Why Didn’t the Patriots Take the Ball in OT?

If the Jets lose it’s still possible they could keep the sixth seed, but they would need the Steelers to lose again next week, or the Broncos to lose twice. I can’t really understand what the issue is.

And when he does, you have to think that somehow, somebody got something wrong, because why would the smartest man in football do something like that? Most of this is due to a rash of injuries.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichickbefore a game against the Jets at MetLife Stadium.

In fact, he was so confident in their inability that he was willing to risk not having the ball to start the overtime just so his Hall of Fame quarterback and his All-Pro Tight End could resort to winning the game by merely a fieldgoal. This team has a happy-to-be-there vibe.

The surprising win did another thing, though: It made the AFC playoff picture a lot more interesting. I would prefer Frank Cozstana’s Festivus “feats of strength” instead. He has now won three straight NFC South titles. They were throwing a short pass to try to get to third and short, I imagine.

This was one of the key plays in the Jets’ victory.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Buffalo rookie Mike Gillislee ran 50 yards for a touchdown with 2:25 remaining to secure the win for the Bills.

It took until overtime, and the Patriots were far from 100 percent, but the Jets earned a win over a playoff team.

Steelers (9-6). What an ugly loss to the Ravens and one that will haunt the Steelers all offseason if they miss the playoffs.

It’s also why there is great respect for Belichick’s approach as it relates to outside criticism. And over the past month-and-a-half, the offense has been capable of that and more.

Panthers (14-1). I am glad they lost to Atlanta and won’t go unbeaten since this is not a historic team.

They dropped the conference championship in 2014 to Peyton Manning and fell in a 30-24 overtime game in November to Brock Osweiler. The last time the Jets won five games in a row was during the 2010 season, the last time they made the playoffs. People are freaking their geek out because a football coach went against the norm. LaAdrian Waddle, who replaced Vollmer, was also injured in the fourth quarter, forcing Marcus Fleming to play left tackle down the stretch. I just answered that same question.

Packers or Vikings (both 10-5). Give the Jets credit. Every game since this team was 5-5 has essentially been a playoff game. We just came up a little bit short today.

Washington (8-7). The Washington NFL franchise is lucky to play in a garbage division with a garbage schedule.

“When was the last time any team was afraid of the Jets” offensive ability?

For one thing, getting the ball first in OT doesn’t give the receiving team a huge advantage.

Deadspin: St. Louis Rams P John Hekker blindsides Seattle Seahawks DE Cliff Avril and then curls up into a ball in fear of retaliation. On Sunday, the Patriots defense failed to do that with the game on the line, which is the biggest blunder that has been completely supplanted by the obsession with the decision to kick and the way it was communicated.

During their five game winning streak, the Jets have thrown for an average of 305 yards per game.

Hot player of the week: Zach Erzt, Eagles tight end. They are coming together at the right time.