Patriots Live Blog: Pats Fend Off Jets With 30-23 Victory At Home
By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
Final, 30-23 Patriots: Foolishly, the Jets threw short over the middle. They then had to rush to the line, and they committed a false start. Game over, Patriots win.
That was a wild one.
Fourth quarter, :15, 30-23 Patriots: The Jets recovered the onside. One miracle down, one to go. First-and-10 from the 48-yard line.
Fourth quarter, :18, 30-23 Patriots: The Jets opted to attempt a field-goal to cut the lead to seven. As the Pats' D-line shifted, the Jets jumped, forcing the ball back to the 37-yard line. Nick Folk's 55-yarder was good, with plenty to spare, and the Jets cover the spread. They'll need an onside recovery and a miracle Hail Mary to make it matter.
Fourth quarter, :54, 30-20 Patriots: Play was stopped for a Nick Mangold injury. Trainers tended to his head and neck, which was scary, but he was able to walk off the field.
Fourth quarter, 1:13, 30-20 Patriots: New England went for the throat. They succeeded.
Brady passed on first down, a 7-yard gainer to Amendola, before Brady bought some time on second time and noticed that Gronkowski was standing all alone in the open field.
That is ... well, it's not the best defense. Gronkowski waited for the pass to come down before turning upfield at the 10-yard line and sprinting untouched into the end zone.
The game is, for all intents and purposes, over. Though the folks out in Vegas might be interested in the events that take place in the next 1:13.
Fourth quarter, 2:00, 23-20 Patriots: Tom Brady has been perfect on this drive, but drops by Michael Williams and Brandon LaFell (number six on the day) led to a third-and-10. Brady only had one choice after the two drops: Amendola.
Amendola has been Mr. Reliable today, and he was again on third down, coming up with a catch on a quick skinny post for a gain of 11 yards.
The Patriots now have the ball at the Jets' 22-yard line. They can run the ball, and force the Jets to use their timeouts, or they could go for the throat.
Fourth quarter, 5:32, 23-20 Patriots: The Pats have come up with one stop. A touchdown drive here would essentially end the game.
After a dump to the fullback in the left flat gained 13 yards, the Jets stalled. Ivory ran for three yards on first down, Chung broke up a pass to Cumberland on second down, and Justin Coleman had perfect coverage on a deep route by Devin Smith on third down. Amendola returned the punt to the New England 35-yard line.
The Patriots need about 35 yards to get into a reasonable range for Gostkowski. A field goal would force the Jets to need a touchdown, and touchdowns have been hard to come by today.
Fourth quarter, 7:16, 23-20 Patriots: As it turns out, no field goal decision is necessary. Brady patiently stood in the pocket as Amendola broke over the middle. Amendola leaped into the air at the goal line to make a bread-basket catch, as Marcus Gilchrist went diving through Amendola's legs. Amendola landed on his back with the ball just over the goal line. Touchdown.
After a short delay as the replay officials made sure they didn't need an official review, Gostkowski kicked the extra point, and the Pats lead by a field goal.
That was 10 plays, 80 yards in 5:34. It was, quite obviously, humongous.
The Patriots realistically need a stop and a score, or two stops, in order to secure the win. It's far from over.
Fourth quarter, 7:33, 20-16 Jets: Sheldon Richardson is down on the field, forcing an officials' timeout. When they break, it'll be third-and-6 from the 8-yard line.
If the Patriots come up short, I'd think they kick the field goal with so much time left on the clock. But we shall see if it comes to that.
This drive has been all Gronkowski, who made three straight catches for a total of 36 yards. The play that made the drive possible was a strike from Brady to Edelman on third-and-17 for a gain of 27.
Fourth quarter, 12:50, 20-16 Jets: That wasn't a total win for either side, but the Jets do come away with points.
Malcolm Butler got called for pass interference on Decker at the New England 15-yard line, setting up a first-and-10. On third-and-7, Fitzpatrick threw to Marshall at the front right corner of the end zone, but Marshall let it bounce right off his hands. There's been quite a few drops today.
By scoring, the Jets forced the Patriots to need a touchdown to take a lead. But New York can't really feel too great about a four-point lead with Tom Brady about to get the ball.
If the Patriots can't score on this drive, they may need to get a turnover out of the defense to spark them to something positive.
End of third quarter, 17-16 Jets: New York is moving the ball, with Brandon Marshall just coming up with a catch despite tight coverage from Logan Ryan. Marshall then made two defenders miss en route to gaining 29 yards. It'll be first-and-10 from the New England 43-yard line to start the fourth. If the Jets get one more first down, they'll be in field-goal range.
Third quarter, 2:02, 17-16 Jets: This is not the return that Brandon LaFell hoped to have.
He just dropped a third-down pass, his fifth drop of the day, forcing the Patriots to punt.
The drive started with a Gronkowski 13-yard catch. Brady was strip-sacked on the next play while scrambling toward the line, but the ball bounced directly back to him as he lay on the turf.
Huge drive upcoming for the Jets. A field goal makes life difficult for the Patriots, but a touchdown would really reshape this game -- especially if they go about it in the same slow, methodical manner which they did on their last drive.
Third quarter, 4:07, 17-16 Jets: With less than 20 minutes left to play, the Jets have a lead in New England.
That drive was methodical and effective, if not perfect, as the Jets were in no hurry to slowly march 80 yards in 7:03 on 13 plays.
The Jets drove to the New England 36-yard line without gaining more than 13 yards on any one play. Decker then held on to a Fitzpatrick pass for a gain of 23 yards while absorbing a massive shoulder from Dont'a Hightower.
On second-and-6 from the 9-yard line, Ivory sneaked out of the backfield, and Fitzpatrick lobbed an easy one to him in the right flat. He waltzed into the end zone for six points, and the Jets have a lead.
Third quarter, 11:10, 16-10 Patriots: Brady has mostly avoided throwing the football in Darrelle Revis' direction today, but he went right at him on third-and-goal and should have had a touchdown. But Edelman couldn't make the catch after burning Revis along the goal line, leading to a drop and the Patriots' settling for a field goal.
They'll take the points, but that really should have been six. LaFell has four drops today, Gronkowski has one or two, and Edelman has that big one, which cost the Patriots four points.
Third quarter, 13:37, 13-10 Patriots: Interestingly, the Patriots motioned Gronkowski to come to the line and pass-protect on third-and-3, and then went up top to Scott Chandler for a gain of 26 yards. How about that?
Calvin Pryor was hurt on the play, leading to a timeout here. It's first-and-10 Patriots at the Jets' 38-yard line.
Third quarter, 15:00, 13-10 Patriots: The second half is underway.
Halftime, 13-10 Patriots: Oddly, the Patriots were apparently content with taking a 13-10 lead into halftime. There's no other real explanation for the team's decision to not call timeout after Fitzpatrick scrambled on a second down. Instead of calling timeout, they let the clock run down. Jamie Collins sacked Fitzpatrick for a loss of 12 on third down, at which point the Patriots did take a timeout.
But when they took over following Edelman's return, only 12 seconds were left on the clock. Gronkowski made a catch for eight yards on first down, before LaFell dropped a pass right at the edge of Gostkowski's field-goal range. On third down, with just 3 seconds left, the Patriots sent everyone deep, but Vollmer and Kline let Sheldon Richardson get to Brady for a sack. Just three men rushed on that play.
It was an uncharacteristic ending to a half for the Patriots, who usually function like a well-oiled (and perfectly coached) machine in such situations. Perhaps the Jets have taken them off their game a bit.
Second quarter, 2:00, 13-10 Patriots: The Patriots put together a nice drive, thanks to big catches from Gronkowski and LaFell up the left sideline. The first came on third-and-6, with Gronkowski drawing single coverage while split out wide. Gronkowski ran a 10-yard comeback and then shed a tackle for a gain of 26.
Edelman then absorbed a massive hit by Buster Skrine after making a catch, but the play didn't count due to holding.
LaFell just made a catch while getting hit simultaneously by Calvin Pryor. The officials gave the Patriots the first down, but it was another horrible spot, and it was overturned on replay review. Brady was sacked on third-and-1 when the Jets overloaded the right side of the line and Calvin Pace came in unblocked to sack Brady.
Gostkowski drilled the 46-yarder, and the Pats have a three-point lead for the second time today.
Second quarter, 4:49, 10-10: Edelman came up with a shifty 17-yard return, and the Patriots stat at their own 41.
Second quarter, 5:04, 10-10: Hey, look at that. The officials got right. Fourth-and-short upcoming from the Jets. They will punt.
Second quarter, 5:04, 10-10: Decker just picked up a first down, but it should come back on a challenge. Butler took him down at least two feet shy of the 30-yard line. The official initially gave the first down to the Jets, but it should come back after this replay review. Should being the key word.
Second quarter, 6:24, 10-10: Tom Brady had to do it all on that drive. And he did.
Facing a third-and-10 from the New York 13-yard line, Brady had nowhere to go with the ball but had plenty of green in front of him. He tucked the ball and set his sights on the goal line. Though Gilchrist caught him short of the end zone, Brady picked up 11 yards for the first down.
The Patriots then looked to have a touchdown on third-and-goal, when Gronkowski caught a quick slant. However, it ended up being a 0-yard completion, as Gronk was brought down on his back just short of the goal line.
On fourth-and-goal, Brady went up and over the line, a la the AFC Championship Game in 2011, for the score.
Gostkowski's PAT clanked off the right upright but made its way through the goalposts, and it's tied 10-10.
Credit the Pats' defense for forcing the three-and-out to set up the offense with great field position on that one.
Of note: Brandon LaFell doesn't look great in his first game of the season, as he let a first-down pass bounce off his arms on the first play of the drive.
Second quarter, 9:50, 10-3 Jets: The defense came up with a stop, and boy did the Patriots need it. Fitzpatrick overthrew Marshall on third-and-1, forcing a punt.
Steve Weatherford, who was signed yesterday, didn't get much leg behind that one, and it ended up bouncing backward for just a 31-yard punt. Patriots take over on the Jets' 47-yard line. Even a couple of first downs would result in points here, and though it's early ... the Patriots kind of need them.
Second quarter, 11:34, 10-3 Jets: Three plays. Seven yards. Punt.
The Patriots' offense is having some issues, to say the least.
Brady threw incomplete to Gronkowski on a play-action pass on first down, he short-hopped LaFell on second down, and he completed a quick pass to Amendola over the middle on third down. Amendola was stopped well short of the sticks, and the Patriots had to punt. They now have total yards on three drives.
Allen's punt was a good one though, so the Jets will start at their own 8-yard line.
Second quarter, 12:30, 10-3 Jets: And New York makes it hurt.
That long, methodical drive ended with Fitzpatrick hitting Jeremy Kerley on a slant with Justin Coleman in coverage. Kerley made the catch and managed to shed Coleman all in one motion, and the Jets lead it by a touchdown.
The Patriots actually came up with an impressive stop, as they ganged up on Chris Ivory to stop him between the 1-yard line and goal line on third down. Problem was, the Jets picked up a first down when Ivory crossed that 1-yard line. After a false start penalty, Fitzpatrick threw the TD.
It'll be up to the Patriots' offense, which has just 21 yards on eight plays, to sustain some possession here, if only to give the defense a rest.
Kerley entered the game, by the way, with just six receptions for 33 yards and one touchdown.
End of first quarter, 3-3: The Jets aer methodically moving down the field, and they'll have a first-and-10 from the New England 11-yard line to start the second quarter.
The big plays of that drive came on a scramble by Fitzpatrick, who lobbed a pass to fullback Tommy Bohanan for a gain of 23 yards. Later on a third-and-4, Decker ran a crossing route and gained separation from Malcolm Butler, who's really struggling in covering Decker thus far. That pass was caught for a gain of 17 yards.
Chris Ivory is back in the game, but he's having a bear of a time getting past/through/around Dont'a Hightower. No. 54 has owned that matchup thus far.
The Jets outgained the Patriots 121-41 that quarter, possessing the ball for 11:14.
First quarter, 5:05, 3-3: The Jets' D came up with another stop, this time forcing a Patriots punt.
The drive started encouragingly enough for New England, with James White making a catch on the left side and making two defenders miss. Brady then connected with Edelman to move the sticks, but there wasn't much after that.
Gilchrist made a great tackle to stop Gronkowski for a 1-yard gain, White dropped a pass on third down, and Edelman's reception came up short on third down.
The Patriots pulled their "pretend like we're going for it but then rush the punt team onto the field" nonsense from last year, but they didn't trick anyone.
First-and-10 Jets from their own 17.
First quarter, 7:29, 3-3: The Jets drove the length of the field but the Patriots came up with an impressive goal-line stand to force a field-goal try.
The Pats actually came as close as possible to an interception on second-and-goal from the 2-yard line, when a pass to Owusu pinballed up into the air and into the hands of Rob Ninkovich. However, Ninkovich bobbled it, sending it back into the air before it fell harmlessly to the turf.
On third down, Jeff Cumberland nearly had a touchdown reception in the back of the end zone, but Patrick Chung did enough to prevent the catch.
Eric Decker had 35 receiving yards on that drive, while Brandon Marshall came up with a 13-yard grab as well.
Of note: Chris Ivory spent that drive on the sidelines, with Zac Stacy playing in his stead. That bears watching, certainly.
First quarter, 12:48, 3-0 Patriots: The Patriots were unable to really capitalize on that turnover, as they ended up losing a yard and had to settle for a field goal.
Brady had nowhere to throw on first down and got hit pretty hard in the backfield before throwing an incompletion in Edelman's direction. Gronkowski caught a quick pass over the middle for a gain of five yards on second down (fans booed Darrelle Revis when he was announced on the tackle). And on third down, Brady was sacked by Muhammad Wilkerson for a loss of six.
Regardless, it's 3-0 Patriots just two minutes after they kicked off to start the game, so it's not the worst start to a football game for the home team.
First quarter, 14:10, 0-0: It didn't take long for the Patriots to make a big play. On the secondp lay from scrimmage, Ryan FItzpatrck decided to take off up the middle. He was hit from behind by Chandler Jones, who forced a fumble. Dont'a Hightower landed on it, and they take over at the Jets' 19-yard line.
First quarter, 15:00: The Patriots won the toss and elected to defer, as they tend to do.
Stephen Gostkowski kicked off deep into the end zone, and the Jets will start at their own 20.
12:50 p.m.: While this AFC East matchup is just minutes from starting, another AFC East team just fell in London. To the Jaguars.
Rex Ryan's Bills played a pretty awful game, nearly pulled off a come-from-behind victory, but ultimately lost, 34-31, in London. To the Jaguars.
The Bills fall to 3-4 on the season.
11:30 a.m.: Rex Ryan may be gone, and the circus level of pregame hype may have left with him, but make no mistake: This Patriots-Jets matchup is legit.
The 4-1 Jets are highlight motivated to come out of here with a victory, which would put them in first place and make a rather loud statement. The Patriots, obviously, would prefer to prevent that.
New England will be a bit shorthanded, though, as running back Dion Lewis is out of today's game. The Patriots will also be without guard Shaq Mason, as well as defensive lineman Jabaal Sheard. Offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, who left last Sunday's game with a toe injury, is also inactive. Those are some significant injuries, and it should make the task that much more difficult for the Patriots.
Here's the complete list of inactives:
Patriots
WR Keshawn Martin
RB Dion Lewis
DL Jabaal SHeard
OL Shaq Mason
RB/ST Brandon Bolden
LB Rufus Johnson
OL Marcus Cannon
Notably absent from that list is Dont'a Hightower, whose presence will be greatly needed to try to slow down Jets running back Chris Ivory. The Patriots are incredibly thin at offensive line, and they're dressing just two running backs (LeGarrette Blount, James White). Expect an attack based on quick passes from Tom Brady.
Jets
P Ryan Quigley
QB Bryce Petty
WR Kenbrell Thompkins
RB Bilal Powell
OL Jarvis Harrison
OL Ben Ijalana
DL T.J. Barnes
Keep it here in the live blog throughout the whole game, as I'll have updates from pregame warmups through the final whistle for this showdown for first place in the AFC East.
Read more from Michael Hurley by clicking here. You can email him or find him on Twitter @michaelFhurley.