Patriots-Jets Week 16 Live Blog: Jets Win On Fitzpatrick TD To Decker In Overtime
Postgame: Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said it was their decision to kick the ball away to start overtime because, "We thought that was the best thing to do."
Slater said he checked multiple times with his coaches to make sure that was in fact what they wanted to do.
End Of Regulation -- Jets 26, Patriots 20:
A few plays after the big gain from Enunwa, Fitzpatrick hits Decker with a six-yard strike and the Jets walk away with a win to keep their playoff dreams alive.
The Patriots now have to wait another week to try and clinch that No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Yeah, this one is going to take some digesting, so stick with us throughout the evening as we break it all down.
Tune in to WBZ-TV for Bill Belichick's postgame press conference on Patriots 5th Quarter, and Marc Bertrand and company will be breaking it all down on 98.5 The Sports Hub until Celtics-Knicks coverage begins at 5:30pm.
Overtime, 14:18: Enunwa makes up for his fourth quarter drop with a 48-yard catch and run to the New England 30.
The Steelers have lost to the Bengals, so a Jets win gives them the fast track to a playoff berth.
Overtime, 14:47: Safety Jordan Richards is now making his way off the field with what looks like a shoulder injury.
Start of Overtime: Darrelle Revis was one of the three Jets out for the overtime coin flip.
The Patriots actually won the toss, but for some reason the Patriots elected to kick the ball. Matthew Slater tried to fix that error, but Clete Blakeman wouldn't let him. Maybe Slater though if you won the toss, you automatically get the ball?
What a weird day of football.
End of Regulation -- Patriots 20, Jets 20
Ryan Quigley's punt went into the end zone, but Brady took a knee to send this one to overtime.
4th Quarter, 00:33: Jets receiver Quincy Enunwa just dropped what could have been a game-winning touchdown, and at the very least, would have set up a game-winning kick for New York.
Fitzpatrick delivered a nice downfield strike on 3rd-and-8, but Enunwa couldn't bring it in as it hit off his fingertips.
The Patriots will be sending the house on the upcoming punt, as no one has lined up to receive the kick.
4th Quarter, 1:06: The Patriots picked up their first penalty of the day at the worst possible time, as Malcolm Butler was flagged for defensive pass interference on a 3rd-and-4 incompletion to Eric Decker.
Fitzpatrick hit a wide open Decker the very next play for a 16-yard connection to get New York to their own 49-yard line. They need about 20 yards to give Bullock a chance at a game-winning field goal.
4th Quarter, 1:25: Fitzpatrick's 2nd-and-4 pass was batted up in the air by Rob Ninkovich, who nearly came away with an interception on the play.
4th Quarter, 1:55 -- Patriots 20, Jets 20: The Jets decided not to cover James White on 1st-and-goal, and Tom Brady made them pay. He hit the running back for an easy nine-yard score, and Stephen Gostkowski kicked the extra point to tie things up at 20-20.
It was Brady's 481st career touchdown, tying Brett Favre for the most TD passes with one team.
4th Quarter, 2:00: Rob Gronkowski comes up with another huge fourth down conversion, hauling in a 26-yard pass from Brady over the middle. The Pats are a perfect 3-for-3 on fourth down today.
The Patriots are set up at the New York 9-yard line as we hit the two-minute warning.
4th Quarter, 2:31: Facing a 3rd-and-9, Brady went deep to Martin but had a little too much on the throw. The Pats are just 1-for-10 on third down.
4th Quarter, 3:52: The Patriots get the one yard and more, as Brady hits Gronk for eight yards out to the New York 36. Gronk was single-covered by safety Calvin Pryor on the play.
4th Quarter, 3:56: Facing a 3rd-and-1, Brady was in shotgun and threw it at the feet of Brandon Bolden to set up a 4th-and-1.
Not sure why they didn't let Brady pick up the yard on his own. We'll see what they have drawn up for fourth down.
4th Quarter, 5:27: Keshawn Martin is becoming a favorite of Brady's (at least for today), hauling in a 12-yard catch on 2nd-and-9 to move the chains.
Martin is up to six catches for 64 yards on the day.
4th Quarter, 6:26: The Patriots take over at their own 34-yard line.
4th Quarter, 6:46: Kind of a mess on the field with a pair of Jets down with an injury following a Bilal Powell fumble.
Powell took a short pass from Fitzpatrick, but fumbled it at the 11-yard line as Jamie Collins poked it loose. He was one of the two Jets down on the play, but walked off under his own power.
It doesn't look as good for Kenbrell Thompkins, who pulled up with what looks like a knee injury. He had to be carted off the field. Many of his former Patriots teammates and Bill Belichick went out on the field to check on Thompkins and wish him well.
If the injuries weren't enough, they also stopped the clock for the Jets.
4th Quarter, 7:35: The Patriots had to punt the ball away again, as Brady felt the pressure and couldn't hook up with Martin on a 3rd-and-7 try. Richardson applied the pressure on third down, causing Brady to throw at Martin's feet. Muhammad Wilkerson applied the heat the play before that, forcing Brady to throw an incomplete to Bolden.
The Jets now take over at their own 6-yard line after a 40-yard punt by Ryan Allen.
4th Quarter, 7:52: Steven Jackson picked up three yards on a first down run, but the Patriots are down another offensive lineman.
LaAdrian Waddle, thrust into action when Sebastian Vollmer went down in the first quarter, is the latest to leave the game due to what looks like a shoulder injury. Cameron Fleming is coming on to take his place among Brady's protectors.
If you're a rather large gentleman and can push back when other rather large gentlemen shove at your shoulders, you may have a chance to make the Patriots' Week 17 roster. If nothing else it's a free trip to Miami.
4th Quarter, 8:11: The Patriots get a huge defensive pass interference call on Buster Skrine, who was blanketing Keshawn Martin on a 2nd-and-10 bid.
4th Quarter, 8:25: Facing a 3rd-and-5, Brady ran back to buy some extra time and hit James White for six yards to keep New England's drive alive. It's just their second third-down conversion of the day.
4th Quarter, 10:55: The Patriots D went out and forced a three-and-out of their own, stuffing Ivory and Powell on 1st and 3rd down, respectively, with a Fitzpatrick incomplete mixed in the middle.
That's some terrible play-calling by the Jets, nursing a touchdown lead.
The Pats will take over at their own 31.
4th Quarter, 11:54: The Jets applied more pressure on Brady on third down, causing the QB to throw a feeble attempted to Brandon Bolden before Mauldin could get to him for a second time today.
The Pats were forced to punt, and the Jets will take over at their own 31-yard line.
4th Quarter, 12:10: Brady was just sacked by Sheldon Richardson on a 2nd-and-6, setting up a 3rd-and-11.
4th Quarter, 13:28 -- Jets 20, Patriots 13
The D stepped up to start the game's final quarter. Malcolm Butler made a nice tackle on Ridley for a 2-yard loss on first down, and Justin Coleman hit Thompkins for a 3-yard loss on third down.
The Jets had to settle for a 49-yard field goal try by Bullock, which he put through the upright to give them a 20-13 advantage.
End 3rd Quarter -- Jets 17, Patriots 13: Not a good close to the quarter for Patriots.
They gave up back-to-back big plays, as Jordan Richards and Justin Coleman missed tackles on Quicny Enunwa, who went for a 21-yard gain. On the next play, old friend Stevan Ridley picked up 13 yards on a rush to the left.
Much like their Week 7 matchup, the Patriots are going to need a fourth quarter comeback to pull out a victory in this one.
3rd Quarter, 3:21 -- Jets 17, Patriots 13: What a turn of events.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was hit by Jabaal Sheard as he attempted make a pass and fumbled the ball. Jamie Collins scooped up the loose ball and threw out a nice stiff-arm for a 14-yard touchdown. It's the second fumble returned for a touchdown by the New England D in as many weeks.
The play was reviewed and upheld. Could that be the boost the Patriots need to get back into this one?
Sheard was credited for his eight sack on the season -- and New England's first of the day.
3rd Quarter, 4:59 -- Jets 17, Patriots 6: After getting into Jets territory, the Patriots' drive stalled and they had to settle for a 44-yarder by Gostkowski.
Brady was sacked by rookie Lorenzo Mauldin on 3rd-and-8 to set up Gostkowski's kick, as the Patriots' struggles on third down continue. They are now 0-for-5 on third downs today.
The Pats moved down the field pretty well on the drive, with Brady hitting Bolden, Martin and LaFell for big gains along the way.
3rd Quarter, 9:13 -- Jets 17, Patriots 3: Things just went from bad to worse for the Patriots, as Ryan Fitzpatrick hit Brandon Marshall for a 33-yard touchdown.
Marshall beat Duron Harmon on the score, making a nice play on an under thrown ball. Harmon went looking for an OPI flag as Marshall celebrated, but no such luck for the safety or the Patriots' D.
Fitzpatrick went 4-for-4 on the drive, completing the touchdown strike on 3rd-and-11. New York is now 5-for-8 on third down.
3rd Quarter, 13:30: Well that didn't last long.
Brady and Gronkowski got a little mixed up on a route, and Darrelle Revis was there to pick off Brady's short throw for a late Christmas present from the Patriots' QB. It's the third time Revis has picked Brady in his career.
3rd Quarter, 13:45: The Patriots are already in Jets territory as Brady threads a beautiful pass to Keshawn Martin over Buster Skine. That sets New England up at the New York 40.
3rd Quarter, 14:48: The second half is off to a good start for the Patriots, as Brady hits Rob Gronkowski (a wide open Rob Gronkowski) for a 21-yard hookup over the middle.
Halftime: Jets 10, Patriots 3: Despite having a pair of timeouts, the Patriots didn't want to do anything on offense ahead of halftime. Instead, they hit the locker room down 10-3.
There's no doubt the Patriots' rash of injuries in the receiver corps played into that decision. They also ran three gadget plays in the first half, another result of that depleted receiving corps.
The Jets have out-gained the Patriots 193-113 so far in this one, with 13 first downs to New England's five. The Patriots were 0-for-4 on third down in the first half, while the Jets converted on four of their seven third downs.
Yet, this one is far from over. The Patriots get the ball to start the second half, but we'll have to see much more out of their offense if they want to clinch that No. 1 seed in the AFC.
2nd Quarter, 00:47: It doesn't look like the Patriots are in any rush to try and tie this one up before halftime.
2nd Quarter, 1:57 -- Jets 10, Patriots 3: Ryan Fitzpatrick capped off a 13-play, 80-yard drive with a short score to Brandon Marshall, who snuck in the end zone for his 12th touchdown of the season.
Fitzpatrick is up to 101 passing yards for the game, with Marshall accounting for just 14 of those yards on three catches. Fitzpatrick's go-to guy today has been Kenbrell Thompkins, who has three receptions for 30 yards against his former team.
The Patriots have plenty of time left to try and pull off the old double score, but the offense will have to put together their best drive of the day.
2nd Quarter, 2:00: The Jets offense is 4-for-7 on third downs today, and are threatening to put seven on the scoreboard as we hit the two-minute warning.
Facing a 3rd-and-2, Fitzpatrick hit Powell with a short pass that the back turned into a 10-yard gain down to the New England three-yard line.
2nd Quarter, 8:26: The good news for the Patriots is Rob Ninkovich is back out there after suffering a laceration to his right leg.
Don't let this concern you too much, but Dont'a Hightower is starting this drive on the New England bench. Likely just a little bit of a breather as he returns from re-aggravating a knee injury last week.
Jets running back Chris Ivory is questionable to return with a knee injury.
2nd Quarter, 8:50 -- Patriots 3, Jets 3: This one is knotted up at 3-3 thanks to a 35-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski.
Brady felt the pressure on a 3rd-and-3 play at the New York 17 and forced a short throw to Martin, which fell incomplete. The Patriots are now 0-for-4 on third down today.
Steven Jackson ran the ball three times on that drive, picking up six yards.
2nd Quarter, 10:50: New England's drive continues as Brady hits White for 13 yards to the New York 24 to convert on 4th-and-1.
2nd Quarter, 11:09: Facing a 3rd-and-1, the Patriots employed the wildcat (with Brady lined up out wide). But the wildcat rarely works, and Bolden was stuffed up the middle to bring up a 4th-and-1.
With options limited on offense, it looks like Josh McDaniels is pulling out a lot of tricks.
The Pats are going for it at the New York 37.
2nd Quarter, 12:06: After hitting Gronk for a 30-yard reception, Brady missed his tight end deep.
Brady handed the ball to Bolden, who lateraled it back to Brady for the deep bid. Gronkowski had Revis beat, but Brady put just a little too much on the throw.
2nd Quarter, 13:25: Steven Jackson made his first rush as a member of the Patriots, picking up five yards to move the chains on a 2nd-and-4 play.
2nd Quarter, 14:45: Ryan Fitzpatrick is a little off to start this one, much to the benefit of the Patriots.
Kenbrell Thompkins had Justin Coleman beat on a deep route on 3rd-and-9, but Fitzpatrick threw it over the receivers head.
The Patriots will take over at their own 14-yard line, thanks to a five-yard hands to the face penalty on New York on their punt.
End 1st Quarter -- Jets 3, Patriots 0: The first 15 minutes of this one is in the books, and the Patriots have just one first down and 24 yards of offense.
The Jets have an injury of their own to worry about, as Chris Ivory is getting his left leg looked at on the sideline. Ivory has 28 yards on six carries and another seven yards on two receptions so far in this one.
1st Quarter, 00:51: Nothing doing for the Patriots on that drive, as they go three-and-out.
Facing a 3rd-and-3, Tom Brady went to James White, who was quickly bottled up by David Harris for a five-yard loss.
Brandon Bolden rushed for two yards on first down and hauled in a short pass from Brady on second, but was hit at the line for no gain.
New York will take over at their own 41 after an eight-yard punt return by Jeremy Curley.
To make matters worse for New England, Rob Ninkovich is now limping on the sidelines.
1st Quarter, 3:19 -- Jets 3, Patriots 0: The Jets take a 3-0 lead thanks to a lengthy, time-consuming drive. They took full advantage of a rather large hole up the gut throughout the drive, rushing for 36 yards, and Ryan Fitzpatrick converted a pair of third down passes to put three points on the board for New York.
Old friend Kenbrell Thompkins couldn't come down in bounds on a 3rd-and-9 pass from the New England 12, so the Jets had to settle for a 30-yard field goal from Randy Bullock.
The drive started well for New York, as Eric Decker hauled in a 25-yard reception over Malcolm Butler to get things going for the Jets.
In all, it was a 13 play drive that covered 79 yards in just under seven minutes.
1st Quarter, 4:15: Vollmer's afternoon is over, as he's been ruled out with a leg injury.
1st Quarter, 10:45: The Pats will face a 4th-and-1 when play resumes, but will likely do so without Sebastian Vollmer on the offensive line.
It looked like the left tackle has his left foot rolled up on by running back Joseph Iosefa on a 3rd-and-1 rush up the middle. It doesn't look good for Vollmer, who had to be carted off the field.
The last thing the Patriots need is another injury -- anywhere on the roster. This will likely lead to LaAdrian Waddle playing some right tackle and Marcus Cannon moving over to protect Brady's blindside. Yikes.
1st Quarter, 13:09: The Patriots will start deep in their own territory after the defense forced a Jets punt.
Bilal Powell found a huge hole for 16 yards on a second down run, but the Jets offense couldn't muster much else on the drive. Ryan Fitzpatrick went looking for receiver Quincy Enunwa on a 3rd-and-8, but had a little too much on the throw and it sailed just out of the receiver's reach.
Keshawn Martin cleanly fielded the ensuing punt, but called for a fair catch at the New England 12-yard line.
Pregame, 1:01 p.m.: Even with Mo Lewis serving as New York's honorary captain for the coin toss, the Patriots won and deferred to the second half.
So the Jets will get the ball to start this one.
Pregame, 12:42 p.m.:Patriots president Jonathan Kraft join Marc Bertrand and Chris Gasper on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Patriots Preview, and said the team is always taking its players' health into consideration -- not just in the final weeks of the regular season.
"Health matters from the offseason all the way through the year. The types of prioritization come down to decisions Bill has to make, and he is in the best positions to make them," said Kraft. "He's been around long enough and understands how it is. But you hear him starting in training camp talk about the wear and tear on bodies and how to manage it, so it's something that is taken into account all year and not just at the end of the season."
Kraft also said the NFL did not share any information with the league regarding last week's testing of the PSI in footballs during the Patriots' win over the Titans.
"Their plan is to collect info during the year at a handful of games and then decide what they're going to do with that information."
Kraft wouldn't comment on the Peyton Manning HGH story that is making headlines this morning, only saying he is a fan and likes Manning as a person. As for the Patriots, they take several steps to make sure their players aren't putting anything in their bodies that will get them in trouble.
"In our organization, whether it's supplements they take in the dining room or prescription medicine they are going to take, they are constantly reminded throughout the year to please do not put anything in your body without first consulting this person, this person or this person, depending on whatever they're thinking of doing," he said. "There is someone for supplements, prescription items, and so on. The guys are told that over and over again, told what the rules of the league are and told what the consequences are. They are grown men and when they're not in the building, you hope they choose to do the right thing."
Kraft also said the team will probably leave for Miami on Thursday, with the Winter Classic being played at Gillette on Friday.
Pregame, 12:24 a.m.: Admitting that his team doesn't have a lot of flexibility today, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick told 98.5 The Sports Hub's Scott Zolak that the team will get Steven Jackson acclimated to the offense this afternoon in New Jersey.
"I wouldn't think it would be a very expanded role, but something to get started on and build on," said the coach.
It also looks like the Pats will go with an offensive line of Sebastian Vollmer- Shaq Mason-Bryan Stork- Tre' Jackson-Marcus Cannon.
Pregame, 12:17 a.m.: Both Chris Harper and Keshawn Martin were fielding punts in warmups, and special teams captain Matthew Slater even took a few kickoff returns.
Pregame, 11:35 a.m.: The New England Patriots look to clinch the top seed in the AFC with a win over the New York Jets on Sunday, but will have to do so without some key contributors on both sides of the ball.
They'll also have to do so against a Jets team fighting for their postseason lives.
We found out Saturday night that Tom Brady will be without receivers Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman, and the New England secondary won't have safeties Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung in action against the Jets.
That will leave Brandon LaFell, Keshawn Martin and Chris Harper (signed from the practice squad) as Brady's receiving corps. Harper will likely handle the punt returns this afternoon, so hopefully he learned an important lesson after his costly botched punt a few weeks against Denver.
With that crop of receivers, this one could be a big running day for the Patriots against a tough Jets run D. The Pats will have Steven Jackson in the backfield, as the running back is active after signing with the team earlier this week. It will be interesting to see what he has left in the tank, and what he can bring after sitting out all of this season.
Tight end Scott Chandler is also active this afternoon, and figures to be part of the offensive mix.
On defense, Duron Harmon, Tavon Wilson, Jordan Richards and Nate Ebner will be relied upon in the secondary with both McCourty and Chung out. While the Jets don't really have a tight end presence, New England's corners will need some help slowing Jets receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker
Linebacker Dont'a Hightower is active this week after leaving last Sunday's win over the Titans with a knee injury. He had missed the two previous games with an MCL sprain, so we'll have to see how much action he actually sees today. With the Patriots already securing a bye, Bill Belichick has to weigh the importance of that No. 1 seed and the health of his players.
Here's the full list of Patriots' inactives for Sunday:
With Kline out, that means tackle LaAdrian Waddle is active for New England and could get some run along the offensive line.
And here are the guys sitting out for the Jets, who need a win on Sunday to remain in the AFC's playoff picture.
Stick with us throughout the afternoon for all the updates from New Jersey!
