EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New York Jets backed up their big talk and finally beat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the Meadowlands.
Mark Sanchez came out throwing in the second half after a quiet first two quarters and connected with Dustin Keller on a go-ahead touchdown as the Jets held on and beat Brady for the first time at a loud Meadowlands with a 16-9 victory Sunday.
Brady had a chance to tie it for the Patriots, getting the ball at the Patriots 10 with 1:48 left, but the Jets' defense stopped him as Dwight Lowery knocked away a pass to Joey Galloway on fourth down.
[
]()Brady was unable to engineer his 30th comeback victory as Sanchez took a knee twice to seal the first win for the Jets (2-0) over the Patriots (1-1) at home in nine games. Brady had beaten the Jets in 12 of the previous 14 games he had faced them overall.
Sanchez finished 14 of 22 for 163 yards and the touchdown to Keller, while Brady was 23 of 47 for 216 yards and an interception. He was without one of his favorite targets as Wes Welker sat out with a knee injury.
The victory came after a week in which Jets safety Kerry Rhodes said New York wanted to embarrass New England and coach Rex Ryan reiterated his comments that he didn't come to "kiss Bill Belichick's rings."
Ryan also sent a voicemail to season ticket holders, urging them to be loud and give the Jets an edge. The fans clearly listened as the Patriots had a difficult time with the noise and Brady was forced into consecutive delay of game penalties in the third quarter.
Sanchez was 3 of 5 for 15 yards in the first half, but connected with Jerricho Cotchery for a 45-yard gain to the Patriots 11 on the first play of the third quarter. After a 2-yard run by Thomas Jones, Sanchez found Keller in the back of the end zone to give the Jets a 10-9 lead 1:03 into the third quarter.
The Jets nearly scored another touchdown on their next possession, when Chansi Stuckey caught a pass from Sanchez in the right corner of the end zone. Belichick challenged the call, and it was reversed, with the officials saying Stuckey was unable to get both feet down in bounds.
Sanchez went back to Stuckey on the next play, but overthrew him and the Jets settled for a 21-yard field goal by Jay Feely to make it 13-9.
Feely added a 39-yarder with 9:48 remaining to give the Jets a 16-9 lead. It capped a 14-play, 63-yard drive that lasted 8:21.
New England outgained New York 197-57, but still led just 9-3 at halftime.
[
]()The Patriots took advantage of a fumble by Leon Washington, who lost the ball when Vince Wilfork hit him and Leigh Bodden recovered at the Jets 17. Ryan challenged the call, but it was upheld.
New England couldn't get its offense going, though, with two holding penalties setting up a second-and-30 from the Jets 37. After a 10-yard catch by Julian Edelman and an incompletion intended for Galloway, Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 45-yard field goal.
New York escaped a possible touchdown when Lito Sheppard knocked away Brady's pass to Galloway after an illegal contact penalty on the Jets cornerback on third down kept the drive alive. Brady connected with Edelman for a 29-yard gain to the Jets 12, but the drive stalled and Gostkowski's 25-yarder made it 6-0 early in the second quarter.
Feely cut the deficit to three at 6-3 with a 33-yard field goal.
Gostkowski kicked a 29-yarder with 17 seconds left in the first half, giving the Patriots a 9-3 lead. The kick capped a 14-play, 79-yard drive that almost resulted in a touchdown. Brady's throw on third-and-3 from the 11 was tipped by Lowery and almost grabbed in the back of the end zone by Randy Moss, who couldn't bring in the ball when was shoved in the back and out of bounds by Jim Leonhard.
*Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. *
