Patriots remain unbeaten

Published 10:25 pm Sunday, December 16, 2007

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New York Jets came here looking for a miracle. In a way, they got one, but not the type that answered their prayers.

The snow fell up.

With every big play by the undefeated New England Patriots on Sunday, their bundled fans scooped up handfuls of the ankle-deep white stuff and tossed them to the heavens. From high above, with the rain blowing sideways, Gillette Stadium must have looked like a fizzing cauldron of carbonated drink.

The game, despite predictions to the contrary, was neither a blowout nor a whiteout. The Patriots, facing a tremendous effort by the scrappy Jets, held on for a 20-10 victory and became just the second team in NFL history to win its first 14 games.

The Spygate scandal? There was no talk of it after the game.

The most scrutinized postgame handshake in the history of coaching, between New England’s Bill Belichick and New York’s Eric Mangini? Thoroughly uneventful.

The only hint of a jab from New England came when Belichick was asked if he was happy to have this week, soap opera that it was, behind him.

“Like the other games, good to win in the division,” he said, before adding a subtle zinger: “Good to sweep the Jets.”

The Patriots are moving on, two victories removed from the league’s first 16-0 regular season. The only team to go undefeated in the modern era was the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who went 14-0 in the regular season before winning two playoff games and the Super Bowl. If the Patriots match that perfect season, they will finish 19-0.

“As that zero stays in that column, I’m cool with it,” New England receiver Randy Moss said.

In fact, the Patriots are the only remaining team with a zero in either column, thanks to the Miami Dolphins finally collecting their first victory of the season, beating the Baltimore Ravens in overtime.

Those Dolphins are next in line to play the Patriots, who play them here Sunday before closing out the regular season Dec. 29 at the New York Giants.

The once-burning question isn’t even smoldering anymore. Will Belichick keep his starters in games down the stretch, rather than easing his foot off the accelerator to better ensure everyone’s healthy for the playoffs?

To hear his players tell it, that decision has been made.

“Coach Belichick is not letting up, man,” Moss said. “So if y’all think there’s any chance he’s going to let up and give us a break, he’s not. From Week 1, all the way through training camp. … Coach Belichick will never let a team like this get ahead of themselves.”

There was some speculation that Belichick might at least rest quarterback Tom Brady, the NFL’s leading MVP candidate, instead of putting him in the line of fire against the Giants, who came into the weekend with a league-leading 47 sacks.

“I hope I’ll play every snap,” Brady said. “That’s the most exciting part of my job is playing — not practicing, I know that.”

Sunday, the temperature climbed just enough for rain to fall, leaving the football soaked and heavy. The wind made throwing especially challenging, which explains why a Patriots team which had averaged a league-best 311.3 yards passing rolled up just 134 against the Jets.

Picking up the slack was Laurence Maroney, who rushed for a season-high 104 yards in 26 carries and scored New England’s only offensive touchdown on a one-yard plunge.

Their offense didn’t move the ball with its typical ease, but the Patriots got on the scoreboard quickly. After a beautiful punt pinned them at their 3 for their opening drive, the Jets tried a pass on their second play. Kellen Clemens was absolutely buried by defensive end Richard Seymour just as he was releasing a pass. The wobbling ball was intercepted at the 5 by safety Eugene Wilson, who practically long-jumped into the end zone.

The hit knocked Clemens out of the game with a rib injury. He was replaced by Chad Pennington, who was a respectable 25 of 38 for 186 yards but was sacked five times.

NY Jets0703—10

New England71003—20

First Quarter

NE—Wilson 5 interception return (Gostkowski kick), 9:33.

Second Quarter

NE—FG Gostkowski 26, 12:45.

NY—Bowens 26 blocked punt return (Nugent kick), 7:15.

NE—Moroney 1 run (Gostkowski kick), 1:05.

Fourth Quarter

NY—FG Nugent 33, 6:13.

NE—FG Gostkowski 34, 3:21.

A—68,756.

NYJNE

First downs1316

Total Net Yards236265

Rushes-yards17-9035-131

Passing146134

Punt Returns2-140-0

Kickoff Returns5-1303-59

Interceptions Ret.1-01-5

Comp-Att-Int25-40-114-27-1

Sacked-Yards Lost5-401-6

Punts4-31.86-35.7

Fumbles-Lost4-10-0

Penalties-Yards6-426-48

Time of Possession26:2333:37

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—N.Y. Jets, Washington 4-57, T.Jones 9-19, B.Smith 3-10, Pennington 1-4. New England, Maroney 26-104, Faulk 4-20, T.Brady 4-9, Welker 1-(minus 2).

PASSING—N.Y. Jets, Pennington 25-38-0-186, Clemens 0-1-1-0, B.Smith 0-1-0-0. New England, T.Brady 14-27-1-140.

RECEIVING—N.Y. Jets, Baker 8-66, Cotchery 6-53, McCareins 5-40, Washington 3-9, T.Jones 2-13, Wright 1-5. New England, Moss 5-79, Welker 3-30, Faulk 3-19, Gaffney 2-8, Evans 1-4.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—N.Y. Jets, Nugent 35 (WL).