Providence Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson
Stephen Gostkowski's game-tying field goal
Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 43-yard field goal to tie the game on the last play of regulation, then kicked the game-winning 48-yarder after the first possession in overtime as the Patriots beat the division-rival Jets, 29-26, at Gillette Stadium.
The game remained in doubt until Rob Ninkovich and Jermaine Cunningham combined to sack Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez on a second-and-10 play at the New York 40-yard line, forcing a Sanchez fumble. Ninkovich recovered it to end the game; under the league's new overtime rules, the Jets had a chance to win it with a touchdown or extend play with a field goal.
The Patriots improve to 4-3 and take sole possession of first place in the AFC East.
Bringing back bad memories of earlier fourth-quarter meltdowns, the Patriots let a 10-point lead melt away in the final quarter.
With just over 12 minutes left, the Pats allowed the Jets to march 92 yards in about seven minutes, cutting the New England lead to 23-20 with 5:39 remaining. The Jets capped the drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez to tight end Dustin Keller.
New England's offense followed that up with a three-and-out that took just 1:07 off the clock. First, Brandon Lloyd was called for offensive pass interference. Then Tom Brady threw incomplete for Rob Gronkowski on a pass that could have been intercepted by Antonio Cromartie, if not for an aggressive play by Gronkowski. Stevan Ridley carried for four yards, and then Brady overthrew Wes Welker on a deep ball on third-and-16.
The Jets marched 40 yards on their next possession to set up a game-tying 43-yard Nick Folk field goal. But that was actually somewhat of a break for New England, as wide receiver Stephen Hill dropped what should have been an easy catch and a first down on third-and-4. Hill was wide open around the New England 20-yard line.
The relief was short-lived for New England. Devin McCourty was stripped of the ball on the ensuing kickoff by the Jets' Lex Hilliard -- a fullback who played two games for the Patriots earlier this year. Antonio Allen recovered at the New England 18. Again, however, the Jets failed to fully take advantage of a golden opportunity. New York lost seven yards in three plays and had to settle for another Folk field goal to make it 26-23 Jets.
The Patriots took over with 1:32 remaining and moved the ball 64 yards, with Brady finding Gronkowski and Danny Woodhead for two completions each. Gostkowski came on the field with 5 seconds remaining and fans remembering his missed field goal at the end of regulation in Week Two, against the Arizona Cardinals. This time, however, he sneaked the 43-yard kick inside the left upright.
After a lackluster first half, the Patriots offense stormed out of the locker room with an 85-yard touchdown drive to take a 10-point lead at the end of three quarters.
Brady found Gronkowski open in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown pass, Gronkowski's second TD of the game, one play after Aaron Hernandez had failed to catch what should have been a touchdown pass. Hernandez made a 16-yard catch to set the Pats up inside the Jets' 5-yard line; he lost the ball and the Jets recovered, but after officials had initially ruled the play a turnover, the decision was reversed by a replay.
The Jets also had a nice drive to open the half, but had to settle for a Folk field goal.
The Patriots took a 16-10 lead into halftime, but played mostly unimpressive football in the first half.
New England's edge was primarily due to poor kickoff coverage by the Jets, which McCourty exploited for his touchdown, and a botched handoff play that produced a safety. Sanchez also turned what should have been a touchdown strike to a wide-open Stephen Hill into an interception when he badly underthrew the pass, giving rookie Alfonzo Dennard an easy pick.
Brady connected with Gronkowski for a 17-yard touchdown pass to give the Patriots the lead, 14-7, late in the first quarter. Brady placed the ball perfectly over safety LaRon Landry, who had good coverage on Gronkowski as the tight end ran toward the left sideline in the end zone.
The Patriots extended their lead early in the second quarter thanks to a botched running play. On first down from the New York 12-yard line, Sanchez failed to hand the ball cleanly to Shonn Greene. The loose ball caromed toward the end zone, and Sanchez booted it past the end line for a safety, making the score 16-7.
New York added a field goal at the close of the half, on a 54-yard boot by Folk.
The Patriots' defense got off to a terrible start. After the offense failed to score on its first possession, the Jets went 76 yards on 11 plays, with Sanchez and New York's 30th-ranked passing offense having no trouble against the much-maligned New England secondary. Sanchez connected with Jeremy Kerley on completions of 24 and 26 yards. Kyle Arrington was badly burned on the second catch. Patriots cornerback Ras-I Dowling, who has seen very little action so far this season, was called for a key defensive holding penalty while trying to cover Keller. Tim Tebow entered the game to convert a third down with a running play, and Greene capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
But the Jets' lead only lasted one play, as McCourty scored the first touchdown on a kick return since 2010. He made two nice cuts but was hardly touched on the play by a disorganized Jets return unit.
Brady finished 26 of 42 for 259 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Gronkowski and Wes Welker had six catches each. Sanchez had season-highs in both completions and yards, going 28 of 41 for 328 yards, a touchdown and the costly second-quarter interception. Kerley had seven catches for a career-best 120 yards, and Keller had seven catches for 93 yards.