FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The stat line was not overly impressive. Mike DeVito had just one tackle and one forced fumble in the New York Jets’ stunning 28-21 upset of the New England Patriots in the AFC playoffs Sunday.

DeVito, the former University of Maine defensive lineman, is a defensive end for the Jets and sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. But don’t underestimate him.

While the stats didn’t reflect it, he made some key plays for the Jets, especially in the second half.

Early in the third quarter, he stopped Danny Woodhead for a 1 yard gain on second-and-2.

When the Patriots ran BenJarvus Green-Ellis into the line on third down, it was DeVito who broke through and disrupted the timing. While he didn’t get the tackle — Green-Ellis spun away from his hit — it allowed two other Jets to tackle him for a 1-yard loss.

What separates DeVito from some of his teammates is that he’s pretty quiet. While others strutted through the bowels of Gillette Stadium after the game, shouting and gloating, he quietly walked to the Jets’ locker room, a satisfied smile on his face.

“There no better feeling,” he said when asked what it felt like to silence nearly 69,000 opposing fans. “It’s just awesome to go out in a hostile environment, play one of the best teams in the NFL and prove that we can do it, that we should be in the talk of the elite groups.

“We showed everybody in the world that we can be a team to beat this year.”

Just six weeks earlier, the Jets had come into this same stadium and lost 45-3. To turn it around like the Jets did, DeVito said, is impressive.

“The team did a great job putting that behind us,” he said. “It’s a much different feeling now, we’re moving on. This is the time when you need to win.”

The Jets slowed down one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses. The Patriots led the NFL in scoring with 32.4 points a game. Tom Brady was the league’s top-rated passer.

But on Sunday, the Jets handled both.

“It was an awesome job by our coaches putting together a game plan, and the guys went out there and executed it,” said DeVito.

“You could see Tom was off his mark. He was feeling pressure. He was moving around. That’s what we knew we needed to do. This is a timing offense and we had to get them off their rhythm and their timing. And that’s what we did.”

DeVito, by the way, was one of the six captains the Jets sent out for the opening coin toss.

“It’s a game we came into and no one gave us a shot,” he said. “But there were 53 guys and the coaches in the organization who believed and we came out and pulled it together.

“I’m very grateful for the experience.”

THERE WERE 74 seconds left in the first half when the Patriots faced fourth-and-4 at their 38. With the Jets leading 7-3, everyone was certain the Patriots would punt.

Instead they tried a fake. But Patrick Chung dropped the snap, then was tackled for a 1-yard loss.

The Jets scored with 39 seconds left in the half on a 15-yard pass from Mark Sanchez to Braylon Edwards, putting New York firmly in control.

Asked about the fake in his postgame press conference, Coach Bill Belichick said, “We just made a bad mistake.”

Was it a mistake in execution, or the call, he was asked. “I’m not even going into it,” he replied.

But it was a pretty important play, he was told.

“It was a bad mistake,” Belichick replied. “I just said that.”

LEFT TACKLE Matt Light, a Patriot for his entire 10-year career, doesn’t know what the future holds. His contract is up.

“I have had a great 10 years here,” said Light, a two-time Pro Bowl selection. “This has been a great organization, obviously a great place to come play as a rookie. … I hope like hell to be here and continue to do what I’ve done. But we will have to wait and see if that works itself out.”

WES WELKER, the Patriots’ leading receiver, did not play in the first offensive series. It was reported on CBS before the game that he was being punished for his press conference on Thursday when he made 11 foot references in nine minutes — an apparent jab at Jets Coach Rex Ryan and his reported foot fetish.

Belichick, of course, would not comment on that report. And Welker, who finished with a team-high seven catches, told reporters they should talk to Belichick.

THE PATRIOTS had 16 players making their first playoff appearance. Eleven of them were starters.

AFTER WINNING 11 consecutive playoff games at home, the Patriots have now dropped their last two. They are 11-3 all-time at home in the playoffs.

TOM BRADY’S two touchdown passes gave him 30 in his playoff career, tying him with Pittsburgh’s Terry Bradshaw for fifth all-time.

He has also thrown at least one touchdown pass in 17 consecutive playoff games, second in NFL history to Brett Favre (20).

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:

mlowe@pressherald.com

 

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