Favre, Feeley, Keller Lead Heroics
JETS 34
PATRIOTS 31
OVERTIME
Now this is drama! In typical Jets fashion, New York found a way to make a sure blowout victory into a nail biter, pulling out a heart-stopping overtime win in New England, Thursday night.
The Jets held a commanding 24-6 lead late in the second quarter, before Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel orchestrated a last minute touchdown drive in the final minutes before half time to get the Patriots to within 11 at 24-13.
Cassel had all day to throw against the Jets. For some reason the Jets could not get any pressure on the quarterback. Cassel was brilliant, throwing for 400 yards for three touchdowns while rushing for 62 more. By allowing Cassel ample time to throw, the Jets blew one lead after another.
In the third quarter, the Jets really lucked out. Patriots tight end Ben Watson fumbled on a third down conversion, costing the Patriots a sure scoring drive. Later, Cassel muffed the snap from center, allowing the ball to roll behind him for about a 28 yard loss. These mistakes were key because the Jets offense, that was so potent in the first half, mustered only 38 yards in the quarter.
However, the Jets defense just couldn't hold on. With time expiring in the third, Cassel hit Watson in the middle of the end zone for the touchdown to get New England to within five 24-19. The Patriots converted on the two point conversion to make it 24-21 Jets.
All of sudden, the Jets couldn't hold the ball. Jerricho Cothery fumbled at the Pats 40 yard line allowing the Patriots to start right over and take full command. But the Jets defense found a way to hold on. They finally got some pressure on Cassel and hit him for only a one yard gain to force a long field goal. Stephen Gostkowski connected on the field goal to tie it at 24.
Then, Brett Favre took over. The wily veteran drove the Jets down the field in a 7:00 minute drive, completing four of five passes, including a huge 14 yard completiton to rookie Dustin Keller to spot the ball at the New England 22 yard line.
The Patriots started to play dirty, as they were flagged for two holding calls near the end zone, moving the ball closer to the goal line. Favre pitched it to Thomas Jones; he dived over the line on second and goal to give New York a 31-24 lead.
Then, Eric Mangini had a brain cramp! With the game well in hand in the final 1:59, the coach decided that giving the ball to Jones on a third and two at the Jets 23 yard line was a good idea. Not so good! The Patriots stuffed Jones and forced the Jets to kick it away.
Cassel proceeded to rip apart the Jets defense, connecting on two quick strikes to Watson to get the ball to the Jets 42 yard line with 36 seconds left to play. Cassel hit Wes Welker up the middle for 17 more to put the ball at the Jets 15. Then, in as bizarre a play as can possibly happen, Cassel hit Randy Moss in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown with one second to play. Before that catch, Moss had only one reception for a total of two yards. The play went under review, and, even though it was obvious that Moss did not get both feet down, the officals had to give the touchdown to New England to avoid any controversy. 31-31-OVERTIME!
So the game came down to a coin toss, and, once again, Favre was in the middle of it. Favre hit Kelller for 16 yards to convert a huge third down to get the ball to the Jets 30. This play was perhaps the turning point of the game. Four plays later, Favre found an open Lavernous Coles right down the middle for a 16 yard gain to the Patriots 24 yard line.
After a couple of runs by Leon Washington and Jones, the Jets set up the potential game winning field goal. Jay Feeley, who had a huge week against the Rams, connected on the winning kick as the ball struggled to avoid the goal post, shaving it as it went through, hitting the net. The Jets sideline exploded in jubilation. Owner Woody Johnson stood in the tunnel high-fiving and hugging all his players. Yes, finally, Johnson's investment is starting to pay off.
The Jets are in sole possesion of first place with a 7-3 record. They have the inside track to the number two seed in the AFC playoffs. Now, ten days off before a trip to unbeaten Tennessee, in what could be an AFC Championship preview of coming attractions.
The Jets held a commanding 24-6 lead late in the second quarter, before Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel orchestrated a last minute touchdown drive in the final minutes before half time to get the Patriots to within 11 at 24-13.
Cassel had all day to throw against the Jets. For some reason the Jets could not get any pressure on the quarterback. Cassel was brilliant, throwing for 400 yards for three touchdowns while rushing for 62 more. By allowing Cassel ample time to throw, the Jets blew one lead after another.
In the third quarter, the Jets really lucked out. Patriots tight end Ben Watson fumbled on a third down conversion, costing the Patriots a sure scoring drive. Later, Cassel muffed the snap from center, allowing the ball to roll behind him for about a 28 yard loss. These mistakes were key because the Jets offense, that was so potent in the first half, mustered only 38 yards in the quarter.
However, the Jets defense just couldn't hold on. With time expiring in the third, Cassel hit Watson in the middle of the end zone for the touchdown to get New England to within five 24-19. The Patriots converted on the two point conversion to make it 24-21 Jets.
All of sudden, the Jets couldn't hold the ball. Jerricho Cothery fumbled at the Pats 40 yard line allowing the Patriots to start right over and take full command. But the Jets defense found a way to hold on. They finally got some pressure on Cassel and hit him for only a one yard gain to force a long field goal. Stephen Gostkowski connected on the field goal to tie it at 24.
Then, Brett Favre took over. The wily veteran drove the Jets down the field in a 7:00 minute drive, completing four of five passes, including a huge 14 yard completiton to rookie Dustin Keller to spot the ball at the New England 22 yard line.
The Patriots started to play dirty, as they were flagged for two holding calls near the end zone, moving the ball closer to the goal line. Favre pitched it to Thomas Jones; he dived over the line on second and goal to give New York a 31-24 lead.
Then, Eric Mangini had a brain cramp! With the game well in hand in the final 1:59, the coach decided that giving the ball to Jones on a third and two at the Jets 23 yard line was a good idea. Not so good! The Patriots stuffed Jones and forced the Jets to kick it away.
Cassel proceeded to rip apart the Jets defense, connecting on two quick strikes to Watson to get the ball to the Jets 42 yard line with 36 seconds left to play. Cassel hit Wes Welker up the middle for 17 more to put the ball at the Jets 15. Then, in as bizarre a play as can possibly happen, Cassel hit Randy Moss in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown with one second to play. Before that catch, Moss had only one reception for a total of two yards. The play went under review, and, even though it was obvious that Moss did not get both feet down, the officals had to give the touchdown to New England to avoid any controversy. 31-31-OVERTIME!
So the game came down to a coin toss, and, once again, Favre was in the middle of it. Favre hit Kelller for 16 yards to convert a huge third down to get the ball to the Jets 30. This play was perhaps the turning point of the game. Four plays later, Favre found an open Lavernous Coles right down the middle for a 16 yard gain to the Patriots 24 yard line.
After a couple of runs by Leon Washington and Jones, the Jets set up the potential game winning field goal. Jay Feeley, who had a huge week against the Rams, connected on the winning kick as the ball struggled to avoid the goal post, shaving it as it went through, hitting the net. The Jets sideline exploded in jubilation. Owner Woody Johnson stood in the tunnel high-fiving and hugging all his players. Yes, finally, Johnson's investment is starting to pay off.
The Jets are in sole possesion of first place with a 7-3 record. They have the inside track to the number two seed in the AFC playoffs. Now, ten days off before a trip to unbeaten Tennessee, in what could be an AFC Championship preview of coming attractions.
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