1985 · Wild Card Round · Game 1

Pregame

AI summary based on verified facts

The Wild Card Round matchup pairs the New England Patriots against the New York Jets on 1985-12-28 at Giants Stadium. The conference bracket's postseason slate includes this matchup as one of the calendar's most-anticipated games.

The starting quarterbacks, the lead-back rotations, and the receiver rooms project the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into.[1][2]

AI summary based on verified facts

The Wild Card Round game between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets is the kind of postseason matchup where the conference's projected leaders carry their regular-season pacing into the bracket. The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity both staffs have been pointing toward.

The Sunday's biggest unknown is the front rotation against the home team's offensive line. The bracket continues for the winner.

AI summary based on verified facts

Around the conference the Wild Card Round bracket produces the kind of matchups the wire copy has been writing into across the postseason slate. The New England Patriots versus New York Jets game is one of the calendar's most-anticipated postseason windows.

The opposite-conference bracket carries through to its own conference matchup. The Sunday-night game is the most-anticipated matchup of the slate's closing window.

AI summary based on verified facts

Across the regular season both the New England Patriots and the New York Jets tracked the kind of pace that anchored their conference seeding into the Wild Card Round. The starting quarterbacks' passing lines came through. The lead backs' rushing workloads were the staffs' projected calls. Vegas opens the lines accordingly. A figure to follow: the front rotations' pass-rush production.

League standings entering Week 17

Standings as of kickoff, Week 17 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Best record league-wide: Chicago Bears (15-1).

AFC

AFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Cleveland Browns8-8L1
Cincinnati Bengals7-9L2
Pittsburgh Steelers7-9L1
Houston Oilers5-11L4

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
Miami Dolphins12-4W7
New England Patriots11-5W1
New York Jets11-5W1
Indianapolis Colts5-11W2
Buffalo Bills2-14L6

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
Los Angeles Raiders12-4W6
Denver Broncos11-5W2
San Diego Chargers8-8L1
Seattle Seahawks8-8L2
Kansas City Chiefs6-10W1

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
Los Angeles Rams11-5L1
San Francisco 49ers10-6W2
New Orleans Saints5-11L3
Atlanta Falcons4-12W2

NFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Chicago Bears15-1W3
Green Bay Packers8-8W2
Detroit Lions7-9L3
Minnesota Vikings7-9L2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers2-14L4

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
Dallas Cowboys10-6L1
New York Giants10-6W1
Washington Redskins10-6W3
Philadelphia Eagles7-9W1
St. Louis Cardinals5-11L2

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube 1985 Wild Card Patriots @ Jets · channel: Bart Simpson

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Game info

Roof
outdoors
Surface
astroturf
Weather
36°F, 46% humidity, wind 20 mph
Vegas line
New York Jets -3
Over/Under
37 (over)

Score

Reveal through:

New England Patriots 26, New York Jets 14[2][1]

1234T
New England Patriots310103313232626
New York Jets077007141414

Scoring plays

Q1

TeamPlayScore
PatriotsTony Franklin 33 yard field goal3-0

Q2

TeamPlayScore
JetsJohnny Hector 11 yard pass from Ken O'Brien (Pat Leahy kick)3-7
PatriotsTony Franklin 41 yard field goal6-7
PatriotsStanley Morgan 36 yard pass from Tony Eason (Tony Franklin kick)13-7

Q3

TeamPlayScore
PatriotsTony Franklin 20 yard field goal16-7
PatriotsJohnny Rembert 15 yard special teams fumble return (Tony Franklin kick)23-7
JetsMickey Shuler 12 yard pass from Pat Ryan (Pat Leahy kick)23-14

Q4

TeamPlayScore
PatriotsTony Franklin 26 yard field goal26-14

Recap

AI summary based on verified facts

The New England Patriots won the Wild Card Round game on 1985-12-28 against the New York Jets 0-0. . . . For the other side Tony Eason went 12 of 16 for 179 yards with 1 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Craig James ran for 49 on 22 carries. The closing two-minute drill produced the kind of in-game adjustment the staff has been calling.[1][2]

AI summary based on verified facts

The New England Patriots took the Wild Card Round game over the New York Jets on 1985-12-28. . . .

The afternoon's outcome maps to the kind of postseason game-script both staffs have been projecting since the regular season closed. The offensive line's pocket time on the dropbacks produced the kind of pass-protection the winning playbook called. The defensive unit's pressure produced the kind of takeaway that defined the closing two quarters. The Wild Card Round's afternoon ends with the projected outcome.

The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity the wire copy has been writing into. The closing-drive coverage was the kind of stop the winning unit has been generating.

AI summary based on verified facts

New England Patriots 0, New York Jets 0. The Wild Card Round's box score reads: . . . On the other side: Tony Eason went 12 of 16 for 179 yards with 1 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Craig James ran for 49 on 22 carries.

AI summary based on verified facts

The New England Patriots's Wild Card Round game against the New York Jets on 1985-12-28 ended with the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into. The conference bracket continues to shape across the calendar's projected postseason pacing.

How it unfolded

. . . The Sunday's offensive output produced the kind of full-sixty pace both playbooks have been working through across the bye-week preparation. On the defensive side Tony Eason went 12 of 16 for 179 yards with 1 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, and Craig James ran for 49 on 22 carries.

The turning point

The in-game adjustment that, in postseason play, decided the closing two quarters. The winning front's pressure on the third-down dropbacks produced the kind of pass-rush volume the unit has been generating across the calendar's back half.

By the numbers

. The lead-back rotation: . Receiver room: .

Personnel watch

The rotation produced the kind of full-sixty effort both staffs have been projecting. The offensive line's pocket time was the kind that, in postseason play, anchors the bye-week preparation. The receiver room's distribution carried the offensive production.

What it means

The Wild Card Round's outcome maps to the projected postseason pacing. The next-round bracket continues. The film room note is the in-game adjustment that decided the closing two quarters.

Box score

PatriotsJets
Team totals
First Downs1215
Total Yards258240
Turnovers04
Passing
Comp/Att12/1623/34
Pass yards179233
Pass TD12
Interceptions02
Sacks taken35
Sack yards lost2051
Net pass yards159182
Rushing
Rushes3921
Rush yards9958
Rush TD00
Discipline
Fumbles23
Fumbles lost02
Penalties16
Penalty yards1048

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
NWE
Tony Eason12/1617910132
NYJ
Ken O'Brien13/171491197.4
Pat Ryan10/17841166.8

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
NWE
Craig James2249012
Tony Collins113608
Tony Eason614012
NYJ
Freeman McNeil164107
Johnny Hector41307
Ken O'Brien1404

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
NWE
Stanley Morgan462136
Irving Fryar247039
Craig James236023
Lin Dawson220012
Tony Collins214011
NYJ
Al Toon993016
Wesley Walker454024
Mickey Shuler553121
Freeman McNeil31305
Johnny Hector111111
Rocky Klever1909

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Canonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1985 Wild Card Round - New England Patriots at New York Jets - Game Thread