New York Jets Prove Playoff Tough with Huge Win over Patriots

Win, and they're in.

Thanks to the New York Jets' 26-20 overtime victory over the New England Patriots, coupled with the Baltimore Ravens unexpectedly knocking off the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Jets have set up exactly the situation any team hopes to have in the final game of the season.

Win, and they're in.

Was the win unconventional? Yes. It's never conventional when a team wins the overtime kickoff and elects to kick rather than receive. Of course, folks in New England will be debating that one all week until they're blue in the face. For Jets fans, it's just another thing they can revel in this week as they bask in the glory of beating the Patriots.

But take nothing away from the Jets. 

Did they earn the win? Absolutely. In fact, they probably would have won in regulation were it not for a dropped pass by wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, who was wide-open down the field and would have scored if he had caught the pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

There were quite a few miscues by the Jets' passing game Sunday, for that matter. There were some overthrown passes and some poorly run routes, but all in all, it didn't matter.

Fitzpatrick finished 26-of-41 (63.4 percent) for 296 yards (7.2 yards per attempt) with three touchdowns and a 109.4 passer rating—so imagine how much better his numbers would have looked if he and his receivers had been on the same page all day.

The Jets also ran the ball effectively, with 27 carries for 143 yards (5.3 yards per carry) keeping the offense on schedule and even afloat in the first half.

But like any good Jets team, it wasn't all about the offense. The defense pitched in more than its fair share to hold the Patriots to three points in the first half and 20 points on the day, which ties their lowest scoring output of the season. The Patriots converted just one of their 10 third-down tries. The Jets sacked Patriots quarterback Tom Brady twice, but he was harried and hurried all day.

Despite the Jets' dominant play, victory was not always certain. The Jets jumped out to a 17-3 lead in the second half, but the Patriots put together a furious comeback and tied the game, 20-20, with minutes left to force overtime. Then, the Jets capitalized with one big play to none other than Enunwa—the same guy who dropped the pass that could have won them the game in regulation.

The Jets owned the first three quarters, the Patriots owned the fourth and overtime went to the Jets. The Jets deserved to win, not because of the Patriots' decision to kick, but because they thoroughly outclassed the Patriots. To suggest anything otherwise is foolish.

To that end, the Jets deserve the situation they've put themselves into: Win, and they're in.