If this sequence doesn’t sum up 2023 for both the Jets and Patriots, perhaps none does.
With just under four minutes left, the Jets faced 4th-and-1 from the Pats’ 37 and elected to go for it, rather than punt or try a field goal to extend their lead to 12-3…and Breece Hall was stopped for a three-yard loss.
On the next play, New England tried a triple reverse flea-flicker, but Bailey Zappe was sacked for a 16-yard loss – and then it got really weird.
The next play saw Ashtyn Davis intercept Zappe’s pass and run it back, but he fumbled as he tried to lateral it to Sauce Gardner, and New England’s Vederian Lowe recovered to give the ball back to New England…and was hurt on the play.
That gave New England a 17-yard gain, ostensibly, but Zappe’s next pass was picked off at the Jets’ 47 by Tony Adams.
All’s well that ends well, though – Breece Hall ran for three yards to take it to the two-minute warning, then ripped off a 50-yard touchdown run and also scored the two-point conversion to make it 17-3.
So, yes, in the span of six plays, we had four turnovers (one on downs), two changes of possession on one play, and the Jets lose roughly 15 yards of field position in the process before the only touchdown of the game was scored.
The shenanigans almost weren’t over, as Jalen Reagor fumbled the ensuing kickoff, but he was ruled down by contact to give the Pats a final few plays.
Mercifully, the season ended 90 game seconds later, but not without the Pats turning it over on downs when Zappe ran out of bounds on a fourth-and-seven a few yards short of the sticks.