FOXBORO — Breece Hall discovered a gap down the left sideline and ran in simply to the tip zone for a 50-yard landing, and when he bought there, the celebration was on. He dropped the ball, then slid head-first by means of the snow. His Jets teammates joined him as he turned on his again to do some snow angels.
The Jets’ 17-3 victory over the Patriots had been clinched, however extra importantly, eight years of distress had been buried within the snow at Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon. At lengthy final, the Jets beat their AFC East rivals. They snapped their 15-game dropping streak to the Patriots, and doubtlessly despatched Bill Belichick out with a loss, too.
Inside the Jets locker room, there have been smiles, and there was reduction.
“I think it meant a lot for everybody,” tight finish Tyler Conklin stated. “That’s why I kind of said next year, we don’t have to go around hearing about that (expletive) because at the end of the day, it is going to weigh on you, right? You’re going to go up to the game, you’re going to hear about it again. Everybody asking about it, talking about it, and now we don’t have to do that. It feels really good.”
It was the primary time the Jets had overwhelmed the Patriots since Dec. 27, 2015, when Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 3 touchdowns in a 26-20 time beyond regulation victory within the Meadowlands. The 15 consecutive losses that ensued marked the longest lively dropping streak in opposition to one workforce. It was tied for the fifth-longest such streak in NFL historical past.
None of the present Jets gamers had been on the workforce for that whole streak. But they actually cared about it. Before their first recreation in opposition to the Patriots earlier this yr, Garrett Wilson described the streak as “unacceptable.” Before this week’s recreation, Quinnen Williams stated breaking the streak was a motivating issue because the Jets tried to finish their disappointing season on a excessive be aware.
“It feels great. True blessing,” Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner stated. “Things like that, it’s the little things that matter. That’s a part of history, if you ask me. Snapping that 15-game losing streak on our end, that’s another blessing, so I wouldn’t want to do it with any other guys, any other coaches, so it’s just a blessing.”
There was added that means behind the victory. There is widespread perception that Belichick’s time is now over after a legendary 24-year run as head coach of the Patriots. If it’s, the Jets took pleasure in sending him out with a loss.
“Most definitely,” Gardner stated. “Like I told NFL Network, I’d be lying if I said we ain’t talk about that in the locker room. That’s some more history. Something to talk about later down the line and on top of that, this is my first time playing in the snow. There were a lot of other guys’ first time playing in the snow, so that’s what makes it even more iconic.”
“The fact that it’s probably Bill’s final game, I guess makes it a little better,” Conklin added. “I’ve never beaten him. I’ve played him one time before… lost to him. It feels good to beat the Patriots.”
Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian has bounced across the league for his whole profession. He spent 2019 with the Jets, and returned this season.
He echoed some related sentiments all through the Jets locker room: They’re simply pleased they don’t have to speak in regards to the dropping streak anymore.
“I hope it means a lot,” Siemian stated. “I think there’s a lot to be said, winning the last game of the season. And just, in my eyes, just so you don’t have to talk about it anymore. I’m sure coach isn’t fired up when he gets questions about that kind of stuff. So, good to put it to bed but next year will be a new year, this team will die. But for the lack of a better word, just so you don’t have to talk about it anymore.”
Jets coach Robert Saleh tried to downplay the streak. After dropping Aaron Rodgers to a season-ending Achilles damage in Week 1 – which crushed their excessive hopes for the season – Saleh was pleased with how the Jets fought and completed the season effectively. He stated his focus this week was beginning 2024 robust.
“Credit to (the Patriots),” Saleh stated. “You gotta do something pretty special to be able to have a winning streak like that. Again, like I said, starting 2024 was the most important thing for us, starting it strong, starting it with a win and it was a really good effort from the team today.”
But nonetheless, Saleh needed to acknowledge the sensation of lastly getting the perfect of Belichick after failing to take action in his first 5 makes an attempt because the Jets’ head coach, and being on the opposite facet all through his teaching profession.
“It feels good, just in regard of, we’ve played them throughout my career. I mean, he’s been around for a very long time,” Saleh stated. “So I’ll give him credit. If you ain’t got no haters, you ain’t popping, and he’s been popping for a very, very long time. So whenever you can get a win on him, it’s always special.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com