Final, Jets 26-20: The Jets drove down the field, thanks in large part to a 48-yard pass to Quincy Enunwa, and scored a touchdown on a 6-yard pass to Eric Decker, who beat Malcolm Butler.
It appears Matthew Slater accidentally chose to have the Patriots kick the ball to start OT. We’ll find out more postgame.
For now, the Patriots haven’t clinched the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.
Overtime, 15:00, 20-20: To overtime we go.
The Patriots won the toss … and chose to kick. Odd.
Fourth quarter, 0:33, 20-20: And hold the Patriots did, forcing a punt. Will they go for the score here or hold out for overtime?
Fourth quarter, 1:55, 20-20: The Patriots’ offense did its job. Now it’s the defense’s job to hold.
Tom Brady hit Rob Gronkowski twice on fourth down to extend the drive before finding James White for the touchdown.
Fourth quarter, 6:26, Jets 20-13: The Patriots have the ball on their 34-yard line after a Jets punt.
Justin Coleman suffered a head injury and is out for the game. LaAdrian Waddle is questionable to return after suffering a shoulder injury.
Jets receiver Kenbrell Thompkins, a former Patriot, was carted off with a leg injury. Running back Bilal Powell also was slow to get up.
Fourth quarter, 7:35, Jets 20-13: The Patriots received a generous defensive pass interference call but couldn’t get any points out of it. Ryan Allen’s punt was downed at the 6-yard line, pushing the Jets up against their own end zone.
Fourth quarter, 10:25, Jets 20-13: The Patriots forced a three-and-out and are left with plenty of time.
Fourth quarter, 11:54, Jets 20-13: The Patriots went three-and-out, so the defense has to step up again. They need a quick stand or turnover.
Fourth quarter, 13:28, Jets 20-13: Some solid coverage from Patriots rookie cornerback Justin Coleman forced the Jets to take a 49-yard field goal. The Patriots trail by a touchdown with most of the fourth quarter remaining.
Third quarter, 3:21, Jets 17-13: What’d I say? The Patriots needed a turnover, and they got one.
Jabaal Sheard forced the fumble on a strip sack, then Jamie Collins scooped up the football for a touchdown. The Patriots now trail by just four points.
Third quarter, 4:54, Jets 17-6: The Patriots cut the Jets’ lead to 11 points with a 44-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski. The Patriots need a defensive stand or turnover.
Third quarter, 9:13, Jets 17-3: The Patriots officially are in trouble.
Ryan Fitzpatrick hit Brandon Marshall for a 33-yard touchdown despite double coverage from safety Duron Harmon and cornerback Logan Ryan. Harmon wanted a pass interference call after a push-off and didn’t get it.
Third quarter, 13:22, Jets 10-3: The Patriots were moving the ball well on the Jets until some miscommunication between Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski resulted in an interception by Darrelle Revis.
Halftime, Jets 10-3: The Patriots ran out the clock to end the half. They’ll get the ball back in the second half.
Second quarter, 1:57, Jets 10-3: The first half has cruised by, with each team putting together epically long drives. The Jets scored on a 2-yard touchdown reception by Brandon Marshall. He went in motion and lost cornerback Logan Ryan in a congested red zone.
Second quarter, 8:46, 3-3: We’re all tied up.
The Patriots gained 69 yards on 12 plays with three trick plays — a flea flicker, a double reverse and a direct snap out of a Wildcat formation — mixed in.
Stephen Gostkowski nailed the 35-yard field goal to tie the score.
Second quarter, 14:52, Jets 3-0: The Jets gained just 16 yards on five plays and were forced to punt. The Jets committed an illegal hands to the face penalty during the punt, and the Patriots have the ball on their own 14-yard line.
Second quarter, 15:00, Jets 3-0: Now Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich is having his left shin looked at by trainers.
First quarter, 0:51, Jets 3-0: That Patriots drive wasn’t pretty. They picked up 5 yards on an encroachment penalty, but their actual plays went for 2 yards, 0 yards and minus-5 yards. Tom Brady is relying on his running backs early, and it’s not going so well.
Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis has been lining up across from Rob Gronkowski when the tight end splits out. Gronk hasn’t been targeted yet.
First quarter, 3:19, Jets 3-0: The Patriots bent but didn’t break once the Jets were inside the red zone. The Jets went 79 yards in 13 plays before kicking a field goal.
Fitzpatrick is going after Patriots cornerback Leonard Johnson early. He has been targeted four times and allowed three receptions for 36 yards.
LaAdrian Waddle is coming in to play left tackle. Marcus Cannon will stay at right tackle.
First quarter, 10:17: The Patriots picked up 27 yards before being forced to punt. The Jets have the ball on their own 9.
Patriots starting left tackle Sebastian Vollmer had his left ankle rolled up and had to be carted off the field. The Patriots now are down to their third left tackle after Nate Solder went down with a season-ending injury earlier in the season.
Vollmer already has been ruled out with a “leg” injury.
First quarter, 13:09: The Patriots allowed 18 yards on their first defensive series, all on the ground. Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was 0 for 3, targeting Logan Ryan, Leonard Johnson and Malcolm Butler.
First quarter, 15:00: The Patriots won the toss and chose to defer. The Jets will receive. Let’s gooooooo.
12:31 p.m.:
Belichick said on The Sports Hub before the game that he can’t see Steven Jackson having an expanded role against the Jets. The running back hasn’t played in an NFL game in over a year.
The Patriots also have James White, Brandon Bolden and Joey Iosefa at running back.
12:08 p.m.: Keshawn Martin and Chris Harper are catching punts from Ryan Allen during pregame warmups.
11:55 a.m.: Patriots defensive end Jabaal Sheard has a strong arm.
11:30 a.m.: Here’s the Patriots’ inactive list:
LB Jonathan Freeny
WR Julian Edelman
WR Danny Amendola
SS Patrick Chung
FS Devin McCourty
CB Troy Hill
OTÂ Josh Kline
That means Hightower, LaFell, Jackson and Chandler officially are active. Offensive tackle La’Adrian Waddle is set to make his Patriots debut.
Kline is a surprise inactive after playing last week on a banged-up shoulder.
10:45 a.m. ET:Â While the rest of the world is talking Peyton Manning and HGH, the New England Patriots have a pretty important football game to win against the New York Jets.
The Patriots are playing for the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed. If they beat the Jets, the Patriots will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If they lose, they must beat the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, which means not resting their starters.
The Patriots already ruled out linebacker Jonathan Freeny, wide receivers Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman, and safeties Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung for this game. Cornerback Troy Hill, who was claimed Friday, likely will be another inactive. The Patriots’ seventh inactive could be offensive tackle La’Adrian Waddle.
Patriots running back Steven Jackson, who was signed Tuesday, is expected to play, a source told NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. Patriots wide receiver Brandon LaFell (foot) and tight end Scott Chandler (knee) also are expected to play despite being listed as questionable.
With McCourty and Chung out, Duron Harmon, Tavon Wilson and Jordan Richards will receive additional playing time for the Patriots.
LaFell, Keshawn Martin and Chris Harper are the Patriots’ only healthy wide receivers. Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins and Jerod Mayo are likely to start at linebacker with Freeny out.
Thumbnail photo via Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports Images
