TNF: Jets/Patriots Preview & Live Game Blog

New York Jets (6-3) @ New England Patriots (6-3)

8:15 PM ET- NFL Network, TSN, WCVB Channel 5 (In Boston)

Weather: 43 degrees, rain showers expected to continue throughout the evening

Favre/Cassel II features a Thursday night showdown for control of the AFC East. Both clubs have steadily grown around their new leaders at quarterback. With crappy weather expected throughout the night, this will be a knockdown, drag it out divisional battle. I see a chess match ensuing with turnovers telling the story of who wins this game. With homefield and the boost of “Troy Brown Night”, the Patriots receiver will be honored for his 15-years of service at halftime, the Pats will find a way to win this game in the end.

Patriots 16 Jets 13

Post your predictions, and join me as I live blog this critical AFC East battle tonight.

8:09 Don’t adjust your sets folks, former Patriot Ty Law can be seen wearing the number 22 for the Jets. Interesting rendition of the national anthem… lets get this going.

8:15 Nice return by the Jets to their 37. Lets see what Favre has tonight.

8:19 The Patriots appear to have the Jets stopped after a 13-yard run got the Jets into Pats territory. A sideline route to Laveranues Coles was ruled out of bounds. But definitely looked like a catch to me. Mangini, challenged, so we’ll soon see.

8:23: Challenge correctly overturns the call. Jets are setup at first down on the Pats 37. Got to capitalize here if you’re the Jets.

8:25 Patriots pressure package doesn’t pick up tight end Dustin Keller, and the Jets convert on 3rd and 8 to the Pats 15.

8:26 Nice touchdown drive from the Jets, nice hold on that screen keeps the Pats D from getting to Leon Washington.

Jets 7-0.

8:37 Couple of big third down completions have kept this drive alive. Pats almost into field goal range. On a big drive for this club.

8:41 Patriots on 3rd and 5, go with the ultra conservative run play. Gostkowski nails a 42-yard field goal.

Jets 7-3

8:45 On the last Jets drive Favre was 5-5 with 39 yards and a TD. Let’s see what he has as an encore.

8:47 4 for 4 on third down for the Jets. Can’t get a team off the field like that.

8:51 Patriots barely hold on. A key drop by Dustin Keller in the endzone costs the Jets four points. Still another nice drive by the Jets. Very impressive. Should’ve been more.

Jets 10-3

8:53 Nice shot of Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo heading to the locker room, another great sign for this club.

End of 1st Qtr: Jets 10 Patriots 3

9:02 Another redzone stall from this offense. Cassel gets a little antsy in the pocket and the Patriots settle for another Gostowski field goal. Every time he makes one of those I can’t help but think back to the Super Bowl when Belichick didn’t give him a chance to kick in the second quarter….

Jets 10-6

9:05 Jets have been getting huge kickoff returns all night, and this time Leon Washington takes it all the way to the house, 92-yards. That’s pretty brutal for New England. Cassel needs a drive here.

Jets 17-6

9:14 Jets defense gets a big stop. Cassel seems to be struggling, doesn’t bode well for the Pats.

9:21 Cotchery makes a amazing 46-yard catch to put the Jets back into redzone.

9:22 Two plays later the Jets are in the endzone.

Jets 24-6

9:28 Screen pass to Sam Aiken goes for 43 yards, great blocks from Rand Moss and Logan Mankins give the Patriots offense some much needed momentum.

9:31 Huge fourth down stop from the Jets in the redzone. Feels a lot like a certain 3rd and 4th down stop by the Chargers earlier this season. Patriots need to find a way to score in the redzone. Cost them against Indy and its costing them again tonight.

9:40 Patriots are driving back into the nightmare, redzone again with just under a minute left. 4th and 1 34 seconds left.

9:43 Patriots have some life. Cassel finds Gaffney in the endzone with 15 seconds left in the half. And they get the ball at to start the second half.

Jets 24-13

9:50 Interesting half of football. Right now both offenses really seem to be clicking. Difference in this game is redzone production and the huge kickoff return from Washington. Should be interesting to see how both defenses adjust in the 2nd half. If Cassel continues to be given the middle of the field he needs to take it.

At the Half: Jets 24 Patriots 13

10:03 Patriots come out swinging in the second half. Driving now around the Jets 40. Cassel looks sharp hitting his receivers.

10:04 Benjamin Watson with a first down at the 20, just coughs up the ball. Huge turnover, just when the Patriots looked like they would cut it to at least 8, its a turnover. Defense needs to come up big.

10:08 Big three and out from the Pats defense, sack of Favre on first down by Wilfork, and on third down by Richard Seymour. All first half the Jets controlled the line, could be a switch now.

10:14 Uncharacteristic mistakes costing the Pats, center snaps the ball eventually 30 yards down field costing the Patriots another chance in Jets territory.

10:21 Patriots defense gets a big stop around midfield. Their offense really needs to execute. They are out gaining the Jets 338-208, but have been unable to punch it in.

10:30 Patriots D gets another key three and out, but Brett Favre makes some interesting choices there, had Washington open in the flat, and probably could’ve just ran it. But he comes up a yard short. Offensive production is now needed.

10:35 Key illegal contact penalty keeps Patriots driving, and they are back in the redzone.

10:36: On the final play of the third quarter Cassel finds Watson from 10-yards in the endzone. Two point conversion is a pass to Jabar Gaffney open in the endzone.

After 3rd Quarter Jets 24 Patriots 21

10:45 As Cotchery stretches for a first down he coughs up the ball and rookie linebacker Gary Guyton falls on the ball at the Patriots 40.

10:48 38 yards of offensive in the second half for the Jets….Ouch.

10:49 Jets keep leaving the middle of field open, and Cassel burns them for 17 yards.

10:50 Cassel misses a wide open Randy Moss in the endzone, 47-yard Gostkowski attempt is nailed through. Thats 18 unanswered points from New England.

Patriots 24 Jets 24

10:55 Jets offense finding its legs again, driving at the Patriots 37. Nothing fancy just nickel and diming it.

10:58 6:00 minutes left and the Jets are at the 15.

11:00 2nd and 6 from the 6 with four minutes left… balls thrown through the endzone…. Third down is also thrown through the endzone. Holding penalty on Mike Vrabel gives the Jets a first down. Marginal, marginal, marginal call. First and goal from 3.

11:08 Jones punches it in, and with 3:10 left the Jets take a lead. Thanks to a huge holding call on Mike Vrabel.

31 Jets Patriots 24

11:10 3:04 left at their 33. Time to show up.

11:11 Patriots have to punt from the 25, after a key sack of Cassel.

11:13 With a timeout and the two minute warning, one Jets first down and this one is over.

11:18 Big hit on third down by Mayo ensures the Pats will have a chance to with just over a minute to go.

11:20 1:04 left, need some Cassel magic at the Pats 39.

11:21 23 seconds left at the Jets 25…

11:22 8 seconds left from the 16.

11:24 Cassel on the scramble finds Randy Moss in the endzone. Touchdown Patriots. 31-30… Jets

11:25 Reviewing the catch, looks like Ty Law, the former Patriot, forced Moss’ right foot down. Gift from Law?

11:27 Looks like “Cassel Magic” to me, ruling on the field stands, time for the PAT, which is obviously huge.

11:28 31-31

11:31 Jets win toss and will receive.

11:34 First play of OT and Pierre Woods sacks Favre for a loss of 5. 2nd & 15.

11:36 Gary Guyton breaks up the 2nd and 15 pass, 3rd down…. Keller breaks into the open again, first down.

11:38 Jets 3rd and 1, at Pats 44.

11:42 First and 10 at Pats 40… Jones dropped for no gain. 2nd and 10… First down Jets to the 25, on a Favre roll out, they find Coles.

11:43 4th and 2 from Patriots 16, Jay Feely comes in to attempt the game winning field goal here in OT.

11:44 Feely puts it through to cap off an amazing football game. Definitely a tilt worthy of a battle for AFC East supremacy.

Jets 34 Patriots 31 OT

Lot of post game talk that this is why the Jets brought in all their free agents… but remember its just Week 11. As I type Brett Favre is making the same point. Both these teams showed their resiliency tonight. We’ll have more reaction tomorrow.

How long until this is on NFL Network Classic Replay, amazing game. Hard to not love Brett Favre.

Like this post? Share it »

Last post (s) by Nich Hall

• BCS National Championship: Florida Gators vs. Oklahoma Sooners Preview - January 8th, 2009
• WJHC Final: Tre Konor a closer look - January 5th, 2009
• Vikings hang tough, but Jackson shows true colors late - January 4th, 2009
• Connecticut runs to International Bowl win - January 4th, 2009
• International Bowl Preview: Buffalo vs. UConn - January 2nd, 2009