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Why Didn’t the Patriots Take the Ball in OT?

The New York Jets scored quickly to win 26-20 and boost their playoff hopes. Losing an overtime game without ever putting the ball in Tom Brady’s hands reminds me of all the baseball managers who hold out their closer for a save situation, and end up losing without ever putting their best reliever on the mound. The Patriots then made even more of an effort to clamp down on the Jets’ mixture of short routes and screens and put more heat on Fitzpatrick.

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Bill Belichick is on George R.R. Martin’s good side for once. New England fans might wish that was true after the Patriots lost to the Jets in overtime.

Trailing by seven, the Patriots took over on their own 27. The bottom line is, the Patriots wanted to begin overtime on defense-and in spite of the result, as counterintuitive as it seems, Belichick wasn’t wrong. Really? Who is going to be the savior of this offense?

“… But the reality is New England made a bad decision that is largely rooted in injuries….”

For most of Sunday’s game against the Patriots, Jets WR Eric Decker had a quiet day. It’ll still be a #1 or #2 seed, although they did make things slightly more complicated for them in the final week. It’s nearly like the coaches are intentionally handcuffing this offense so as not to give too much away heading into the playoffs.

But it’s important to note two things: One, Mornhinweg is far from the only coach to do it. Sunday wasn’t even Belichick’s first time deciding to kick in overtime. “Don’t we get to choose?” “That’s why when I was asked after the game was there confusion on the play, I don’t think there was any confusion”, he said. The Patriots, as the street team, had the choice of calling.

NOT NO. 1 YET: New England entered having already clinched a first-round postseason bye but could have also earned home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs as the No. 1 seed with a win.

Chiefs (10-4). They certainly are hot, with nine straight wins. We just didn’t play good enough defense.

Jim O’Connor-USA TODAY SportsPatriots outside linebacker Jamie Collins returning a recovered fumble for a touchdown during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium.

The Cardinals played without Tyrann Mathieu (ACL) for the first time, and minus Rashad Johnson, their other starting safety, but they still stymied Rodgers. Gronkowski led the Patriots with 86 yards receiving. The first came on a quick strike from two yards out and the second on a 33-yard deep pass down the middle. Their backups, Jordan Richards and Duron Harmon weren’t great in coverage.

Quincy Enunwa dropped a throw that could have sealed the game in regulation. The next play was a flea flicker that failed, followed by a reverse to Brandon LaFell for 9 yards and a run out of the wildcat by running back Brandon Bolden – with Brady spread wide right.

Fitz’s locked in with Marshall like they’ve been playing for decades. Chandler Jones was only credited with one tackle and generated no pressure all afternoon.

I thought he competed hard.

Brady finished the game 22-of-31 for 231 yards with one touchdown.

On how Steven Jackson played… In this one, however, they turned back a team riding a three-game winning streak and striving for a playoff berth. Washington gets my vote for the team most likely to lose its first playoff game.

“I think we have some mental toughness, ” Brady said. Michael played football at Bridgewater-Raynham High School and also played for the semi-pro Bridgewater (now Taunton) Gladiators.

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Cardinals (13-2). This is the best team in football right now. Look for Michael’s insight online each week.

Zach Ertz