FOXBOROUGH, Mass.

The game was just six minutes old and the New England Patriots already were getting booed by their own crowd.

As Shonn Greene crossed the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown run on the New York Jets’ first series on Sunday, the home fans jeered. They were upset about a 76-yard drive in which the Patriots’ shaky secondary allowed two long completions, for 24 and 26 yards, and was flagged for holding.

By the time the game was over — and the Patriots had avoided a second straight loss in which they coughed up a double-digit, fourth-quarter lead — those same fans were cheering. But that noise after a 29-26 overtime win that came down to the last play couldn’t drown out the critics, including coach Bill Belichick.

Start with the pass defense.

It allowed Mark Sanchez to complete five passes of from 21 to 26 yards. One week earlier, he threw for a total of just 82 yards.

The offense has had its own problems, despite leading the NFL in total yardage. It’s scored just two touchdowns in each of the last two games.

Tight ends Rob Gronkowski (offseason back surgery) and Aaron Hernandez (sprained ankle) have been playing at less than full strength, and quarterback Tom Brady completed just one pass for six yards on Sunday to Brandon Lloyd, signed in the offseason as a deep threat.

Belichick knows that how a team is playing going into the playoffs is critical. The Patriots have reached the postseason in eight of the last nine years, missing only in 2008 when Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opener.