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December 16, 2007

Patriots 20, Jets 10

It wasn't exactly the way Patriots fans thought it might be, but the New England Patriots won their rematch with the New York Jets today, 20-10, at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots became the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to go 14-0. For the Dolphins, the 14 wins meant a perfect regular-season record; the Pats still have two more to go before they begin their playoff run.

New England's offense sputtered all day in the rainy, windy conditions, but the game turned on a big plays by the defense and the special teams.

Early in the first quarter, Richard Seymour buried Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens as Clemens threw from the end zone. The rushed pass went right to Eugene Wilson, who easily returned it for the Patriots' first touchdown of the game. Clemens was injured on the play, and the Jets turned to Chad Pennington (with wide receiver Brad Smith calling signals on a few plays) the rest of the way.

In the second quarter, with the Patriots clinging to a 10-7 lead, seldom-used wide receiver Kelley Washington made a one-handed block of Ben Graham's punt. The play gave the Patriots the ball at the Jets' 3-yard line, and Laurence Maroney ran in for a touchdown two plays later.

Tom Brady did not throw for a touchdown (he did have one pass intercepted), leaving him four shy of Peyton Manning's single-season record (49). Maroney surpassed 100 yards rushing for the second time this season, and the first time since New England's Week 3 victory over Buffalo.

In case you were wondering, coaches Bill Belichick and Eric Mangini did shake hands after the game.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:50 PM | Permalink