The New England Patriots overcame a 14-0 deficit and used two ROB GRONKOWSKI scores to beat the New York Jets 24-17 at MetLife Stadium.
The Patriots (4-2 overall, 1-0 AFC East) had no business winning this game, with the way Jets quarterback JOSH MCCOWN was playing in the first half and how asleep the Patriots were on offense in that first half.
But somehow, the Patriots shut down the Jets (3-3 overall, 1-2 AFC East) offense and put up some scores of their own to pull out this win.
Gronkowski (6 catches for 83 yards and 2 scores) used his legs, a few stiff arms, and those great hands of his to aggravate and annoy the Jets as he took the Patriots offense on his back.
The man who got the ball to Gronkowski, quarterback TOM BRADY, went 20 of 38 for 257 yards, 2 touchdown passes and 1 pick. Brady was solid today but he was off his game as far as accuracy. And it also didn’t help that the Jets defensive line and their outside linebackers gave him trouble as far as pass rushing went. He was never sacked today, but he felt the Jets bearing down on him at times.
McCown (31 of 47 for 354 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 picks) did his best to try to pull out a win, but interceptions and his receivers not getting open in the second half did him in.
The Jets kicked off the scoring, when McCown on 3rd and goal from the NE 1-yard line, found tight end AUSTIN SEFARIAN-JENKINS (8 catches for 46 yards and 1 score) in the back of the end zone for a score. With 9:08 to go in the first quarter, the Jets took a 7-0 lead.
Then early in the second quarter, McCown threw his second touchdown pass of the game, this one to receiver JEREMY KERLEY. Kerley beat Patriots cornerback MALCOLM BUTLER to the ball and to the end zone for a 31-yard score. At the 12:18 mark of the quarter, the Jets took a surprising 14-0 lead.
But the Patriots had something up their sleeve later in the second quarter to get themselves into this game. Running back DION LEWIS took a Brady handoff and then he followed some blocks into the end zone for a 1-yard score. That play cut the Jets’ lead to 14-7 at the 5:19 mark of the quarter.
Near the end of the second quarter, receiver BRANDIN COOKS (6 catches for 93 yards and 1 score) showed the New Orleans Saints why they shouldn’t have traded him this past offseason. He got behind the Jets defense for a down the left sideline 44-yard reception to the NYJ 2-yard line. That huge play set up a 2-yard Gronkowski touchdown reception. With just nine seconds left in the first half the score was tied at 14-14.
The Patriots took their first lead of the game early in the third quarter, when Gronkowski beat two Jets defenders for a 33-yard touchdown reception. That score put the Patriots up 21-14 with 11:22 left in the quarter.
The Patriots extended their lead to 24-14 when kicker STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI took care of a 28-yard field goal with 14:10 to go in the fourth quarter.
