New England got off to an extremely fast start as Tom Brady hit running back Shane Vereen for a 49-yard touchdown pass. After three straight field goals by the Jets, Brady hit Vereen for his second touchdown, giving the Patriots a 14-9 lead.
Both sides traded field goals before halftime, but quarterback Geno Smith led the Jets 80 yards down the field for their first touchdown of the game on the first drive of the second half.
New York led 19-17 at that point, but the Patriot offense scored the next 10 points to take the 27-19 lead. The Jets managed a touchdown, but were unable to get the two-point conversion they needed to tie the game.
Even after all that, Nick Folk had a chance to win the game on a 58-yard field goal for the Jets, but it was blocked, preserving the Patriots' victory.
Turning Point: This game was close throughout, and it wasn't decided until New England stopped the Jets on their two-point conversion attempt late in the game. That clinched the victory for the Patriots, and let their fans breathe a little bit easier.
Key Stat: New York actually dominated most of the box score, but the Pats got to Geno Smith during critical times in the game, sacking him three times. These stalled long drives and forced the Jets to kick field goals, which was ultimately the difference in the game.
New England MVP: Running back Shane Vereen took over for the injured Stevan Ridley (who's out for the year with a torn ACL) and performed extremely well. Vereen is known more as a receiving back, and the Patriots played to that tonight.
New York MVP: The Jets needed to find some sort of a running game to help Smith's struggles under center, and Chris Ivory stepped up for New York tonight.
What’s Next? The Patriots move to 5-2 on the season, and extend their lead at the top of the AFC East. New York now has lost six games in a row and don't seem to have any answers on how to fix their season.
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