HERO
Jets safety Antonio Allen picked off Tom Brady and returned it for a touchdown to start the second half and completely changed the momentum of the game. Allen covered Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski all game (and jumped his route on the pick-six) and did a strong job containing him. Gronkowski finished with eight catches for 114 yards, but he was targeted 17 times and did not hurt the Jets.
UNSUNG HERO
“Folk Hero,’’ of course. Jets kicker Nick Folk’s 42-yard field goal in OT won the game and it was his third field goal of the game. Most importantly, it was Folk’s third game-winning field goal this season.
ZERO
Patriots defensive tackle Chris Jones, who was called for unsportsmanlike conduct in overtime for pushing a teammate into the Jets center on a 56-yard field goal attempt by Folk that went wide. That gave the Jets a free first down, allowing them to get closer for Folk to win it from 42 yards.
KEY STAT
46:13: The Jets’ time of possession, to the Patriots 23:40
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We wanted to come out and prove a point. We wanted to prove that we are in this division, too, and we want to win this division. I hope this sent a message that we’re a real contender and we have guys here that are elite just like they do and we’re a force to be reckoned with.’’
— Jets receiver Jeremy Kerley