EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- It wasn’t pretty, but the Patriots outlasted the Jets Sunday afternoon, coming away with a 24-17 win and taking control of first place in the AFC East.
Tom Brady finished 20-for-38 for 257 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Meanwhile, Rob Gronkowski had six catches for 83 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Brandin Cooks added six catches for 93 yards and Dion Lewis finished with 11 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown.
On the other side of the ball, Josh McCown was 31-for-47 for 354 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Patriots moved to 4-2 on the season, pushing the Jets (3-3) into second place in the AFC East.
After New England fell behind 14-0 to start the game, the Patriots responded with 24 straight points to build a 24-14 lead midway through the fourth. Brady found Gronkowski on a pair of touchdown passes, and New England mixed in a 1-yard run from Lewis for good measure.
The Patriots caught a break midway through the fourth when what appeared to be a touchdown pass for New York tight end Austin Sefarian-Jenkins was fumbled out of the end zone, and ultimately ruled a touchback. The Patriots regained possession, and even though New England couldn’t answer, the points that came off the board proved to be costly for the Jets.
Game updates from Price:
4:10 p.m.: That'll do it. Patriots will get the ball back on downs. 24-17.
4:09 p.m.: Van Noy with his second sack of the day.
4:09 p.m.: Bodies everywhere. Great sequence, but the pass was broken up.
4:07 p.m.: Unconscionable breakdown there by the defense. A 32-yarder on fourth down.
4:06 p.m.: Hightower with a big sack there. Massive play.
4:03 p.m.: 1:53 to go. Jets have the ball on their own 28.
4:01 p.m.: Pats to punt it away. 2:05 to go.
3:59 p.m.
3:52 p.m.: What a weird, busted play. Loss of three, but could have been so much more. Duron Harmon almost had him. In the end, the Jets settle for a 28-yard field goal to make it 24-17 with 3:40 left in regulation.
3:49 p.m.: More breakdowns in the secondary for the secondary. That was ugly -- a 44-yarder to Kearse.
3:46 p.m.: Jones with a great tackle on that punt. Still buzzing here about the overturned touchdown.
3:45 p.m.: Patriots couldn't get any offensive traction there, and will end up punting it back. Not a great series.
3:43 p.m.: Little nuts here at MetLife right now. Jets are still fuming, trying to get the crowd into it.
3:41 p.m.: New York's touchdown was just overturned -- ruled a touchback. That's biiiiiiig. Todd Bowles is really angry.
3:31 p.m.: Jets slowly matriculating the ball down the field.
3:25 p.m.: 28-yard field goal from Gostkowski is good. 24-14 with 14:10 left in regulation.
3:20 p.m.: End of the third quarter. Patriots up 21-14 and driving for more.
3:18 p.m.: Man, James White is something else. Great catch.
3:16 p.m.: Brady hot at the end of that play. Wanted that call. Patriots trying to assemble a spirit-killing drive here.
3:13 p.m.: So Mike Gillislee is back in the game. Interesting.
3:11 p.m.: Jets go for it on fourth, and can't convert. McCourty gets his first pick of the year.
3:06 p.m.: Another good coverage sequence there for the Patriots on the Brown sack of McCown.
3:01 p.m.: Little unsettled here at MetLife right now. Can sense some momentum shifting.
2:59 p.m.: Cooks now has five catches for 87 yards. Gronkowski has four for 64 and a pair of touchdowns.
2:57 p.m.: Exactly what the Patriots needed to start the third quarter -- 75 yards in eight plays.
Td number 2! #bradytogronk pic.twitter.com/Y8bSJ5AyrJ
— Chris Gronkowski (@Chrisgronkowski) October 15, 2017
The @NYJets!
This @JKerley11 TD is just beautiful. #Jets pic.twitter.com/gwBcvibKWr
— NFL (@NFL) October 15, 2017