News / Sports
AFC Playoffs from Sunday: Fourth Quarter burst Pushes New England Patriots Pats New York Jets 37-16
NFL Playoffs
The New York Jets were staying with the New England Patriots all the way through the first half of the fourth quarter before things got ugly. Mike Nugent kicked a 37-yard field goal for the Jets to trim their deficit to 23-16 but Patriots quarterback Tom Brady responded and led New England on a 63-yard drive that chewed up near six minutes of the clock and ended in a 7-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Faulk and a 30-16 lead.
With the lead back to 14 and just over five minutes remaining in the game the Jets were forced to go to the air and the Patriots were waiting. Chad Pennington’s first pass attempt after the Patriots touchdown was intercepted and returned 36 yards for a touchdown by Asante Samuel and the Patriots sealed their 37-16 playoff victory.
The two teams were tied 10-10 before Brady found Daniel Graham on a 1-yard touchdown pass to give New England a 17-10 lead with :11 seconds left on the clock in the first half.
Brady finished with 212-yards passing and 3 touchdowns and Jabar Gaffney had 8 receptions for 104 yards. New England totaled 358 yards of offense and held a seven minute time of possession advantage over the Jets.
Jets quarterback Chad Pennington threw for 300 yards and a touchdown but his late game interception sealed New York’s fate 37-16. Of the 57 plays the Jets ran from scrimmage, 41 were passes.
