EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Jets' defense was far from perfect for most of the game.

Then came the fourth quarter, and David Harris and his stingy teammates were back to being dominant.

Harris had an interception and a big sack on Tennessee's last two drives, and Mark Sanchez threw two TD passes and bulldozed his way in for another as the Jets stayed undefeated by holding on for a 24-17 win over the Titans yesterday.

"They kind of got the momentum on their side and we hit a little bit of a slump," nose tackle Kris Jenkins said. "It was just one of those things where at that point, we understood we had to rally and I think we showed everybody that we were going to still get it together."

They sure did, shutting down the Titans with the game on the line — twice.

Sanchez became the first rookie quarterback to start a season and win in his first three games, helping the Jets to the fourth 3-0 start in franchise history. Rex Ryan also joined Al Groh (2000) as the only Jets coaches to win their first three games.

"I'd like to say that this is exactly what I predicted, but we played three outstanding football teams," Ryan said. "We're 3-0 right here. Maybe that says something about us."

New York's defense, which came in ranked No. 1, allowed its first touchdowns of the season. But the Jets turned up the pressure in the fourth quarter and stopped Kerry Collins, who was 0 for his last 13 as the Titans fell to 0-3.

"No panic stage, nothing," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "We're going to keep working."

Sanchez finished 17 of 30 for 171 yards and TD tosses to Jerricho Cotchery and Ben Hartsock.