In the run-up to the 100th all-time meeting between the Patriots and Jets, the AFC East rivalry contained all the hallmarks of a hard fought battle.
For instance, in the preceding 99 games, the Patriots had 49 wins, the Jets had 49 wins (one game ending in a tie); the last time the two foes met, the game went into overtime; as in past closely fought games where New England’s taken part, trash talk was levied against the Pats by a member of the opposing team’s secondary (e.g. Kerry Rhodes of the Jets last week, Anthony Smith of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007, Freddie Mitchell of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005).
And if you only saw the score of yesterday’s game—the Jets winning 16-9—you’d think yesterday was yet another hard fought battle.
Those who watched, though, saw something quite different. Those who watched saw a Patriots team that was outplayed. Those who watched saw a Patriots team that was outmatched. Those who watched saw a Patriots team that was, to paraphrase Rhodes comments from last week, “embarrassed” by their poor performance.
The First Half
That’s not to say the game was a downer from start to finish for Brady and Co., as the first quarter was filled with some great “firsts.” New England got great field position at the kickoff, their first first down came on their first play, and the Patriots’ Joey Galloway hauled in his first catch as a Patriot just 1:30 into the first quarter.
Meanwhile, the Jets’ “firsts” weren’t nearly as propitious. The Jets’ Leon Washington lost a fumble to the Patriots, the first time the Jets have done so since 1991, and the Jets’ first first down came with 10:45 remaining in the second quarter.
Despite the lackluster start for the Jets, amassing a putrid -2 passing yards the entire first half, they went into the half just three behind New England. The Patriots could muster a mere six points heading into the half on two Gostkowski field goals (one from 45 yards, the other from 25 yards).
That’s right about where the tide turned for the Jets.
The Second Half
As New York emerged from the locker room and made their way back to the gridiron, Sanchez and Co. compiled almost as many yards on their first drive as they amassed the entire first half (54 to 56). It took just three plays to do what the Patriots couldn’t do in an entire game: score a touchdown. A 45-yard connection with Cotchery, a run up the middle, and a Sanchez-to-Keller connection put the Jets up for good, 10-3.
The Jets would go on to score two more times on a pair of field goals before game’s end, but Brady’s shakiness throughout the second half made those six points seem gratuitous.
Granted, the Pats receivers didn’t make things easy for Brady, as the quartet of Galloway, Edelman, Moss and Maroney looked like court jesters with their juggling acts. But given Brady’s four—FOUR!—delay of game penalties, the Patriots receivers weren’t the only objects worthy of ridicule.
The offensive line didn’t make matters any easier, as Brady was hurried 15 times and knocked down five times.
As bad as it was, though, the Patriots still had the opportunity to win the game with just under two minutes remaining in the fourth. Five plays, 18 yards, and 46 second later, though, the Pats went four and out.
The win marked the Jets first home win over the Patriots since 2000. With it, they did what no team has been able to do since 2006: Keep the Patriots from scoring six. Through the season’s first two weeks, in fact, the Jets have yet to allow a touchdown.
Reaction
In the postgame press conference and interviews, “better” was the operative word among those who spoke…referring to the Jets, of course.
“We were the better team today,” said New York Jets coach Rex Ryan. “That’s the football team we were this week, that’s the team we were last week.”
“They did a better job than we did,” said Belichick. “We just didn’t do a good enough job.”
“We’ve got to find ways to perform better as a team,” echoed Brady in an interview with WEEI AM 850 Monday. “The veteran leaders have to do a better job at leading. Ultimately, we just have to play better. I think that’s what it comes down to.”
Indeed, for the Patriots have a deadly duo to contend with next week in the Falcons Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzales. Through two games, Gonzales has a pair of touchdown catches, one of them yesterday in the Falcons 28-20 win over the Carolina Panthers. Last year’s rookie of the year (Ryan) threw for three touchdowns, a career-high. Atlanta’s 2-0 record marks their best start since 2006 (before that, since 1995).
 |
