Jets Vs. Patriots: NFL Divisional Playoff Analysis and Reaction
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Jets Vs. Patriots is the premiere game on this weekend's NFL Divisional Playoff schedule, as it gives us a matchup of two division rivals that clearly have no love lost for each other.
Indeed, the rivalry between the teams from New York and New England is very quickly becoming as venomous as the one between the Yankees and Red Sox, and it's been pretty fun to watch it develop.
Moreover, this will be the third meeting between these two teams, and the first two were chock full of story lines. The Jets claimed Round 1 way back in mid-September, but the Pats certainly got their revenge in their 45-3 thumping of the Jets in early December.
As you well know, there has been quite a lot of chatter concerning this game all week, and a lot of it has seemed decidedly personal.
So suffice it to say that we have much to discuss. And we aim to do just that. In fact, we're going to break down this matchup from as many angles as humanly possible. If that sounds like fun to you, all you have to do is keep it here, and we'll keep hitting you with knowledge.
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The New York Jets sure did run their mouths in the days leading up to their Divisional Playoff game against the New England Patriots. And now that they've come away with a shocking 28-21 win, you really can't hold it against them.
Indeed, the Jets were clearly the better team on the field today, and the game plan that Rex Ryan and his staff drew up for containing Tom Brady and the vaunted Patriots offense worked to perfection. Despite the fact Brady finished the day with nearly 300 yards passing, the Jets routinely cut off his options down the field, leading to a frustrating day for the MVP front-runner.
Not to be overlooked, Mark Sanchez was brilliant. He threw a playoff career-high three touchdowns, and was very much in control all game. He got plenty of help from LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene, the latter of whom scored the game-clinching touchdown late int he fourth quarter.
So for the second day in a row, a No. 6 seed went on the road and absolutely dominated a No. 1 seed. And this time, it was personal.
It's on to Pittsburgh for the Jets, where they will play in the AFC Championship Game for the second year in a row.
Related article: 10 Quarterbacks Who Need a Super Bowl Ring to Complete Their Legacy
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Patriots vs. Jets: Jets Beat Patriots 28-14, Head to AFC Championship Game
The New York Jets have done it again. A week after they pulled off an upset on the road against the Indianapolis Colts, they have now taken down their biggest rival, defeating the New England Patriots by a final score of 28-21.
It was a masterful day for the Jets defense, as they managed to hold the Patriots to just two offensive touchdowns. Tom Brady very rarely had open receivers down the field, and both he and the Patriots as a whole often times looked utterly confused.
It was also a banner day for Mark Sanchez, who threw three touchdowns and didn't make a single mistake all game long.
The Patriots did manage to cut the score to 21-14 with a late fourth quarter field goal, but Antonio Cromartie returned the ensuing onside kick deep into New England territory, and Shonn Greene scored on a touchdown run to make it 28-14, all but sealing the deal.
Brady hooked up with Deion Branch on a touchdown pass with less than a minute to go in the game to make it 28-21, but the Jets once again recovered the ensuing onside kick.
From there, all it took was a simple kneel-down.
It's on to Pittsburgh for the Jets, who will play in the AFC Championship Game for the second year in a row.
We'll have plenty more on this game. For now, check out our list of 10 Quarterbacks Who Need a Super Bowl Ring to Complete Their Legacy.
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Patriots vs. Jets: No Sense of Urgency Could Doom Patriots
The New England Patriots had a promising drive going for a while there. But after holding the ball for half of the fourth quarter, and advancing only as far as the New York Jets' 34 yard line, the Patriots walked away with nothing, and they still trail by a score of 21-11 with time running out.
Considering the fact the Pats are down by two scores, it was odd that there was an awful lot of standing around, and no real sense of urgency to get down the field and put some points on the board.
That being said, credit must be given to the Jets' secondary, who once against cut off all of Tom Brady's options down the field. And when Deion Branch couldn't get the handle on a fourth down pass from Brady, they were rewarded.
The Jets did go three-and-out on their ensuing possession, but the Patriots don't have much time left to pull off a major comeback.
For more on this game, check out our Live Coverage and Analysis of Jets vs. Patriots.
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Patriots vs. Jets: Mark Sanchez's Third TD Gives Jets 21-11 Lead
The New England Patriots had all the momentum not too long ago. After lying dormant for much of the game, they finally cracked the end zone, and then got a two-point conversion to cut the New York Jets' lead to 14-11.
A few moments ago, the Jets took it all back when Mark Sanchez threw his third touchdown pass of the game, this one to former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Holmes made a brilliant catch on the pass, fully extending to reach the ball, and getting both feet in at the same time.
The three touchdown passes represent a playoff career-high for Sanchez, and he is definitely looking poised in this one.
We shall see if he and the Jets can hang on.
For now, check out our list of 10 Quarterbacks Who Need a Super Bowl Ring to Complete Their Legacy.
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Patriots vs. Jets: Patriots Finally Crack End Zone, Cut Lead to 14-11
At long last, the New England Patriots have found the end zone. A few moments ago, Tom Brady hit Alge Crumpler for a two-yard touchdown pass, and a successful two-point try cut the New York Jets' lead to 14-11.
After being held down offensively for pretty much all of the game, the Pats finally came alive in their most recent drive. Starting from their own 20 yard line, Brady completed a 37-yard pass to Rob Gronkowski to put the Patriots in Jets territory, and they finally started moving with some purpose after that.
It only took a couple plays to get down inside the Jets 10 yard line, which included Deion Branch's first two catches of the game.
After Brady completed the touchdown to Crumpler, the bold two-point attempt was accomplished on a direct snap to Sammy Morris.
The pressure is on the Patriots defense to keep the momentum now.
For more on this game, check out our Live Coverage and Analysis of Jets vs. Patriots.
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Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are not looking so good in their Divisional Playoff game against the New York Jets, as they currently trail by a score of 14-3 late in the third quarter.
Brady got off to a rough start in this game, as he threw an interception in the opening minutes of the game, his first in three months.
The Jets have not helped matters by completely taking away all of Brady's options down the field, and have forced him to settle for short passes to his running backs and tight ends.
At this moment, he has completed 13 of his 21 passes for just 152 yards, and the Patriots' high-flying offense has gained just 190 yards.
Make no mistake, the Patriots have absolutely no chance of coming back in this game unless Brady can starting playing like the MVP front-runner that he is.
For more, drop in on our Live Coverage and Analysis of Jets vs. Patriots.
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Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets currently have a 14-3 lead over the New England Patriots, a surprising development that the Jets quarterback is directly responsible for.
After an ugly start, Sanchez rebounded to throw two touchdown passes, one to LaDainian Tomlinson and one to Braylon Edwards. He has also played mistake-free football, and has been instrumental in quieting the Gillette Stadium crowd.
Sanchez was going to be a key player in this game one way or another. Many thought that with Tom Brady and the Patriots offense, Sanchez was going to have to put forth a truly great performance in order for the Jets to win.
Well, he's doing just that right now, and the Jets could very well be on their way to a date with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship.
For more on Sanchez and other quarterbacks around the NFL, check out our list of 10 Quarterbacks Who Need a Super Bowl Ring to Complete Their Legacy.
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Patriots vs. Jets hasn't exactly unfolded the way many people thought it would. The visiting Jets have completely taken over the tempo of the game, and have taken a 14-3 lead into halftime.
The Patriots just haven't looked right so far, and this has a lot to do with the Jets smothering defense. They have completely taken away all of Tom Brady's options down the field, and have even forced Brady into throwing his first interception in three months.
The Jets were ugly early, as they failed to score in the first quarter after Nick Folk missed a chip-shot field goal. The Patriots also didn't capitalize on a first quarter red zone trip, as Alge Crumpler dropped what would have been a sure touchdown catch. The Pats had to settle for a field goal.
The Jets got the first touchdown of the day when Mark Sanchez hooked up with LaDainian Tomlinson early on in the second quarter to give the Jets a 7-3 lead.
With the less than two minutes left in the half, the Jets got a gift when Bill Belichick called for a fake punt. Safety Patrick Chung was supposed to take a direct snap, but he couldn't handle the ball, and didn't go anywhere once he picked it up. The Jets took over in New England territory, and punched it in on a pass to Braylon Edwards a few plays later.
That made it 14-3, and the folks packed into Gillette Stadium are utterly stunned.
We shall see if Brady and the Patriots can make the proper adjustments for the second half.
For more on this game, check out our Live Coverage and Analysis of Jets vs. Patriots.
Jets vs. Patriots: Patriots Fake Punt Mishap Results in Jets TD, 14-3 Deficit
The New England Patriots gave the New York Jets a gift with less than two minutes remaining in the half, and the Jets were able to take advantage of it.
On fourth down, Bill Belichick called for a fake punt that sent a direct snap to safety Patrick Chung. But Chung fumbled the ball, and was unable to go anywhere once he picked it up.
The Jets took over on the New England 37 yard line, and Mark Sanchez connected with Braylon Edwards on a 15-yard touchdown pass a few plays later.
That gives the Jets a 14-3 lead, and Gillette Stadium is deathly silent. With the game heading to halftime, suffice it to say that Belichick and the Patriots have some adjustments to make.
For now, you might enjoy our list of 10 Quarterbacks Who Need a Super Bowl Ring to Complete Their Legacy.
Jets vs. Patriots: Jets Dominating the Second Quarter, Lead 7-3
The New York Jets have completely taken over the tempo of the game in the ongoing Divisional Playoff against the New England Patriots, and they currently have a 7-3 lead.
The Patriots have just three yards total in the second quarter, and have looked totally inept in their two possessions of the period.
The Jets, on the other hand, have been very successful getting to Tom Brady, and they were able to convert in their last red zone trip when Mark Sanchez hit LaDainian Tomlinson on a short touchdown pass.
The Jets' latest drive took them into Patriots territory before they were forced to punt, but you could probably hear a pin drop in Gillette Stadium right now.
Suffice it to say that this is not how many people drew it up, especially the Patriots.
For more on this game, check out our Live Coverage and Analysis of Jets vs. Patriots.
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Jets vs. Patriots: Jets Getting to Tom Brady Early and Often, Have 7-3 Lead
The Jets and Patriots have provided us with a low-scoring affair thus far, but the Jets have just taken a 7-3 lead on a touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez to LaDainian Tomlinson.
The Jets can thank their defense for that score, as they have been particularly successful disrupting Tom Brady.
The Jets have sacked Brady three times already, and have also forced an interception, Brady's first in 340 attempts.
Brady did have a potential touchdown pass dropped by Alge Crumpler, and the Patriots are outpacing the Jets offensively, but one supposes that the Patriots are not happy with their performance thus far.
Sanchez's pass to Tomlinson came moments ago, and Sanchez looked like he had some mojo going in that last drive. We shall see if he can keep it up.
For more on this game, drop in on our Live Coverage and Analysis of Jets vs. Patriots.
Alge Crumpler had a key catch in the New England Patriots' latest drive against the New York Jets, but it was a catch that he should have made that unfortunately sticks out.
With the Patriots at the Jets 40 yard line, Tom Brady hit Crumpler near the right sideline, and he took it 28 yards down to the New York 12 yard line.
Two plays later, Brady lofted a pass to Crumpler over the middle, and it appeared to hit him right in the numbers.
But it fell incomplete.
Brady was then sacked on third down, and the Patriots had to settle for a short field goal from Shayne Graham to make it 3-0.
The first quarter has just ended, and one hopes that Crumpler's drop doesn't end up playing a key role in the final outcome.
For more on today's game, check out our Live Coverage of Jets vs. Patriots.
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Tom Brady has thrown an interception.
That's something we haven't been able to say in 91 days, as he hasn't thrown a pass to the wrong team since Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens.
But in the first quarter against the New York Jets, Brady lofted up an ugly pass that was picked off by linebacker David Harris, who took it all the way down to the New England 12 yard line.
It was Brady's first pick in 340 pass attempts, and the crowd at Gillette Stadium was utterly stunned.
But no matter. The Jets were unable to move forward in their ensuing three plays, and then Nick Folk came on and missed a short field goal.
The Pats have just taken a 3-0 lead on a field goal by Shayne Graham.
It would appear that there's somebody watching out for Brady.
For more on this game, feel free to drop by our Live Coverage and Analysis of Jets vs. Patriots.
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Wes Welker: Will Welker's Benching Come Back to Haunt the Patriots?
After inciting a media firestorm by poking fun at the now infamous foot fetish of New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick decided to bench wide receiver Wes Welker for the start of today's Divisional Playoff game.
Belichick's decision obviously doesn't seem all that serious. In fact, you could argue that Belichick is basically thumbing his nose at the Jets by benching Welker, as if he were saying, "You see, look how classy we are!"
Welker did come out to receive the Jets' punt at the end of their first drive. But he has yet to be heard from on offense.
Tom Brady did just throw an interception, his first in over 300 pass attempts. Maybe he doesn't if Welker is on the field?
Stay tuned.
For more on this game, check out our Live Coverage of Jets vs. Patriots.
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Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets have just kicked off against the New England Patriots in the final Divisional Playoff game of the weekend, but it nonetheless seems like a good time to offer one last word of wisdom regarding the Jets quarterback.
While Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will undoubtedly have his say regarding the final outcome of today's game, it is Sanchez who is the key player in the matchup between these two teams.
The fact of the matter is that it seems unlikely that the Jets are going to be able to keep pace with the Patriots if the game devolves into some kind of shootout. But if the Jets defense can keep it close, Sanchez and the rest of the offense are still going to need to play flawlessly in order to pull off the upset.
First and foremost, the Jets are going to look to run the ball. But if it turns out that they are going to need more than just a couple plays out of Sanchez, which they were able to get away with last weekend against the Colts, things could get dicey in a hurry.
Basically, in order for the Jets to win, Sanchez doesn't need to be good. He needs to be great.
We shall see. Enjoy the game.
For more playoff goodness, check out my list of 10 Quarterbacks Who Need a Super Bowl Ring to Complete Their Legacy.



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