Sports

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - If it is possible, there was both a sense of urgency and a relaxed atmosphere for the Patriots over the last week. After two straight losses that featured poor execution, particularly on offense, the urgency was born. But according to receiver Deion Branch, the Patriots had fun in practice as they prepared for their AFC East showdown with the Jets. They stopped pressing. And they left MetLife Stadium with a surprising 37-16 victory over New York, taking sole possession...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - This is not why they play. We know that. No professional sports team plays in order to shut up the loud-mouth coach of some other team. But let’s be realistic. Winning this game, at this particular time, in this particular place . . . C’mon, this had to be sweeeeeeeeet! And, my Lord. What loyal fans! The crowd of 79,088 was down to a gathering that could have been squeezed into Rex Ryan’s basement by game’s end. “You’re not going to beat New England - you’re not...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Feel better now? As much as the hysteria has rained down the previous two weeks in Patriot land, the bottom line is they still have Tom Brady and the Jets don’t. Not even close. For as long as that remains the case, the Patriots will own the AFC East - in the regular season, for what that’s worth - and the Jets will have to carve out life on the postseason road, if they get there. It has worked for them in going to back-to-back AFC Championship games, but a level of...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The silence that spread throughout MetLife Stadium midway through the fourth quarter was as much confusion and befuddlement as it was dissatisfaction. The Jets were supposed to spend last night punishing the Patriots, using the national television stage to showcase their vast improvement over five weeks ago when they were dominated by BenJarvus Green-Ellis and a bruising defense in a resounding 30-21 Patriots win. Despite the Patriots reeling from consecutive losses...