|
 Tom Brady tossed three touchdown passes but the Patriots (5-2)
faced a surprisingly tough challenge from their lowly AFC East
rivals before emerging with a third win in a row.
"They're off to a tough start and they gave us everything we could
handle," Brady told reporters. "Football is a tough sport and you
never know what you're going to get. It comes down to how you
perform when it matters most."
In a tight contest at New England's Gillette Stadium, New York
quarterback Geno Smith threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jeff
Cumberland to pull the Jets to within two points with a little more
than two minutes remaining.
New York, however, failed to convert a two-point conversion that
would have tied the game and their final desperation drive reached
the New England 40, where Nick Folk's kick was blocked.
Folk finished with four field goals as the Jets (1-6) fell to their
sixth straight loss, their longest losing streak since 2007.
There was little indication of the Jets putting up much resistance
when Brady fired a 49-yard touchdown pass to Shane Vereen after just
two-and-a-half minutes.
However, New York refused to buckle and although they could not find
the end zone, four field goals kept it close as the Jets trailed
17-12 at halftime.
Better was to follow for the visitors when a strong opening
second-half drive led to Chris Ivory's one-yard touchdown that put
the Jets 19-17 ahead early in the third.
[to top of second column]
|
New England responded with a field goal to regain the lead and Brady
fired a 19-yard strike to Danny Amendola with 7:49 remaining in the
game to stretch the advantage to eight points.
Smith, who is enduring a tough second NFL campaign, finished with
226 yards passing and did not commit a turnover but was still unable
to grind out the win.
New England running back Vereen, who has taken the lead role after
the team lost Stevan Ridley to a season-ending knee injury, rushed
for 43 yards and added 71 receiving yards for two scores.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
