Nobody wants to lose to the New York Jets. Not even the troubled New England Patriots, who, however, had to experience a wild roller coaster ride until victory was certain at the last second.
Three seconds before the end: Nick Folk scores at 30:27 for the Patriots.
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For 54 minutes of the Monday Night Game, Joe Flacco played as he had once done for years in the dress of the Baltimore Ravens. Ripped off, confident in making decisions and with the necessary luck that then falls into the hands of a former Super Bowl MVP. After three quarters, Darnold representative Flacco led with his dodgy jets against the wobbly ex-champion with 27:17. With excellent touchdown passes on Breshad Perriman over 50 and 15 and on Jamison Crowder over 20 yards into the far left corner of the end zone, the 35-year-old Flacco (262 yards) maneuvered his team within striking distance to a possible first victory. And the body language of the jets was also right, the team seemed to believe in victory.
What followed in the crunchtime were unnecessary fouls by the Jets Defense, but also wrong decisions by Flaccos, who brought the Pats back into play with a completely unnecessary interception. And then again Cam Newton (274 yards through passes, two running touchdowns) showed former class. The Brady successor in the New England control center ran into the end zone from close range 107 seconds before the end – 27:27.
Newtons remain for 47 seconds
In the following drive Flacco received an expensive sack, the jets had to pound quickly – and New England got the ball again at their own 22-yard line. Newton had 47 seconds for the decisive blow. And with skill and a strong time management, he maneuvered his team up to the 33-yard line of the home side. Finally, three seconds before the end, Nick Folk, once a kicker with the Jets, took to the shot. His 51-yard attempt was lost, the Jets had lost another, ninth time this season.
Will the Jets be the third team with 0:16?
And while keeping the “chance” of becoming the third team after the 2008 Detroit Lions and 2017 Cleveland Browns with a winless season, the Patriots stopped the free fall. After four defeats before, they are now at 3-5 wins – and before an extremely important home game against MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
“It wasn’t nice, but it was a victory,” Newton told ESPN after the game in the Big Apple. “We won and I’m just happy. It’s a great feeling, I haven’t had that for a long time.”
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