EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tom Brady was hobbled, yet efficient as ever with the game on the line and time on the clock.

Playing with an ailing knee, Brady tied Peyton Manning for most wins by a quarterback in NFL history, getting his 200th by throwing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Mitchell with 1:56 left as the New England Patriots rallied for a 22-17 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.

It’s the 50th time Brady has led the Patriots to a win while facing a fourth-quarter deficit or tie.

“The quarterback’s job is to win,” Patriots Coach Bill Belichick said. “He’s won a lot. That’s good. I’m glad he’s our quarterback.”

With New England trailing 17-16, Brady led an efficient 83-yard drive by completing six passes. After James White stretched for 4 yards after a reception on fourth-and-4, a 25-yard catch by Chris Hogan put the ball at the 8. Brady then zipped a pass to Mitchell to put the Patriots (9-2) ahead.

“We didn’t play as well as we wanted to,” Brady said, “but we made the plays when we needed to.”

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A 2-point conversion try by White was initially ruled good but was reversed on replay because the ball never crossed the goal line.

The Jets (3-8) still had time to drive for a winning touchdown, but on second-and-5 from the 30, Chris Long hit Ryan Fitzpatrick before he could throw, resulting in a fumble that was recovered by Trey Flowers.

The teams have had a final margin of seven points or fewer in each of their last seven meetings. The Jets have lost their last three overall by a total of 12 points.

“We’ve got to find a way to finish at the end of ballgames,” Jets Coach Todd Bowles said.

Patriots fans loudly chanted “Brady! Brady!” in the final moments at MetLife Stadium, which had lots of empty seats as frustrated Jets fans stayed home. Brady improved to 22-6 in regular-season games against the Jets, joining Brett Favre as the only QBs in NFL history with at least 22 wins vs. two teams. Brady has 26 victories vs. Buffalo.

It was the 500th win in franchise history for the Patriots, the first original AFL franchise to reach the mark.

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Brady, who was questionable because of a knee injury, wasn’t his usual spectacular self but finished 30 of 50 for 286 yards and two touchdowns. Mitchell caught five passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns.

Fitzpatrick, back as the starter after missing New York’s last game because of a sprained knee, was 22 of 32 for 269 yards.

“Playing against the Patriots, you don’t have to play the perfect game,” Fitzpatrick said, “but you can’t make mistakes.”

The Jets had taken a 17-13 lead with 10:17 left when Quincy Enunwa leaped over Malcolm Butler in the end zone to grab a pass from Fitzpatrick. The wide receiver’s right foot came down inbounds, and while his left foot never touched the ground inbounds, his backside did.

It was initially called an incomplete pass, but Bowles challenged and the call was reversed for a 22-yard touchdown.

Stephen Gostkowski’s 41-yard field goal with 7:02 left cut the Patriots’ deficit to 17-16.

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BRADY’S BUNCH

New England took advantage of a Jets turnover in the second quarter when Robby Anderson caught a pass and gained 25 yards but had the ball punched out of his hands by Butler, who also recovered the fumble. Brady went to work and completed an 18-yard pass to Julian Edelman, joining Manning (71,940), Brett Favre (71,838), Drew Brees (64,180) and Dan Marino (61,361) as the only players with 60,000 yards passing.

A 15-yard run by Dion Lewis got the ball to the 5 and he added a 1-yard run. On the next play, Brady fumbled the snap but recovered and fired a pass to Mitchell for the tying score.

GRONK HURT

New England tight end Rob Gronkowski left the game late in the first quarter because a back injury.

He was uncertain to play after missing last week’s game because a chest injury. It was not immediately certain if the latest injury was connected to the previous one.

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Gronkowski had no catches when he left, with Brady unable to connect with the tight end on two third-down throws.

BLOCK AND A MISS

Nick Folk had a 54-yard attempt blocked by Alan Branch that was recovered by Dont’a Hightower with 1:58 left in the opening half, giving Brady and the Patriots the ball at their 46.

New England got the ball down to the 21 after a 14-yard catch by Hogan on third-and-2, but the Patriots opted to not use a timeout despite having one left. After an incompletion to Mitchell in the end zone, Gostkowski’s 39-yard attempt was wide left, leaving the game tied at halftime.

Gostkowski kicked a 29-yarder midway through the third quarter, giving New England a 13-10 lead.

BACK IN THE END ZONE

Brandon Marshall’s first touchdown catch since Oct. 9 against Pittsburgh gave New York a 10-0 lead 4 seconds into the second quarter. After a 6-yard run by Bilal Powell out of the wildcat formation took the ball to the 1, Fitzpatrick found Marshall in the end zone.

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