Jets Blow 10-point Lead, Drop to Record Setting 0-9

 PATRIOTS 30 - JETS 27 

Leave it to the Jets to find a way to blow a 27-17 lead and lose in the waning seconds to the worst Patriots team to take the field in over 20 years. 

This is what happens when you are 0 and 9. You invent ways to lose. 

And the Jets have been experts in the field. 

They proved Monday night that in spite of a good performance from veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who threw three touchdown passes, and a big night from wide receiver Breshard Perriman (five catches, 101 yards and two touchdowns), it was not enough to beat a hobbled Patriots team.

Especially a Patriots team that at times looks more interested in losing thanks to the buffoonery of Cam Newton than at anytime in the Bill Belichick era. A year ago at this time Belichick was smiling as he team decimated the Jets 33-0 in the infamous "Ghost Game." This year he was probably just happy that Newton didn't turn it over. 

Let's face it the Jets handed the Patriots this game. The Jets did pretty much whatever they wanted offensively against New England's woeful defense, as Flacco picked apart the secondary at will. His 20-yard touchdown to Perriman after a 42-yard pass interference penalty on New England gave the Jets a 20-10 lead just before the half. 

By the third quarter, the former Ravens Super Bowl MVP quarterback had the Jets in the end zone again when he hit Perriman once more from 15-yards out to complete an 11-play, 75-yard answer to a Patriots touchdown. With 0:30 to go in the third quarter it was Jets 27 - Patriots 17. 

But the toll of New England's lengthy, time consuming drives killed the Jets defense. The Patriots ran a total of 49 plays in the second half to the Jets 15. New England's opening salvo in the third quarter was a 13-play, 78-yard drive that chewed up 7:33 minutes before Rex Burkhead plowed into the end zone that cut the Jets lead to three points at 20-17. 

Once the Jets extended that lead, New England was at it again, slowly picking part the Jets. A 17-play, 58-yard drive ate up nearly nine-and-a half minutes of action, with the biggest mistake - a penalty for too many men on the field, killed the Jets and gave New England a second chance. The Patriots inched closer for a field goal to make it 27-20. 

Even though New York still led, they were gassed.

Flacco did the Jets no favors when he heaved a pass down field for Denzel Mims that was picked off by J.C. Jackson in double coverage. The gaff gave the Patriots renewed life and sapped all the energy that was left for the Jets on Monday. New York tried to gamble with the home run, when all they really needed up seven points was a single. 

Newton methodically moved the Patriots down field on another long drive, this one 11-plays and 72-yards. The biggest play was a 31-yard completion to from Newton to Damiere Byrd that spotted the ball at the Jets three. Three plays later, Newton was in the end zone on a quarterback sneak, tying it at 27. 

And what did the Jets do with 1:57 to go, with a chance to win the game in the last two minutes? Nothing. The Jets went three-and-out and punted back to New England with 0:54 seconds to go. Ballgame. 

Somehow, even in spite of some terrible decision making and curious play-calling, Newton managed to get the Patriots into field goal range when he hit Jakobi Meyers on a 20-yard slant to the Jets' 33 with 0:03 to go. That was more than enough time for ex-Jet kicker Nick Folk to stick a fork in his former team on the game winner to send the Jets to 0-9, and right back into the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes.