11/13 — The Jets defense has been bending but not breaking, as evidenced by the Patriots' 242 yards but only 13 points in the first half. But on New England's first possession of the second half, the Jets put on the brakes with the game's first takeaway.

Matt Cassel finds TE Benjamin Watson over the middle for a 12-yard gain to the Jets 22, but as Eric Barton hits Watson low and brings him down, he loses the ball. The ball finds its way to Kerry Rhodes — his third takeaway in two games after having none the first eight — and the Jets offense takes over at their 33.

But Brett Favre, who had gone unsacked in the first half, goes down twice in three plays, once by NT Vince Wilfork, once by DE Richard Seymour, and Reggie Hodges punts for only the second time.

The hosts go on the move again — and then suddenly they move backward as C Dan Koppen's shotgun snap catches Matt Cassel looking to his left and the ball scoots over his right arm. Then Cassel boots the ball trying to pick it up, so he has to fall on it. From the Jets 38 to the Pats 38 — a loss of 24 fumble yards that don't come off the Patriots' offensive yardage but do come off their field position. They wind up punting.

Favre's second half hasn't been as electric as his first. He picks up one third-down conversion to Leon Washington but can't thread another chains-mover to Leon. Hodges and his cover team do their part with a 4.6-second-hangtime punt that the dangerous Wes Welker has to fair-catch at his 22. There are five minutes and change left in the third quarter.

Ty Law has been playing in the Jets' dime. It seems the Pats are working the sidelines on him while Darrelle Revis covers Wes Welker (three catches, 40 yards) in the slot. But Law comes up with a big third-down play when he wraps up Jabar Gaffney as he's trying to come down with a conversion catch. Gaffney can't hold, the pass is ruled incomplete.

But the teams trade punts, and now the Jets defense bends and breaks. Cassel is getting comfortable and more accurate. With a 14-yard pass to Jabar Gaffney, he goes over 300 yards in a game for the first time in his career (his career being this season). Then comes an 8-yarder to Randy Moss and then, with lots of time in the pocket, finds Benjamin Watson for 10 yards and the touchdown.

And then the Pats go for two and get it, with Cassel finding Gaffney free from Dwight Lowery just over the goal line. The score is Jets 24, Pats 21 as the third quarter ends.

Fourth Quarter

The Jets squeak out a first down on two Favre-to-Dustin Keller completions, but a 1-yard loss on an inside handoff to Leon Washington (Jerod Mayo, who left in the first half with a ding, has been back and makes the tackle) is followed up by a Jerricho Cotchery giveaway — he's hit by CB Jason Webster after a catch, loses the ball and LB Gary Guyton recovers at the Patriots 40. There is 12:33 left in regulation.

The third-quarter stats have just been handed out. They show the Patriots with a 420-221 yardage advantage.

Cassel adds to that with a 17-yard scramble up the middle, but he tries it again on third-and-3 and gets only a yard. On comes Gostkowski, who continues to hit unerring kicks against the Jets. He drills a 47-yarder and the score is tied, 24-24, with 10:16 to play.

No one said this would be easy. But it's time for the Jets offense to wake up.

And they do. They march from their 33 to the Patriots 7 in 10 plays. Chansi Stuckey gets a tough third-down conversion at the 11. Then LB Mike Vrabel is called for holding Keller on a third-down incompletion. It's first-and-goal at the 3.

Jones runs for 2 yards to the 1 and the Pats call their first timeout with 3:26 left. Do the Jets try to run it in on the next two plays, as they tried and failed to do way back in Game 2? We'll see quite soon.

The next play is play action, but Lewis Sanders grabs Thomas Jones for another hold. The ball doesn't move, but it's first-and-goal at the 1. Jones tries to break the plane but is met by Mayo and stoned. New England timeout No. 2 with 3:14 to play.

And then Jones bursts over. TOUCHDOWN! Brandon Moore blocks in to open the hole, Tony Richardson blasts Bruschi at the line and TJ finds his way over for those tough last 36 inches. Feely's point after makes it Jets, 31-24, with 3:10 left.

If anything shows the Jets' growth from Game 2, this drive of 14 plays, 63 yards and 7:06 in possession time, ending with a 1-yard TD run, can be it. But the Jets have to keep the Pats out of the end zone.

They start their key drive at their 33 and it ends at their 26. A pass deflection by Dwight Lowery, a sack of Cassel by Kris Jenkins and an off-the-mark out-route for Benjamin Watson forces the Pats into a tough decision. They decide to punt. The Jets don't try to return it. They have the ball at their 23 with 2:24 left and the Patriots down to one timeout. A Jones run and the last timeout is called with 2:20 to go. A first down would be nice here.

The Jets don't get the first down, punt, and the Pats move down the field. But they need seven and the Jets are trying to keep the home team out of the end zone. It's fourth-and-1 at the Jets 16 with eight seconds left.

Cassel eludes a sack attempt, steps up and finds Randy Moss for a diving catch against Ty Law. The call is TOUCHDOWN for the Patriots with one second left.

Before the tying extra point, the replay official has called for a review. Referee Gene Steratore seems to take a lot of time, but his decision is as expected: The ruling on the field stands.

Now comes Gostkowski. His PAT ties the score at 31-31. We're going to ...

Overtime

The Jets have won the toss and elected to receive. And Gostkowski drives the ball into the end zone for a touchback.

The Jets' drive almost dies on third-and-15, except that Favre turns to his rookie TE and Keller delivers. He goes 16 yards to convert that third down, then converts a second-and-6 with a 12-yarder and a third-and-1 with a 4-yard grab.

Then Favre rolls right, throws across his body — and hits Laveranues Coles for a big 16-yarder. First down and the Jets are in Jay Feely field goal range at the 24.

Leon Washington runs 4 yards, then Thomas Jones goes for 2 to the 18. Do the Jets try to kick a 36-yarder on third down? No, one more run by Jones to the 16. And on comes Feely for some more heroics. He's in the middle of the field and attempting a 34-yarder. But it won't come until after New England's 30-second timeout.

Feely runs in place, then does a few hops. Then he awaits James Dearth's snap and Reggie Hodges' hold. And then the kick is up ... AND IT'S GOOD.

The Jets have defeated the Patriots, 34-31, 7:50 into overtime. The deed is finally done. It wasn't easy but it will be sweet for the Jets in the locker room and on the short flight back to New Jersey.

Jets-Patriots: First Half

Jets Claim 1st Place: Oust Pats in OT, 34-31

'It Wasn't Going to Be Easy. We Got It Done.'