Tom Brady, Patriots need overtime to squeak by Jets

• Rob Ninkovich recovered a fumble by Mark Sanchez after Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 48-yard FG in OT.
• Tom Brady thew for 259 yards and two TDs, both to Rob Gronkowski.
• The Patriots (4-3) moved into sole possession of first place in the AFC East.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- It's a well-known formula. The New York Jets tend to make things interesting, pulling the viewer in before a heartbreaking loss. The New England Patriots chip away and bore you, but ultimately find a way to win.

Way to stick to the script, Jets.

Way to perform as advertised, Patriots.

This grudge match between division rivals had all the characters necessary for a drama of cinematic proportions: dueling coaches Rex Ryan and Bill Belichick, prom-king quarterback Mark Sanchez and Tom Brady, and human headline Tim Tebow, with first-place in the AFC East at stake. It lived up to the hype on the field.

After a late-game rally by Sanchez and the Jets, Brady was the show-stopper when it mattered most, leading the game-tying drive in the final two minutes, then setting up the game-winning, 48-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski for a 29-26 overtime victory.

"It was a tough game. It always is with the Jets," said Brady, who completed 26-of-42 passes for 259 yards and a pair of touchdowns. "It's nice to pull out a close one."

"They are not the kind of team to beat themselves," Jets linebacker Calvin Pace said. "We missed a golden opportunity. Too many should'ves, could'ves, would'ves."

A split sack by Jermaine Cunningham and Rob Ninkovich on the game's final series caused a fumble by Sanchez that Ninkovich recovered, sealing the victory and handing New England (4-3) sole possession of first place in the division. Earlier in the day, the Buffalo Bills fell to the Tennessee Titans to drop to 3-4, while the Miami Dolphins (3-3) have a bye.

"We just kept fighting to the end," receiver Wes Welker said.

The Jets did not slip away quietly, despite the absences of Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis and top receiver Santonio Holmes. Sanchez, who looked skittish for most of the contest, came on strong in the fourth quarter, rallying his team team with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Dustin Keller to cut the Patriots lead to 23-20 with 5:44 to play. A 43-yard field goal by Nick Folk then tied the game.

"Look, we're going to go toe-to-toe with anybody," Ryan said. "We have confidence in ourselves. Maybe the outside will have more confidence in us."

On the ensuing kickoff return man Devin McCourty, who ran back a kick 104 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7, fumbled and Jets special teamer Antonio Allen recovered at the New England 18. Four snaps later, another 43-yarder by Nick Folk put New York ahead, 26-23, with 1:42 to play.

"Our emotions were high and everyone was full of energy," Allen said. "But they took it right back."

Brady confidently marched the Patriots 54 yards in six plays, with Gostowski capping the series with a 43-yard kick that tied it with five ticks left in regulation.

"He'll probably go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the game," Ryan of Brady. "We're not the first team he's ever done that against."

McCourty was one of the few New England players who displayed genuine emotion following the victory -- even though he was subdued.

"My teammates saved my life today," he said.

It's well-known that one of the quietest and matter-of-fact locker rooms throughout the NFL belongs to the Patriots, in victory or defeat -- a byproduct of their buttoned-down approach to each snap and post-game interview. Everything is up for evaluation.

Even with the Jets vanquished and first-place assured, New England's franchise quarterback still didn't know if his team has truly built an identity on offense.

"It's tough to say," Brady said. "It's not like in the seventh week of the year you have all the answers. You never really have all the answers. There's only one team that's really happy at the end of the year."