Live Analysis Jets 28

Live Analysis: Jets 28, Patriots 21, Final

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Jets defeated the Patriots, 28-21, on Sunday to advance to the American Football Conference championship game with a strong defensive effort and an opportunistic offense.

After a week of trash talk between the teams, the Jets backed up their bravado. Unlike their last time here, a 45-3 loss on Dec. 6, there was no embarrassing finish. The Jets will face the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

With the Jets’ defense slowing Tom Brady, the Jets’ second-year quarterback, Mark Sanchez, overcame early accuracy issues to steer his team to the win. For a second straight week, Sanchez emerged the victor over one of the N.F.L.’s elite quarterback; the Jets defeated Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts last weekend.

There was an intriguing off-field undercurrent for the game, despite the important stakes. Coach Rex Ryan and his players tossed verbal barbs at the Patriots last week. The Patriots largely did not respond to the boastful comments from their division rivals. More Info