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New York Jets at New England Patriots
Gillette Stadium
Sunday, January 7, 2007
1:00 EST
New York Jets Lose to Patriots 37-16
Game Preview
With their 23-3 triumph over the visiting Oakland
Raiders Sunday, the upstart Jets are headed for an improbable trip to
the playoffs under rookie head coach Eric Mangini. New York (10-6) led
the entire way, taking control in the second half after leading just
10-3 after two quarters. Leon Washington had a 15-yard touchdown run,
Chris Baker caught a 1-yard scoring pass from quarterback Chad
Pennington and Mike Nugent kicked three field goals to lead the Jets,
who registered the ninth 10-win season in franchise history. "We
experienced a lot of injuries last year and a lot of bad things, but
this year we were able to stay healthy," said Pennington, who played
16 games in a season for the first time in his career. "Kudos to my
teammates for buying in to what coach Mangini wanted us to do." The
Jets will face the New England Patriots in the first round of the
playoffs on Sunday (1 p.m. ET).
The Patriots would have been forgiven for playing a
flat game against a hot Titans team in a contest that meant little for
New England. Instead, the Patriots lined up and came up with one of
the best efforts of their season in a 40-23 win in Tennessee -- a win
that certainly sends the proper statement to the rest of the league
that the Patriots intend to be a factor in the playoffs. As is often
the case with a Bill Belichick defense, the Patriots defenders made it
their mission to take the Titans' best offensive weapon out of the
game. And they did it effectively, sacking exciting quarterback Vince
Young five times while forcing him into three turnovers. The offense
came together nicely also, just in time for a big wild-card game
against the Jets (Jan. 7, 1 p.m. ET, CBS). New York came away with a
win the last time these teams got together, and there will be much
debate going forward about a possible feud between the two head
coaches.
It will be Round 3 for the Jets and Patriots after the AFC East rivals
split the regular-season series, with each team winning on the road.
New York won the last meeting at Foxboro 17-14 on Nov. 12. Once again,
all eyes will be on the head coaches as Jets rookie Eric Mangini
served six years under Bill Belichick, five as defensive backs coach
and last season as defensive coordinator.
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