Dec 16, 2007 6:31 pm US/Eastern
Patriots Still Perfect After Stormy Win Over Jets
Patriots Lock Home Field Advantage Through AFC Playoffs
Brady Fails To Throw TD Pass For First Time This Season
FOXBORO (AP) ―
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New England Patriots fans celebrate a blocked punt by throwing snow.
Elsa/Getty Images
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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 16: Coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots shakes hands with coach Eric Mangini of the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 16, 2007 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 20-10. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Ima
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Bad weather couldn't stop the Patriots' march toward an undefeated season.
Neither could the New York Jets.
Facing rain, wind and chilly gusts above 20 mph, New England and Tom Brady found a new way to win -- running and eating up the clock -- and beat the New York Jets 20-10 Sunday in the Spygate rematch.
Coach Bill Belichick brushed off the elements as a necessary nuisance, much like his usually cold postgame handshakes with Eric Mangini. The Jets coach, his former friend and protege, had turned him in for using a sideline video camera in violation of NFL rules after the season opener.
But this time, their exchange was pleasant. Belichick smiled all the way from the sideline until he reached Mangini and appeared to say, "Great game, awesome," as they shook hands. Then Belichick walked away, pumping his first twice over his head.
The Patriots (14-0) stopped the sideline taping when they were nabbed in the first quarter of the first game, a 38-14 win over the Jets (3-11) at the Meadowlands. The coaches exchanged a quick, cold handshake at the end of that game, just as they had done after their two regular-season meetings last season.
The NFL fined Belichick $500,000 and the team $250,000 and took away their first-round draft choice next year for the illegal taping.
On Sunday, video helped the Patriots when they challenged a call of a 7-yard touchdown pass from Chad Pennington to Justin McCareins with 2:32 left. Replay officials ruled he didn't get both feet in the back of the end zone. Then Mike Nugent missed a 35-yard field goal attempt.
With the win, New England clinched home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs even though Brady failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The Patriots remaining games are at home against Miami and at the New York Giants.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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