Patriots Blog: Jets Take Down Pats 28-21
FOURTH QUARTER
Jets get quick touchdown, thanks in large part to Jerricho Cotchery's 58-yard catch-and-run. It set up a beautiful TD catch by Santonio Holmes that was impossible to defend.
Pats respond with long drive that ends with a fourth down drop by Deion Branch deep in Jets territory. With five minutes to go, it does not look good.
Julian Edelman takes the punt return 41 yards to give the Patriots some life with three minutes to go. Shayne Graham nails the field goal, making it 21-14.
The Patriots attempt the onside kick, it fails and Antonio Cromartie picks it up and runs it deep into Pats territory. Shonn Greene scores the touchdown two plays later, and that's just about it.
Brady tosses a late touchdown to Deion Branch to make it a one-score game with 24 seconds to go.
Graham's second onside kick fails, and the Jets backed up their talk to shock the Patriots.
THIRD QUARTER
The Highs:
The Pats defense does their job and holds the Jets on New York's first possession of the quarter.
The Pats defense continues to hold. They slow down the Jets on their second possession of the quarter.
Pats finally get something going. They start the drive with a 37 yard passing play to Gronkowski and ends with a 2 yard touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler. The also get the 2 point conversion. Sammy Morris with the conversion run.
The Lows:
The Pats open the quarter and the offense sputters. Then on the punt, they have a chance to pin the Jets inside the 10 and they make mistakes. They are playing bad football right now.
Pats second possession of the quarter and they are still sputtering. Tom Brady gets hit, almost a fumble but they recover. They still go nowhere.
Rob Ninkovich got hurt. Had to be helped off the field.
Jets up 14 to 11 after 3.
SECOND QUARTER
The Highs:
The Pats defense opens the second quarter by holding the Jets and forcing them to punt.
The Lows:
Pats first possession of the quarter and they go 3 and out. Tom was sacked again. Drew Coleman came off the end.
Jets second possession of the quarter and they score. The big play came on 3rd and 6 and Mark Sanchez hit Braylon Edwards for a 37 yard strike. Sanchez finished with a yard touchdown pass to LaDanian Tomlinson.
Pats second possession of the quarter and they go 3 and out. Brady is not sharp today. The Jets defense is confusing him.
Pats offense still off and then the team tried a fake punt and it went horribly wrong.
Jets got the ball and scored. Mark Sanchez to Braylon Edwards for 15 yards and a touchdown.
FIRST QUARTER
The Highs:
The Pats defense holds. The Jets first possession and the Pats force them into a punt. Good start for the defense.
On Tom's interception, Alge Crumpler ran down David Harris and stopped him from getting a touchdown. Great Hustle play.
The Jets got the ball at the 12 and after a couple plays they tried a field goal and Nick Folk missed. The Pats are back in business.
Pats second possession and they get down the field. Great 28 yard play to Crumpler. The Pats would have to settle for a field goal though.
The Lows:
The Pats were moving the ball on their first possession and Tom Brady threw an interception. The play was a screen and developed real slow and just a bad throw by Tom.
On the Pats second possession of the quarter, Tom Brady was sacked twice. Both times by Shaun Ellis. Something to pay attention to.
Pats up 3-nothing after one.
WELKER BENCHED
For his comments on Thursday, Bill Belichick has benched Wes Welker. He will play but he will not start.
INACTIVES
Here are the Patriot inactives for today's playoff game against the New York Jets:
- Taylor Price, WR
- Fred Taylor, RB
- Thomas Clayton, RB
- Tony Carter, CB
- Marques Murrell, LB
- Rich Ohrnberger, OL
- Mark LeVoir, T
- Myron Pryor, DL
No surprises here. Myron Pryor was not at practice at all this week. I did not expect him to play. I know Fred Taylor is a great locker room guy but I bet it's killing him that he can't get out there on the field and help this team. This could be the playoff run he's been waiting for. Injuries have him way behind.
KR/WR Brad Smith and LB Vernon Gholston will not play for the Jets.