New York coach Herman Edwards finds a few nuggets to build on.

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) – While the New York masses panic over a season-opening loss that easily could have been a victory, Jets coaches and players searched for positive signs.

Coach Herman Edwards found a few Friday, although he wasn’t dismissing the mistakes that handed the Washington Redskins a last-minute 16-13 win.

Edwards emphasized how the Jets seized momentum in the second half and had the ball in a tie game in the fourth quarter, with an opportunity to go ahead. Instead, they self-destructed on a pair of short-yardage runs, then the defense let the Redskins drive for the winning field goal.

“We wanted to keep the emotion out of it,” Edwards said. “We withstood the onslaught: opening day and balloons and fireworks and the crowd. In the fourth quarter, it’s 13-13 and it’s really quiet and the momentum has swung.

“We’ve got to convert on third down.”

Among the most worrisome elements of the loss was the Jets running only 47 plays to 61 for Washington.

When New York got off to a 1-4 start in 2002, the team not only couldn’t sustain drives by converting third downs, but it couldn’t stop the opposition from marching downfield.

While Washington wasn’t exactly potent on offense Thursday night, it put together 12- and 14-play drives for scores in the first half. And the Redskins came up with a six-play, 47-yard march to John Hall’s 33-yard kick that won it with 5 seconds remaining.

Edwards hasn’t forgotten how inept the Jets were early last season in the same areas that hurt them at pivotal times in Washington.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Edwards said. “Last year, we had 47, but Buffalo had 75. At least we kept it down to 61. They had the time of possession (34:46-25:14).

“It shows you turnovers are such a critical factor.”

The Jets had an interception and fumble recovery, although they managed only two field goals from the takeaways.

“The game is 13-13 with all that,” Edwards said. “That’s the game you need to win, on the road, the crowd is out of it. We can’t ask for more than that.

“But you’ve got to win the game.”

They didn’t. They gained only 158 yards, while yielding 327.

Among the biggest culprits were the linebackers. Although Sam Cowart led the team with eight tackles, he was completely fooled on Patrick Ramsey’s 24-yard scramble that set up the winning field goal.

Mo Lewis had a tough game, beaten several times on passes and runs. He had three tackles. Middle linebacker Marvin Jones had only three assists.

The secondary had a difficult opening half, then buckled down, even without free safety Jon McGraw, who left in the second quarter with a concussion that Edwards believes will not sideline him for the next game.

Receivers ran several routes short of first downs, and Vinny Testaverde misfired on a few other passes.

The run-blocking was poor in the second half.

Yet, with all of their mistakes and despite some conservative coaching, the Jets were in position to win.

“A lot of games in this league are decided by three points or less,” cornerback Ray Mickens said. “We’ve got to find a way to make a play, offensively or defensively, to win the game.”