ST. LOUIS -- Brian Schottenheimer owned his former team for about ... oh, six minutes. After that, the Jets figured him out.

Antonio Cromartie said he knew certain plays because he recognized the pre-snap audibles.

"He ran his game and didn't try to change it," Cromartie said after the Jets' 27-13 win over the Rams Sunday. "Some of their checks, I knew what they were ... I recognized some of the verbiage they were doing."

The Jets were on their heels on the first possession, as the Rams marched 13 plays for 86 yards. Sam Bradford hit a wide-open Brandon Gibson for a 1-yard TD pass -- on fourth down -- confusing the Jets with their formation.

There was some irony. In six seasons as the Jets' offensive coordinator, Schottenheimer was often criticized for the offense's inability to score on its opening drive.

"I thought Schotty did a nice job of keeping us off balance that first drive," Rex Ryan said. "As the game went on, I thought defensive coordinator Mike Pettine and everyone did a great job of really playing fundamentals and the communication got much better, and we made some plays up front so I think that was huge.”

After the first drive, the Rams were held to 195 total yards -- but only 79 yards in the second and third quarters. Bradford was sacked only once, but he was pressured several times by the blitzing Jets.

Schottenheimer wasn't available after the game. He downplayed the game during the week, but it had to mean a lot to him after being forced out after last season. Several Jets said they exchanged pleasantries with Schottenheimer -- except for RB Joe McKnight, who said he didn't talk to him.

"I didn't even talk to him when he was here," McKnight said.

FLAG SAVES DAY: The Jets' no-longer-reliable special teams dodged a bullet at the end of the second quarter. Chris Givens returned a kickoff 98 yards for an apparent go-ahead score, but it was nullified by a holding penalty on Rodney McLeod. He apparently grabbed Chaz Schilens.

Naturally, Schilens said he was held.

"I was just looking, waiting for them to throw it," he said.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher disputed the call.

"I just saw the replay. It looked like his hands were inside," he said. "The player (Schilens) wouldn't have made the play. When the player throws his arms up in the air like that, sometimes it gets called. It didn't look to me like it was an egregious hold."

SLOW TOE: Ryan razzed LB Bart Scott for getting run down by former Jets TE Matt Mulligan on a 38-yard fumble return.

"I was shocked because Matthew Mulligan has never run that fast in his life," Ryan said. "It was great play by Mully and a good play by Bart to pick that ball up and was running with it. He will be quick to tell you that because of a toe injury he was walked down by Mulligan."

ODDS AND ENDS: DE Muhammad Wilkerson recorded the Jets' only sack, his second of the season ... S Eric Smith, who played in the nickel, made his first interception of the year ... Rookie WR Stephen Hill continued to struggle. He had another dropped pass and was held without a catch for the second straight game, the fourth game overall ... NT Kenrick Ellis (knee) and DB Aaron Berry (quadriceps) suffered injuries. No update was given ... RT Austin Howard and RB Bilal Powell allowed sacks ... Kyle Wilson replaced Jeremy Kerley as the punt returner. Kerley muffed a punt last week and was slowed by heel and hamstring injuries.