Jets vs. Patriots 2012: New England earns 'clutch win' despite dull performance

The New England Patriots were able to beat the New York Jets 29-26 in overtime on Sunday night in Gillette Stadium to regain control of the AFC East.

Tom Brady led his troops back late after Devin McCourty fumbled a kickoff with two minutes remaining in the game to give New York a three-point advantage after Nick Folk kicked a field goal. However, Brady drove the Patriots to a game-tying kick before ultimately winning in overtime.

Over at Pats Pulpit, Greg Knopping points out the Patriots came up big when they had to following McCourty's gaffe:

But from that point on, the Patriots finally played like the Patriots we're used to seeing in the fourth quarter of games. The defense stiffened, and held the Jets without a first down following a Dont'a Hightower third down sack. The Jets got the field goal to take the 26-23 lead, but that stand gave Tom Brady and the offense just about 90 seconds to go down the field and tie it back up.

New York had an opportunity to either tie or win the game in sudden death, but couldn't even move the football. The Jets were finally finished by a Mark Sanchez fumble when he was sacked by Jermaine Cunningham and Rob Ninkovich.

The Patriots may not have played well but left the stadium with what they came for, per Knopping:

The defensive play was the exclamation point on an ugly win, but a win the Patriots needed. The Patriots weren't sharp in any phase today, they surrendered another late lead, didn't look as emotionally invested as the Jets - yet came through with the clutch win that they needed.

Next week, New England will seek to make it two straight wins against the St. Louis Rams.