New England Patriots Vs The New York Jets: 15 Key Moments In The Bitter Rivalry
The Sunday afternoon playoff showdown between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots is one of the most highly anticipated games of the year, as well as this season's round three in what has become one of the NFL's premier rivalries.
A bitter feud featuring not only two outstanding football teams, but two fiercely competitive regions. From Yankee/Red Sox to Patriots/Jets these guys live to beat each other. From press conferences to clam chowder each side brings their own unique style to the competition and rarely agree on anything.
Here's a quick look at some of the pivotal moments that created the tension between these two clubs.
The Big Tuna
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The “rivalry” is hardly relevant during the late 80”s to early 90’s. Included is a brutal four year stretch where neither club has a single winning season. In 1990 the teams combine for a 7-25 won-loss record, 1992 brings a combined 6-26 record.
1993 Brings Bill Parcells a two-time Super Bowl winning coach to New England where he leads the team to the playoffs in his second season and ultimately to Super Bowl XXXI as AFC champs in his fourth year. Soon after (if not allegedly during the Patriots Super Bowl run) Parcells makes plans to leave NE.
However when it looks like Parcells’ contractual issues with the Patriots will keep him from coaching in NY the Jets make a curious move and hire Parcells’ right-hand man Bill Belichick as Head Coach with Parcells serving in an “advisory” role. The Patriots cry foul and ultimately Commissioner Paul Tagliabue brokers a deal between the clubs, releasing Parcells from any contractual obligations with NE and sending four Jet draft picks to Patriots as compensation.
The Tuna/Turf wars are on!
Tuna Bowl I
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It took a blocked 29yd field goal attempt by the Patriots in the final minute of regulation to send the game into overtime where they eventually prevailed 27-24.
The game was wildly anticipated in the wake of Parcells leaving New England following their AFC Championship. The Patriots were led by Pete Carroll (a former Jet coach naturally) and Drew Bledsoe.
One of the stories inside the story was the Jet Defensive Coordinator Bill Belichick matching wits with Bledsoe, a battle most would say BB got the best of over the years. Bledsoe was baited into throwing a couple terrible interceptions one of which was returned for a score by Jet LB Mo Lewis (who would play a significant role in another chapter in the rivalry down the road)
Eventually the Patriots prevailed and Tuna Bowl I was in the books.
Curtis Martin
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Curtis Martin becomes the first high profile player to defect during the NE/NY turf war. After three solid seasons rushing for over 1,000 yards with New England Martin follows Parcells to New York where all he does is rip off seven more 1,000yd seasons.
He retires with over 14,000 yds rushing and is currently 4th among the NFL’s All-Time rushing leaders.
“I Resign As HC of the NYJ”
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If Parcells leaving the Patriots for the Jets came under unusual circumstances then that was only a harbinger of things to come when it came to Belichick leaving New York.
Belichick had followed Parcells from NE to NY serving as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator with the Jets. When Parcells resigned as Head Coach it was BB who was Parcells’ hand picked man to succeed him. This had been well established given the events that had unfolded when Parcells had first tried to join the Jets staff.
However BB’s press conference to announce his becoming the New York Jets Head coach instead became a surprise resignation with Belichick scribbling the now famous “I resign as HC of the NYJ”.
Brief even by Belichick standards.
Once again the Commissioner is called in to resolve a dispute between the two clubs as this time the Jets cry foul, and ultimately they are rewarded a first round pick as compensation for allowing BB to become HC of the NEP.
Mo Lewis Knocks Out Bledsoe
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It’s the first week of NFL action after the 9/11 tragedy. Among heightened security and a rekindled sense of patriotism the Jets and Patriots resume their NFL schedule.
Jet LB Mo Lewis delivers a vicious hit on Patriot franchise QB Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe leaves the game as a result of the injury and suffers from serious internal bleeding. The Patriots turn to a little known backup QB from Michigan named Tom Brady.
The Jets hold the Patriots without a touchdown and end up winning the game 10-3
Brady ultimately leads the team to it’s first Super Bowl Championship.
Ty Law Jumps Ship
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August 2005 another big name Patriot ends up with the Jets. Five time pro-bowler Ty Law jumps sides in the Patriot/Jet border war.
Mangenius
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The Jets hire former Patriot Defensive Coordinator Eric Mangini as Head Coach to replace Herman Edwards.
There is a feeling among the media that Belichick, who had no quarrel with other coaches who had left for opportunities in the past (most notably Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weiss), is not happy with Mangini.
Whether the two men previously had some type of mutual agreement as to when and how Mangini would leave is open to speculation.
The Handshake
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It’s the first Pats/Jets game after Mangini’s hiring.
The Patriots use a strong 1st half to go on and win 24-17. But it's the hand shake at the end of the game that seems to have the media fixated.
2006 Playoffs
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Mangini is now riding high in NY leading the Jets into the playoffs and a wild card berth which earned them a game against New England.
The Pats roll 37-16.
Insanely the post game embrace of the two coaches gets nearly as much attention as the outcome of the game.
1-0. The Pats Start Their 16 Game Regular Season Win Streak In New York
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The new look Patriots featuring Randy Moss and Wes Welker beat the Jets 38-14. Moss torches the Jet secondary for nine catches, 183 yds, including a 51yd TD.
Mangini and the Jets call out the Patriots for illegally videotaping the Jets defensive signals and a new word becomes part of sports lexicon, Spygate.
The uproar caused by the scandal costs the Patriots a 1st round draft pick, a $250,000 fine for the team, and an additional $500,000 fine for Belichick.
The bad blood between the two teams is raised to an all new level.
Jets Win 34-31 Overtime Thriller
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It was one of the best actual games between the two clubs. The Jets pull out a 34-31 Overtime win in Foxborough in November 2008.
The game features two new faces to the rivalry. Long time Green Bay Packer great Brett Favre had joined the Jets in a wildly hyped off-season move. Meanwhile the Patriots were led by Matt Cassel at QB.
Cassel was a fascinating story. After spending his entire college career at USC backing up Heisman trophy winners Carson Palmer, and Matt Leinart the Patriots had selected him in the 7th round of the 2005 draft.
Now with Tom Brady injured Cassel was the man in charge of the Patriot offense. He put together one of his finest efforts in the Jets game completing 30 of 51 for 400yds three TD’s and no interceptions, as well as running for an additional 62 yds. Despite a heroic end of regulation drive culminating in a Cassel to Moss score the Jets prevailed in OT
Rex Ryan Puts His Mark On The Rivalry
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Former Baltimore Raven Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan joins the fray and immediately puts his mark on the rivalry. Among Ryan’s most famous remarks is his “I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings”.
In the next edition of Patriots/Jets the boisterous Ryan and his similarly vocal players deliver the goods holding the Patriots without a TD in a 16-9 victory of NE.
Ryan leads the Jets to 2nd place, finishing behind the Patriots who avenge the loss in the first meeting of the season with a 31-14 victory in Foxborough.
Ultimately Ryan leads the Jets to the AFC Championship game where they lose to the Indianapolis Colts. It’s the first trip to the title game for the Jets since Parcells was coaching.
New York Jets 28 New England Patriots 14
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In what will turn out to be the first of three 2010 season meetings between the clubs the New Yorkers knock off the Patriots 28-14 in the new Meadowlands after coming into the game more boisterous than ever. The game features a stellar 2nd half effort by the Jets defense as they hold the Patriots scoreless after intermission.
One of the relatively few Patriot highlights is a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch by former Patriot Randy Moss from Tom Brady giving him at least a temporary reprieve from the sentence he had been serving on Revis Island
5' 7 3/4
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Meanwhile one day before their September 19th game against the Jets the Patriots sign little known Running Back Danny Woodhead whom the Jets had recently cut.
At the time it’s viewed by many in the media as strictly gamesmanship, just the most recent example of a practice where teams will often sign players with knowledge of an upcoming opponents system.
As it turns out Woodhead is now an integral part of the Patriots offense filling in admirably for the injured Kevin Faulk. Woodhead joins Curtis Martin, Bryan Cox, Ty Law, Vinny Testaverde, Damien Woody and others as among the most notable players to be part of both franchises during their careers
Monday Night Meltdown
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Monday Night Football came to Foxboro on December 6th, 2010.
The NFL hype machine was in overdrive as both the Patriots and Jets entered the week 13 showdown with NFL best 9-2 records.
As if the New England home crowd needed any more encouragement the much hyped game also featured a stirring halftime ceremony to honor former Patriot star Tedy Bruschi.
But much like many uber hyped prize fights, this one was an early knock out as the Patriots dominated from the coin toss. Led by Tom Brady’s four touchdown, zero interception performance , as well as a 104 yard receiving game by none other than former Jet Danny Woodhead, the Patriots destroy the Jets 45-3.
The game is so lopsided that it nearly leaves Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan speechless. Nearly.
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