Jets fall short of Rex's prediction, losing to New England in overtime

AP

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez walks off the field after throwing an interception to New England Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard in the second quarter.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Almost, Rex.

The Jets could not back up Rex Ryan's belief that they would beat the Patriots after a wild affair at Gillette Stadium that New England somehow won 29-26 in overtime.

It all came to a sudden end after a back-and-forth second half that saw the game get tied twice in the final three minutes. The Patriots grabbed a 29-26 lead after kicking a field goal on the first series of overtime. The Jets were then driving, but quarterback Mark Sanchez was sacked and fumbled to end the game. Jermaine Cunningham and Rob Ninkovich combined on the sack with Ninkovich beating tackle Austin Howard and causing the fumble, which he recovered.

New England takes sole possession of first place in the AFC East and now has control of the division. The Jets put up an unbelievable fight, but it was not enough.

The Patriots opened the overtime period with the ball. They had to settle for a 48-yard field goal from kicker Stephen Gostkowski, making the score 29-26, but giving the Jets a possession under the new, modified overtime rules.

The game appeared to be heading to overtime initially after the Jets tied it 23-23 with a late field goal from Nick Folk. But Patriots kick returner Devin McCourty, who earlier returned one for a touchdown, fumbled the ensuing kickoff after getting hit by Lex Hilliard. Jets rookie Antonio Allen recovered at the Patriots 18, setting up the go-ahead, 43-yard field goal from Folk to make it 26-23 with 1:37 left in the game – a lead they could not hold onto.

Tom Brady took over the ball at the New England 21 and marched the Patriots into field goal territory with a stunningly easy five-play, 54-yard drive. Gostkowski sent it into overtime with his own 43-yard field goal to tie it at 26-26.

The Jets trailed for most of the game, but tied it up after getting the ball down 23-20 with 4:19 left after their defense forced a three-and-out from the Patriots. They sliced through the Patriots defense with the pass and run. The drive fizzled when rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill dropped a third down pass from Mark Sanchez and they had to settle for a game-tying, 43-yard field goal from Nick Folk.

The game took a major swing in the third quarter when the Jets opened up with an impressive drive. Trailing 16-10, they marched all the way down to the New England 3, but Sanchez threw an incompletion to wide receiver Chaz Schilens on third-and-2 and the Jets settled for a Nick Folk 21-yard field goal, making it 16-13.

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