New England Patriots vs New York Jets Box Score on Dec 21, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 21, 2014

Patriots 17, Jets 16: Tom Brady threw for 182 yards and a touchdown as visiting New England came through in the second half to clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Jonas Gray ran for a touchdown and Rob Gronkowski added a receiving score for the Patriots (12-3), who can wrap up the top overall seed in the AFC with a win next week. Brady was 23-of-35 and Brandon LaFell led the receiving corps with 64 yards as New England improved to 10-1 in its last 11 games.

Geno Smith went 17-of-27 for 210 yards, one touchdown and an interception for the Jets (3-12), who were attempting to secure their first back-to-back wins of the season. Tight end Jeff Cumberland hauled in the TD and Chris Ivory ran for 53 yards for New York.

The Patriots eclipsed their total yardage from the first seven drives on an 81-yard trek that ended with a field goal to cut the deficit to 13-10 with 1:55 left in the third quarter, and Jamie Collins’ interception set up a short field before Gray cashed in with a 1-yard burst to put New England up 17-13 with 13:51 remaining. The Jets tacked on a 37-yard field goal to make it a one-point deficit and had a chance to take the lead but Vince Wilfork got a finger on Nick Folk's 52-yard field-goal attempt and the offense ran out the clock.

Danny Amendola’s 39-yard punt return set the Patriots up with a short field and the Brady found Gronkowski for a 3-yard TD and a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter, but the Jets marched right back down the field and tied it on Smith’s 20-yard scoring pass to Cumberland. New York tacked on a 26-yard field goal and the defense held New England to a total of 52 yards in the first half to take a 10-7 lead into the locker room.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Jets C Nick Mangold was carted off the field in the first half with an ankle injury and did not return. … The Patriots’ 52 first-half yards were their fewest in a half since 2010 at San Diego. … New York WR Percy Harvin (ribs) caught four passes for 44 yards in the first half but was injured and did not return.