Jets close out regular season by routing the Bills

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Reuters) - The New York Jets, playoff bound as an AFC wildcard team, regained their dominant form with a 38-7 battering of the Buffalo Bills in their regular season finale on Sunday.

The win gave the Jets, who dropped three of their last four contests entering the game, their best regular-season record in 12 years.

Ryan, whose team will be on the road when the playoffs open next weekend, reiterated his preseason confidence in the team's ability to win an NFL championship.

"This football team's ready," Ryan told reporters after the game. "We want to win a Super Bowl and we want to do it right now."

The 40-year-old Mark Brunell connected with Santonio Holmes for a 17-yard touchdown strike in the first half and with Braylon Edwards for a 52-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

"It was good to get out there and compete a little bit," said Brunell, in his 18th year in the NFL. "The defense played great. The offense was pretty efficient."

Five different players scored touchdowns for the Jets, who rested running backs Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson as well as all but one of their starters in the defensive secondary yet still turned in a commanding performance.

Rookie running back Joe McKnight led New York's rushing attack with 158 yards and veteran back-up quarterback Mark Brunell finished six of 12 for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

Putting constant pressure on back-up quarterback Brian Brohm of the Bills (4-12), the Jets forced six turnovers, including four interceptions in the rout.

The loss marked the end of another losing season for the Bills, who have now missed out on the NFL playoffs for 11 straight years.

(Reporting by Larry Fine; editing by Frank Pingue)