The Patriots beat the New York Jets 13-7 yesterday on a rainy, drizzly, cold October day. They have now won 18 consecutive regular season games, and 21 overall.
Nick Cafardo reviews the game for The Boston Globe, writing "it was another instance of the Patriots (6-0) doing what they had to do at the most opportune time, just as in so many of their other wins."
Ron Borges of the Globe asserts yesterday's game was won in what has become typical fashion for the Patriots. "You never can guess just what. You never can predict who or how or why. But the one constant in what has become a 21-game winning streak is that at some point the Patriots' opponent becomes a co-conspirator in its demise," writes Borges.
Paul Harber of the Globe lauds the workmanlike efforts of running back Corey Dillon, who enabled the Pats to run out the clock on the ground. "Dillon rushed for 115 yards, but his final three rushes -- for 6, 2, and 4 yards -- were his biggest," writes Harber. "They sealed the victory in the final two minutes of the game as the Patriots were able to kill the clock without reverting to a pass."
Marvin Pave of the Globe points out the importance of wideouts David Givens and David Patten, who stepped up in place of injured starters Deion Branch and Troy Brown. "Givens did his part with a game-high 107 receiving yards while Patten found a seam in the Jets' zone defense and snared a Tom Brady pass with five seconds left in the first half that helped erase a brief 7-6 New York lead," Pave reports.
Christopher Gasper of the Globe goes into the visitor's locker room for a look at Jets running back Curtis Martin, who did pass Jim Brown on the NFL's all-time rushing list, but was otherwise held quiet. "Martin, who entered the game as the NFL's leading rusher with 613 yards and was averaging 122.6 per game, was held to just 70 on 20 carries," writes Gasper. "His longest run was only 9 yards as New England made containing Martin a priority."
Frank Dell'Appa of the Globe reviews the two-minute drill the Pats ran at the end of the first half, a drive punctuated by the touchdown pass to Patten, the last score for either side in the game. "The drive could not have been choreographed much better. There were no Patriot mistakes, only one unproductive play," Dell'Appa writes. "[Tom] Brady was 6 for 6 passing, and the only time the Patriots attempted to run the ball, Kevin Faulk was stopped for no gain."
Cafardo reports on the injury to **Dan Klecko**, who started at fullback in place of the injured Patrick Pass. "Klecko, who has an apparent right leg injury, caught the first pass of the game, an 8-yarder on the right flat from Tom Brady, and it was looking as if the team's secret weapon might provide some interesting dividends. But his new role was short-lived," writes Cafardo.
Michael Felger of The Boston Herald reviews the game, writing, "Coach Bill Belichick called the win a "dogfight," and when it was finished the Pats sat atop the AFC East with a perfect 6-0 record."
Kevin Mannix of the Herald highlights the stellar run stopping of linebacker Ted Johnson, one of the Pats most tenured players. "'I'm not going to lie to you,'" Johnson told Mannix. "'When I came in (the locker room) I had the feeling that I had just played some good old-fashioned football.'"
Rich Thompson of the Herald spotlights Brady, who once again played tough under serious pressure from the opposing defense. Thompson also checks in on the wide receiver position, at which Givens and Patten made the big plays.
Dan Ventura of the Herald reports on Martin, writing, "on a day when Curtis Martin surpassed both Jim Brown and Barry Sanders in the record book, the New York Jets running back was in no mood to celebrate." Ventura also reviews the Jets final drive, one on which they needed to find the end zone, but could not.
In his notebook, Felger reviews the play of **Randall Gay**, the undrafted rookie from LSU who saw significant time in the Pats secondary.
The Herald runs an excerpt from Felger's book, Tales From the Patriots Sidelines.
George Kimball of the Herald reviews the comparisons made all week between Martin and Dillon, the last and most recent backs, respectively, to dominate in New England.
Tom Curran handles game review for The Providence Journal, pointing to the disciplined nature of their efforts as the key to victory.
Jim Donaldson of the Journal highlights the firm resolve the Patriots employ to win week after week. "If it were any other team, it would be tempting to say they just dodged another bullet," writes Donaldson. "But the Patriots don't dodge bullets. They let them bounce off their chests."
Paul Kenyon of the Journal notes the old-fashioned feel Johnson spoke about, pointing to the prevalence of the ground game and the inclement conditions. "Nothing changed yesterday, either. The offense made enough key plays to get its job done. And the defense, while it bent at times, came up with its best when it was most needed," writes Kenyon.
Michael Parente of The Woonsocket Call reviews the game. "Like it has so many times during this remarkable streak, Sunday's game came down to a handful of plays in the end. As usual, the Patriots refused to buckle and were the last ones standing," Parente writes. Parente also spotlights the run defense, which effectively shut down the ever-dangerous Martin. "After giving up more than 200 rushing yards in a season-opening win against Indianapolis -- causing panic in New England -- the Patriots have buckled down in the trenches," writes Parente.
Alan Greenberg of The Hartford Courant provides game review. Greenberg also extends praise to the run-stopping Ted's, Johnson and Bruschi, who keyed on, and shut down, the AFC's leading rusher. "They knew Martin's running style, knew that he could embarrass them with his creative cutbacks if they didn't defend their own turf and abandoned it to try to make a glory play," writes Greenberg.
Damian Vega handles game review for The MetroWest Daily News, while Mike Reiss highlights the key halftime adjustments made by defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel in terms of containing quarterback Chad Pennington, who was 12-14 passing in the first half. "The fifth-year quarterback noted the difference in the Patriots' approach, saying the receivers were 'bracketed', with the cornerbacks playing underneath and safeties providing help over the top," writes Reiss.
Dan Pires of The Standard Times attributes the Patriots fourth-quarter play to be a key component of their 21-game winning streak.
The Times also runs an AP article by **Andrea Adelson**, highlighting the defense's ability to retain its poise down the stretch. "It was fourth-and-8 from the New England 30, and the Patriots clung to a six-point lead," writes Adelson. "They stayed calm, drawing on their varied experiences in close games, and knew they had to get after Chad Pennington to have any chance at saving the game."
In his notebook Tom Chard of The Portland Press Herald reviews the Klecko injury and the performance of Martin. In his review of the game, Chard credits the defense for their play down the stretch.
In his notebook, Ian Clark of The Union Leader credits the defense and Dillon for yesterday's win, giving MVP honors to the entire defensive unit.
