The win put the NY Jets record at 4-3, while the Patriots dropped to 5-2, placing them one game ahead of the Jets, and just two games over the last place Buffalo Bills, who beat the Miami Dolphins on the same day.
The Jets win also counts as an “up” in the mostly up, sometimes down rookie year of Quarterback Geno Smith. Smith outplayed Patriots star QB Tom Brady and in the process scored a better quarterback rating: 71.9 to 53.5.
Some of Tom Brady’s terrible rating can be attributed to the NY Jets’ Defense, which held Brady to 4.5 yards per pass (versus 6.2 for Smith). But the rest of the credit goes back to the Jets Offense and to a punishing running game that caused the Gang Green to hold on to the ball for 46 minutes versus 23 minutes for the Pats.
The Pats found themselves in constant catch up mode, with the Jets ahead in the first half 21 to 10.
Controversial Call
A controversial call ended the game in overtime and gave the Jets the long-sought victory. Jets Kicker Nick Folk lined up to try what would have been a 56-yard field goal in overtime, but as he kicked it, and missed, a man who’s name is now part of history, rookie defensive lineman Chris Jones, had the brilliant idea of pushing his own teammate to get him to hopefully block the kick.
What Chris Jones didn’t know was his action was against league rules. The result? A 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and new life for New York. The Jets called a few more running plays, and lined up the ball for Nick Folk’s eventual 43-yard game winner.
Stay tuned.