This game couldn’t have started much better for the Patriots, who’ve taken a 17-0 lead in the first quarter.
This latest drive started with a 12-yard punt from the Jets.
No, you’re not reading that wrong. 12 (twelve) yards.
But the Patriots almost threw it all away, as they gave the Jets another 12 yards on a sack on the first play. They couldn’t pick anything up on 2nd down either, but on 3rd down Brady found Branch for 20 yards, setting up a dreaded 4th-and-2.
Then he found Branch again, and a broken tackle later, Branch found the end zone. Shayne Graham added one more, and here we are: 17-0.