New England Patriots (4-13) – New York Jets (7-10): 3-17
When the sky began to spit out abundant snow, we should have seen it as a sign: the sky wanted to spare us this spectacle. Two teams adrift, in a match without stakes, under the snow.
There was nothing to see. We could see almost nothing there. We saw some players, a little. But gaming, not at all.
Sixteen punts. Just one touchdown.
120 yards gained by the Patriots. 254 for the Jets.
Boredom is a game of American football. A new humiliation for Bill Belichick.
Breece Hall, the savior
At one time, Bill Belichick's love of special teams was something of a chestnut tree. He must therefore have enjoyed the succession of punts proposed by the two teams, with only a few interruptions by the kickers.
New England ends the first quarter with a total yardage… negative. An American football slush that the snow cannot completely excuse. Both teams are just bad.
In addition to their formidable defense, the Jets were saved by Breece Hall (36 races, 178 yards, 1 TD). Because Trevor Siemian (8/20, 70 yards) was not much more dashing than Bailey Zappe.
Both teams pushed the sketch to the end. In the last quarter, with the Patriots trailing 9-3, Zappe was intercepted by Ashtyn Davis… who released the ball on the return to return it to the Patriots. Too kind. Fortunately, Zappe took care to throw a new interception… two actions later!
Hall finally found the flaw on a 50-yard run for the only touchdown of the game, with a two-point conversion to boot. More than enough to widen a decisive gap.
Rumors will now fly about the future of Bill Belichick. If this game was his last with the Patriots, how sad.
What is a fact is that it is about time that the holidays arrived for these two franchises.
