Even for undefeated defending Super Bowl champions, it’s rarely easy in the NFL.
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The New England Patriots (6-0) entered Sunday leading the AFC East. When they go to bed on Sunday night they will still be leading the division. Sticking to the “another day, another game” line he frequently invokes, Bowles said he was frustrated by Sunday’s loss, but not because his team lost to New England. “We’ve got to win games”.
“We’re on to the next game here and trying to figure out the best way to attack Oakland”, Fitzpatrick said. The players did a good job fighting through this week after a couple tough road games. They have an outstanding defensive line and secondary and swarm to the ball as well as play a few great schemes. Playing quarterback is throwing the ball accurately, being able to make the throws and being durable. That wouldn’t have happened if they ran the ball more at the end of the game. – Greg Logan, Newsday In his first season as coach of the Jets, Todd Bowles continually suggests an intriguing philosophical question about survival in the N.F.L.: When does just another game became more than just another game?
I know that Brady played well all game, but the team could have sealed the game by running out the clock.
“It’s a play we’ve been working on forever, we’ve had in the playbook forever”, he said.
“Football is a big challenge and it’s a big commitment to make, and I think that’s something I’m excited about”, Brady said.
“We tried to switch things up on Tom”, said Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, who was greeted with boos on his return Gillette Stadium.
-PASSING OFENSE: B minus. But he completed 14 of 17 passes in the final quarter to overcome a 20-16 deficit. On paper it looked like a usual day from the Brady-led attack. But receivers didn’t hold up their end of the bargain as drops were a key part of why New England found itself in a tight battle with New York. Wide receiver Julian Edelman dropped a would-be touchdown.
Amendola made a sick leaping catch on the Patriots’ final drive against the Jets, paving the way for Tom Brady’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski, which proved to be the difference. Even though he continued to play and eventually caught a touchdown pass, he never looked as quick and as explosive as he normally is.
That ended up being the beginning of the end for the Patriots, as the Marshall drop proved to be the difference in the game. Patriots running backs had a total of five carries for the game. His mobility in the pocket, for example, seems to be as good as it’s ever been – he led the Patriots in rushing for the first time in his career on Sunday with 15 yards – and he says it’s actually better than it was five years ago.
Folk tied it for New York and then the Jets went 83 yards on the next drive to take a 10-3 lead on Fitzpatrick’s 5-yard pass to Jeremy Kerley. He led the Patriots to scores on their last two drives by completing 14-of-17 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
The same way he’d pluck legs off spiders or wings off of moths and then watch the results, the Patriots excise offensive weapons until the offense doesn’t work. Bortles’ second TD pass of the game came shortly after Buffalo safety Corey Graham intercepted a pass and returned it 44 yards to put the Bills ahead.
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On their annual trip to visit their biggest rivals, the Jets on Sunday brought several accessories they lacked in recent years: the league’s top defense, the leading running back in yards per game and, most remarkably, the respect of people who don’t cheer for them.
