Told You So: Jets Beat Pats

NFL News - September 20th, 2009 - Written by John

The New York Jets delivered on their promise that they would beat New England Sunday. Embarrass them?

Not so much.

But they did take a big lead in the division, maneuvering to a 16-9 win at home, sending shock waves through the AFC East. The Jets are the lone team in their conference with the win, after telling reporters that they were treating this game like their Super Bowl.

Rookie Mark Sanchez started slow but took command in the second half and the Jets looked like a completely different team. They were only able to muster a field goal and found themselves down 9-3 at the break. The margin was actually a blessing considering the Patriots were inside the 25 on each of their scoring drives. But penalties and inefficiency converting on third down forced them to take three points each time and the Jets eventually made them pay for it.

In the first drive of the third quarter, Sanchez took his team 48 yards on two plays to set them up on the Patriots' eight. He then completed the drive on a pass to tight end Dustin Keller for a touchdown to give the Jets a 10-9 lead. Sanchez almost had another score on the next drive when he hit Chansi Stuckey in the corner of the end zone. But review showed Stuckey only got one foot in and the Jets were forced to kick the first of two second-half field goals.

The Patriots had a chance to mount a comeback, much like the one they stunned the Bills with on Monday Night Football. But Brady couldn't convert on fourth down when Dwight Lowry knocked away a pass intended to Joey Galloway and Sanchez sat on the ball to give the rookie his biggest win yet.

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