Friday 17 October 2014 08:23, UK
The New England Patriots needed a last-ditch blocked field goal to hang on to a tight 27-25 victory over the New York Jets in a tough AFC East showdown.
Rex Ryan’s struggling Jets slipped to a sixth straight defeat with the loss, but it was not from the lack of effort as they pushed the now 5-2 Patriots all the way at Gillette Stadium.
Chris Jones was the hero for the Patriots, as his diving block stopped Nick Folk from converting a 58-yard field goal attempt as time expired which would have grabbed a huge victory for the Jets had he made it.
It was apt that Jones was the hero for the Patriots, as he was the villain last year when his penalty enabled Folk to this time successfully kick a field goal in a Jets win in overtime.
"After what happened last year, I thought it was fitting that he made that play," said Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
It looked like being a routine night when Ton Brady hit Shane Vereen for a 49-yard touchdown after just 89 seconds of play in Foxboro, although the Jets responded with three field goals putting them ahead.
Brady and Vereen repeated the act though in the second quarter and a Stephen Gostkowski field goal put the hosts 17-12 ahead after a half the Jets dominated in terms of possession but had to settle just for kicks.
Chris Ivory capped a 107-yard rushing day with a touchdown but Danny Amendola caught Brady’s third TD pass of the contest to restore the home side’s lead in the fourth quarter.
Much-maligned Jets QB Geno Smith had a decent day with 226 yards, crucially no turnovers, and a 10-yard TD toss to Jeff Cumberland late on, and although he failed with the two point conversion he at least got them within range of a long field goal to win it.
It was a much-improved display from the Jets, who actually dominated time of possession with almost 41 minutes on the ball, and gained 100 more yards of offence than the Pats with 423 – they were just unable to get the ball into the end zone.
"They're off to a tough start and they gave us everything we could handle," said a relieved Brady. "Football is a tough sport and you never know what you're going to get. It comes down to how you perform when it matters most.
"When the defence is out there as much as they were tonight it's going to be tough for them. We've got to help them out."
The Jets went back to basics as a power running team, rushing for 218 yards in the game, their most for two years, while limiting the Patriots, without top rusher Stevan Ridley, to just 63 on the ground but their inability to stop the big pass cost them.
Brady went 20-of-37 for 261 yards and three touchdowns overall, but the work of the defence, to keep the Jets out of the end zone was also a huge factor in the Patriots managing to grind out such an important win.
The Jets have now pushed Denver and New England in the last two games, so maybe all is not lost despite them being 1-6 for the season, but Smith and the offence needs to take advantage of field position and time of possession if they are to improve.
