general manager of the Seattle Seahawks. Ruskell announced his resignation yesterday, weeks before his five-year contract with the team ends. Seahawks vice president for player personnel Ruston Webster will serve as interim general manager.

Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger was "hurt" by teammate Hines Ward's remarks questioning why a concussion kept him out of an important game against the Ravens. But the Steelers quarterback now agrees he shouldn't have played. Roethlisberger patched up his relationship with Ward during a phone call Monday, and the two have since moved on to Sunday's game against Oakland.

Vikings: Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson said yesterday that he'll be more careful after police clocked him driving 109 mph on a suburban Minneapolis highway over the weekend and cited him for speeding. Peterson told the Associated Press he "got a little speeding ticket. I need to be more aware of the speed I was going and not let it happen again."