When the New York Jets welcome in the New England Patriots on Sunday, make sure to never forget these five all-time classics.
Hardly anyone thought the Jets would be in this position after five weeks.The New York Jets enter week six with a 3-2 after winning three straight games. While wins over the Dolphins, Jaguars and Browns have been nice, beating the Patriots would be reaching an entirely new level.
Before the fateful day of Sept. 23, 2001, the Jets and Patriots were fairly similar franchises. However, Tom Brady has changed all of that, turning New England into a football dynasty like no one has ever seen before.
While it’s easy to just think of the Jets and Patriots and the matchups they had since Brady starting playing, the two franchises have had plenty other memorable games.
Here is a list of five memorable games that time forgot.
September 10, 1989–Giants Stadium–Patriots 27, Jets 24
The Patriots scored on their first three possessions to take a 21-0 lead in the opening game of the 1989 season. New England held the ball for 23 minutes in the first half as the Jets offense sputtered.
Eric McMillan started the Jets comeback with a blocked punt that set up the Jets first touchdown. Another special teams touchdown was scored by punter Joe Prokop on a fake field goal to cut the lead to 21-17.
When Ken O’Brien connected with JoJo Townsell for his first receiving touchdown of his five-year career from 49 yards out, the Jets had come all the way back to take a 24-21 lead. Never before in the history of the franchise had the Jets overcome a 21-point deficit in a victory.
When Jets linebacker Troy Benson stopped Reggie Dupard on fourth and one at the Jets four-yard line with 3:28 left it looked like they were about to do just that. However, the Patriots were able to hold the Jets and get the ball back.
The Patriots didn’t wait long to capitalize and when Dupard scored this time from four yards out with 1:55 remaining, the Patriots opened their season with a win.
December 22, 2002–Gillette Stadium–Jets 30, Patriots 17
The Jets and Patriots faced off on a Sunday Night in Week 16 with the winner having a great chance to win the AFC East.
The Jets jumped out to a 14-7 lead, but the Patriots were able to fight back and tie the game when Tom Brady hit Christian Fauria for six-yard TD pass midway through the third quarter.
The game turned when Troy Brown fumbled a punt, leading to a John Hall FG. The Jets then put the game away when Chad Pennington hit Wayne Chrebet on a 15-yard TD pass to give the Jets a 30-17 lead.
The next week the Jets clinched the AFC East after they defeated the Packers and the Patriots defeated the Dolphins.
November 17, 1991–Foxboro Stadium–Jets 28, Patriots 21
The Jets took a 21-0 lead on the Patriots in a game they needed to stay in the playoff race.
However, behind QB Hugh Millen and RB Jon Vaughn the Patriots rallied to score 21 points in the fourth quarter to tie the game.
Ken O’Brien then led the Jets on a scoring drive, finishing with a 3-yd TD pass to little-used Trevor Matich with 57 seconds left. The Patriots were not done though, and Millen drove them to the Jets one-yard line where with 1 second left, New England had to decide what play to call to try and force overtime.
The Patriots elected to go back to running back Vaughn, who this time was stopped by the Jets defense to preserve the victory.
September 11, 2000–Giants Stadium–Jets 21, Patriots 19
In Week 2 of the 2000 season, the Jets and Patriots met on Monday Night Football at the Meadowlands.
Led by four Adam Vinatieri field goals and an aggressive defense that frustrated the Jets and QB Vinny Testaverde, the Patriots held a 19-7 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Testaverde then rallied the Jets, connecting with Wayne Chrebet on a 2-yard TD pass that capped a 10-play 85-yard drive. After the Jets defense held the Patriots, Testaverde struck much quickly this time, needing just two plays to put the Jets ahead.
Testaverde hit Dedric Ward for a 44-yard gain to move the ball to the Patriots 28. His next pass found Chrebet in the end zone with two minutes left to give the Jets a lead they would not relinquish.
September 12, 1999–Giants Stadium–Jets 30, Patriots 28
In the season-opening game of the 1999 season, the Jets and Patriots met at Giants Stadium to kick off the season.
Led by QB Vinny Testaverde, the Jets were coming off a 12-4 season and picked by many to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. However, their hopes went up in smoke early in the second quarter when Testaverde tore his Achilles’ heel, rendering him out for the season.
The game itself was a back and forth classic, with the Jets trailing by as many as 11 in the second half before a Tom Tuba TD pass and Bryan Cox interception return gave them a one-point lead.
However, Rick Mirer, in for Testaverde, threw a costly interception late in the fourth quarter that led to Adam Vinatieri kicking the game-winning FG with just three seconds left to send the Jets fans home in tears.
