Foxborough, United States: Chris Jones blocked Nick Folk’s 58-yard field goal attempt on the final play on Thursday as New England held on for a 27-25 NFL win over the New York Jets.
The Jets trailed 27-19 when quarterback Geno Smith connected with Jeff Cumberland on a 10-yard scoring pass with 2:31 left in the contest.
But Smith missed Jace Amaro on the Jets’ ensuing attempt at a two-point conversion.
After the Patriots came up empty on their next possession, the Jets regained the ball at their own 12 yard line with 1:06 to play and no timeouts.
Smith marched New York to New England’s 40 yard line, but Folk’s kick was low and Jones got his hand on the ball to seal the Patriots’ third straight win.
The Jets lost their sixth straight.
Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes for the Patriots, who took the lead for good on Stephen Gotkowski’s second field goal of the game late in the third quarter.
Prior to the game, the Patriots placed linebacker Jerod Mayo and running back Stevan Ridley on injured reserve, both with season-ending knee injuries.
Although the team has confirmed few details of the injuries, Mayo reportedly had surgery on Thursday morning to repair a torn patellar tendon, while the Boston Herald reported that Ridley suffered torn knee ligaments.
Both were hurt in last Sunday’s win over Buffalo. But the Patriots have now beaten a second AFC East rival in five days to strengthen their grip the division with a 5-2 record.
Peyton Manning, meanwhile, has one of the NFL’s most revered records in his sights on Sunday, but the Denver Broncos quarterback insists the only number that interests him is a winning score against San Francisco.
Manning needs three touchdown passes to break Brett Favre’s career record of 508.
“It’s not something we talk about as an offense,” says Broncos tight end Julius Thomas.
“Peyton doesn’t talk about it. We just keep playing football.”
The 49ers, who boast the league’s second-ranked pass defense in terms of yards allowed, are keen to make sure Manning’s latest milestone doesn’t come against them.
“Big challenge. Huge task. A tremendous offense. Great quarterback. That competitive challenge issomething that I think our team, our defense, will be up for,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said, although injuries have taken a toll on San Francisco.
Already without linebacker NaVorro Bowman, pass rusher Aldon Smith and nose tackle Glenn Dorsey, San Francisco’s defensive unit trained Wednesday without linebackers Patrick Willis and Jimmie Ward because of injuries.
Injuries limited cornerbacks Perrish Cox, Chris Culliver and Chris Cook in practice.
“I still see a well-coached team, a disruptive front and guys making plays in the secondary,” said Manning, who threw three touchdown passes in a 31-17 victory over the New York Jets last week.
