You know what they say about the “Payback” or as the Late Great Godfather Of Soul James Brown used to put it “The Big Payback.” In week two of the NFL season after a week of telling the media how unimpressed he was with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and his team New York Jets rookie head coach Rex Ryan defeated New England 16-9. The victory would give New York possession of first place at 2-0 a game ahead of the Patriots and the newest scrappy underdogs of the NFL. Quarterback Mark Sanchez was being compared to “Broadway Joe Namath” and he was going to lead the Jets to the Super Bowl.

 In week eleven the picture has changed quite a bit; the Jets came into their second match-up of the year against New England with more losses than wins. Ryan is no longer considered a genius and the comparisons between Namath and Sanchez stopped long ago. The starting quarterback for New York now has thrown six more interceptions than he has touchdowns for the season as he threw four passes that were intercepted against the Patriots en route to a 31-14 loss.

The much maligned New England defense came up big against the Jets especially veteran corner back Leigh Bodden who intercepted Sanchez passes three different times during the game once for a touchdown in the first quarter. The rookie did not have a good day against the Patriots as he completed just 8/21 for a total of 136 yards with 1 touchdown and 4 picks in the game. New England quarterback Tom Brady had a much nicer afternoon as he completed 28/41 for a total of 310 yards with 1 touchdown.

New England also got two touchdowns via the running game as Laurence Maroney crossed the goal line twice in the contest. He would make a two yard dash in the second quarter to give the Patriots a 21-0 lead and then would have New England’s last touchdown of the day in the fourth quarter as he ran one yard for the score.

This was a much needed win for the Patriots for a myriad of reasons many of them having to do with their collapse agaisnt the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday night in a game that should have been an airtight victory. Because of that collapse NFL observers questioned Belichick’s decision making as well as the caliber of the New England defense. This game against their Division rival showed what that defense still is capable of.

The Patriots after the victory now have a record of 7-3 and will play next Monday night and will be in the Superdome to take on the still undefeated New Orleans Saints. The Jets are now 4-6 and will host Carolina who will also enter the game with a 4-6 record.

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