Despite a spirited effort, the Jets failed to break up the Patriots’ perfection today. They held their AFC East rivals to just 20 points — 18 below their average — but the Green & White, who played almost the entire game with Chad Pennington and Brad Smith at quarterback, managed only 10 points in the New England winter rain.
“Being 21 percent on third down (3 of 14) and then being 0 for 4 in the red zone — you’re not going to win that way,” Pennington said.
With the defeat, the Jets fell to 3-11 on the season while the Pats remained unbeaten at 14-0. Bob Sutton’s defense was fantastic, limiting Tom Brady to just 140 passing yards and the Pats offense to 265 yards and just one 3-yard touchdown drive set up by a blocked punt.
“Our defense played exceptionally well, we got some big plays on special plays with the blocked punt and offensively we just didn’t get it done,” Pennington said. “That’s disappointing.”
The Jets used both Pennington and Smith after Kellen Clemens was injured in the opening minutes. Clemens did not return and Jets head coach Eric Mangini said it was a coach’s decision. Pennington had solid numbers, completing 25 of 38 for 186 yards, but the Jets’ offense never got into the end zone.
“The first series or two, it feels weird because you haven’t had any reps whatsoever throughout the week,” Penny said. “I have been in this position before. I knew I had to prepare mentally and then do some things after practice to be as sharp as I can, understanding that I wouldn’t get any physical reps.”
Any Patriots hopes of a blowout were shattered by veteran LB David Bowens. He produced a special play, blocking a Chris Hanson punt and taking the loose ball back for a 26-yard touchdown. Hanson bobbled the slick rock on the snap and Bowens was there for the momentum-changer. It was suddenly 10-7 midway through the second and the Jets had their opponents' attention.
“I was able to beat the center one-on-one,” said Bowens, who was credited with his first pro touchdown. “The punter had a bad snap, he bobbled it up for a minute and I was able to get it.”
Late in the half, the Patriots countered with a punt block of their own. Reserve wideout Kelley Washington evaded Abram Elam’s block and got a free line to Ben Graham deep inside Jets territory. That set up Laurence Maroney’s 1-yard push and the Patriots enjoyed a 17-7 intermission lead.
The Pats scored first and the opening touchdown didn’t come from their vaunted offense. Safety Eugene Wilson returned Clemens’ first-quarter pick 5 yards into the end zone and the hosts took a 7-0 advantage. Richard Seymour got upfield quickly, pushing Adrien Clarke backwards before body-slamming Clemens. The score came on the Jets' second offensive play of the game and on Clemens' only pass.
“Instead of risking giving up a sack, I tried to throw it away,” Clemens said. “The defender hit my right arm while I was throwing and landed on me when we went to the ground.”
On the ensuing series, Smith came on at quarterback for four of five offensive plays, including a fourth-down incompletion at the New England 17. Pennington completed a 16-yard pass to Jerricho Cotchery on third down but the Jets couldn’t capitalize.
Then New England went on a 17-play march covering 75 yards, ending on a 26-yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal. Despite the 10-0 deficit, the Jets’ defense was hanging tough.
Both teams were in a seasonal mood to start the second half, handing each other December presents. Rookie corner Darrelle Revis shook off Randy Moss’ pass interference and made a fine interception of Brady at the Patriots 34. Unfortunately, no points came as a result because Chris Baker was stripped and Wilson recovered in the red zone.
Those pesky Jets never went away, making it a touchdown game in the fourth on a 33-yard Mike Nugent field goal. But Brady and Moss finally hooked up deep and their 46-yard connection set up Gostkowski’s second field goal.
Down 20-10, Leon Washington got the Jets right back down the field. He returned the kickoff 49 yards and a 15-yard personal foul penalty moved the ball to the hosts’ 31. This one effectively slipped away for good when Justin McCareins bobbled a perfect Pennington strike late in the fourth and a replay reversal overturned the TD call on the field. Nugent’s 35-yard field goal attempt sailed left with two minutes remaining and the Pats holding a 10-point edge.
“This is a good football team that’s hard to beat, and we had some opportunities to put ourselves in a very good position and we just couldn’t finish those,” Mangini said.
The Jets finish the road portion of their schedule next week in Tennessee against the Titans.
Tiger Package: Former Missouri QB Brad Smith, a multi-dimensional threat for the Jets, was used frequently at quarterback . He was called upon to lead drives in the first, third and fourth quarters. He rushed three times for 10 yards and his only pass fell incomplete.
"It gave us another way to attack the edge as well as have an inside presence with Thomas [Jones] or Leon [Washington]," Mangini said.
“I knew as a quarterback and we knew as an offense that that package could be called at any time,” Pennington said. “I didn’t take it personal — by no stretch of the imagination. That’s what you have to do sometimes when you have an athlete like Brad and he can make some plays like that.”
Schematically Sound: The Jets had an excellent defensive game plan and executed well throughout the afternoon. They disguised well, standing defenders up at the line and the Pats had a difficult time deciphering who was coming on the rush. Corner Drew Coleman should be credited with an assist on Revis’ interception as he forced Brady into an errant throw.
“We know if Tom can see the picture, he can figure it out and he’ll beat it,” Bowens said. “We didn’t want to want to make it easy for him. We walked around almost every play, so he wasn’t able to key on what we were doing.”
“We did a good job moving around and making his (Brady’s) checks harder,” Rhodes said. “We didn’t make it simple. He had to go through a lot of progressions just to get them to a good place.”
Snowball Interruption: There were a number of rowdies at Gillette Stadium who tossed snowballs from the stands. The referees actually halted the game with 3:55 remaining and didn’t resume action until the aerial games lessened.
