FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — So what else did you expect?

Yeah, the New York Jets came into Gillette Stadium on Thursday night with a 1-5 record. Tom Brady had never lost a Thursday game, winning all six, two against the Jets.

The Patriots were coming off two really, really impressive victories. So why was this game so hard?

Why did it take a Chris Jones blocked field goal on the final play for the Pats to win 27-25?

Because it’s the Jets. Few teams play the Patriots with such passion as the Rex Ryan-led Jets.

“That was the game we expected,” said Bill Belichick. “With the Jets, they’re always tough.”

And Thursday night, the Jets gave the Patriots everything they could handle.

The Jets led in time of possession (40:54-19:06) first downs (28-16), third-down efficiency (9 of 16, to 6 of 13) and rushing yards (218-63).

“It wasn’t our best effort,” said Belichick. “We’ve got to do a better job all the way around. But credit the team. They worked hard, pushed through the preparation. It’s a real good team win. You’ve got to get a win like this somewhere along the season.”

This win was redemption for Jones. A year ago he and took the blame for a 30-27 overtime loss to the Jets. He was called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in overtime after Nick Folk missed a 56-yard field goal. That gave the Jets a first down and led to Folk’s winning field goal.

This time, a much happier mood.

The Jets had begun their final drive at their 13 with 1:06 remaining and no timeouts. Geno Smith moved them downfield to the Patriots’ 40, where the drive stalled.

On came Folk, who had already kicked four field goals in the game. This time his kick was low and into the middle of the line. Jones got his hand up and blocked it.

“I’m very happy for Chris at the end with what happened to him last year,” said Belichick. “It’s fitting that he made that play.”

Another Patriot redeemed himself: Danny Amendola.

The forgotten man in the Patriots’ passing game through the first six games – he only had four catches for 23 yards – Amendola provided a huge spark and some big plays in the win.

In his first game as a kick returner, he averaged 26 yards, giving the Patriots good field position.

Then with 7:49 remaining in the fourth quarter, Amendola made a twisting catch of a Brady back-shoulder pass for a 19-yard touchdown. That and Stephen Gostkowski’s kick made it 27-19.

It was a spectacular catch as Amendola reached back to catch the ball and then held on while he was slammed to the turf.

“Danny stepped up and gave us a lot of energy,” said Belichick.

He would make one more play.

The Jets made it close as Smith pulled them within two points with a 10-yard scoring pass to Jeff Cumberland with 2:31 remaining.

Then the Jets made a curious play call on the 2-point conversion.

Instead of running the ball, which they did effectively all game, the Jets tried a fade pass to the right corner from Smith to rookie tight end Jace Amaro. Amaro was behind Patrick Chung but the pass was over his head.

They were forced to try an onside kick that Amendola recovered.

Maybe this wasn’t the Patriots’ best win of the season. After all, people expected them to blow past the Jets, especially after Brady hit Shane Vereen with a highlight-reel 49-yard touchdown pass just 1:29 into the game.

But this is likely one of their most satisfying games, considering everything that led into it.

It was a short week, compounded by the loss of two of their best players in last Sunday’s game.

Linebacker Jerod Mayo and running back Stevan Ridley were both placed on season-ending injured reserve before the game.

Their absences were notable in this game – the Patriots could have used Ridley’s power runs to try to eat the clock; the defense could have used Mayo’s strength to stop the Jets running game – but the Patriots held on.

They held on because that is what they do.

Copy the Story Link