Best & Worst of yesterday’s game
Worst situational start: The Patriots defense failed to get the Jets off the field on four straight third-down attempts as the hosts scored on their first possession.
Worst drop: In what is becoming a weekly problem, wide receiver Brandin Cooks saw a ball bounce directly off his hands on the first Pats drive of the game.
Worst momentum killer: With the Patriots driving into Jets territory in the first quarter, linebacker Darron Lee poked the ball loose from running back Mike Gillislee's grasp and cornerback Buster Skrine recovered for the hosts. Gillislee didn't see the field again until the third quarter.
Worst coverage: Malcolm Butler tried to undercut a route by Jeremy Kerley, who caught a pass from Josh McCown and easily ran in for a 31-yard touchdown to give the Jets a two-touchdown lead in the second quarter.
Best redemption: After giving up the touchdown pass earlier in the game, Butler recovered nicely when he undercut a route by the sideline and intercepted a McCown pass just before the end of the first half.
Best tracking device: Tom Brady threw a perfect toss down the left sideline for Cooks, who did an excellent job to stay locked on to the pass and catch it for a 42-yard completion to the 2 near the end of the second quarter.
Best mismatch: Rob Gronkowski had no problems with Jets safety Jamal Adams on the goal line for a 2-yard touchdown reception to help the Patriots tie the game at 14 heading into halftime.
Best pressure: Butler's blitz on fourth down forced McCown to be off target with a throw that was picked off by Pats safety Devin McCourty in the third quarter.
Best teardrop: Brady threw a rainbow pass to running back James White for a 16-yard gain along the left sideline in the third quarter.
Worst two-fer: Pats defensive linemen Alan Branch and Malcom Brown were both guilty of defensive holding penalties on a fourth quarter drive that nearly resulted in a Jets touchdown.
Best review ... for the Pats: Austin Seferian-Jenkins appeared to have a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, but upon review, the officials ruled that the Jets tight end fumbled the ball as he crossed the goal line to result in a touchback.
Worst flashback: On a bad breakdown in the secondary, Jermaine Kearse caught a 44-yard pass on fourth down with no one around him in the fourth quarter. The play was reminiscent of many long passes the Pats gave up this season on miscommunications in the defensive backfield.
Best timing: Dont'a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy each took down McCown late in the fourth quarter to help salt away the win on the Jets' final drive.