EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — As Stephen Gostkowski’s kick sailed through the uprights, New England Patriots players, including Patrick Chung, LeGarrette Blount and Rob Gronkowski, poured onto the field, helmets held aloft. Jonathan Freeny danced.
The referee Ed Hochuli had to yell into his microphone, twice, “The game is not over!” Sure, there was one second remaining and a lateral-filled kick return still to be stifled. But that did not stop the Patriots from an enthusiastic celebration over what proved to be a come-from-behind 27-26 victory over the Giants on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
New England maintained its perfect season, at 9-0, against a team with a history of bursting its bubble.