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Feely kicks Jets past pesky Patriots, into first place in AFC East

Nov 14, 2008 - 5:15 AM By Mike Petraglia PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- The New York Jets finally broke through in a big game against the New England Patriots.

Jay Feely drilled a 34-yard field goal with 7:10 left in overtime as the Jets outlasted the Patriots, 34-31, in a key AFC East matchup on Thursday night.

The Jets blew an 18-point lead in the contest, but recovered in time to avenge a loss to New England in Week Two, and grab sole possession of first place at 7-3.

Matt Cassel found Randy Moss on a 16-yard touchdown with one second remaining in regulation for a game-tying touchdown, sending the game into sudden death. Cassel had a career game with his arm and his legs, throwing for a career-best 400 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a team-high 62 yards on eight carries.

Thomas Jones plunged in for the go-ahead touchdown just over three minutes left in regulation and Leon Washington returned a kickoff 92 yards for a TD and caught a scoring pass from Brett Favre for New York.

Favre completed 26-of-33 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns for the Jets, who won their fourth straight game, moving a game ahead of the 6-4 Patriots.

Filling in for the injured Mike Nugent, Feely had two field goals, improving to 18-of-22 on the season.

New York established its dominance on the first drive of the game when it marched 62 yards in 10 plays, capped off by a 7-yard screen pass in the right flat to Washington, who eluded three tacklers to get into the end zone.

The Patriots scored on their first two drives but could only muster field goals of 42 and 31 yards from Steven Gostkowski.

Following the second field goal, Washington took the ensuing kickoff at his eight-yard line and ran up the right side before cutting across to the left sideline. He eluded Gostkowski on his way to a 92-yard kickoff return for a score, giving the Jets a 17-6 lead.

The Jets expanded their advantage to 24-6 when Favre connected with Jerricho Cotchery for a 15-yard touchdown with just under five minutes remaining before halftime.

The Patriots responded when Jabar Gaffney caught a 19-yard TD pass from Cassel with 15 seconds to play in the second, pulling New England to within 24-13.

Two miscues killed New England's momentum in the third quarter, including a fumble by Ben Watson at the Jets 22 as it appeared to be going in for a score.

But the Patriots continued to close the gap when Cassel found Watson for a TD from 10 yards out at the end of the third quarter. The ensuing two-point conversion attempt was successful as Cassel hit Gaffney.

New England tied the score at 24-24 when Gostkowski converted his third field goal the game from 47 yards out with 10:22 remaining in the fourth.