Toss Up A Win

In a game they had to have, against the opponent that’s always in the way, the New York Jets got it done on Sunday, stitching together a playoff-like performance to knock off the hated Patriots, 26-20, in overtime before a raucous, cathartic crowd at MetLife Stadium.

After blowing a 14-point second-half lead, the Jets ended it with a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to wideout Eric Decker on the first possession of overtime—after the Patriots botched the coin toss by electing to kick off, for some reason.

With the win—just their second against the Patriots in their last 10 meetings—the Jets improved to 10-5 and now control their fate in the AFC playoff race, thanks to the Ravens (and quarterback Ryan Mallett!) upsetting the Steelers in Baltmore. The Jets have now won five in a row for the first time since 2010, which also happens to be the least time they won 10 games in a season. And the last time they made the playoffs.

The Jets aren’t quite in the playoffs yet; they’ll still need to beat the Bills and ex-head coach Rex Ryan next Sunday in Buffalo, and oh my what a week this is going to be between now and then. But psychologically, for their fans, this game meant so much. Who cares that the Pats were without four key starters, or that they lost left tackle Sebastian Vollmer to injury on their first offensive series?

The Jets under head coach Todd Bowles likely won’t say this afterward, but they delivered a statement with this win, and not just because they hung on after blowing a 17-3 second-half lead. If they do indeed reach the postseason, they will be a team to be reckoned with.