FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — It was a Candy 17 celebration.
In an unpleasant recreation that featured 17 mixed punts into 17 mph winds, the final was the most important, when Braden Mann booted a line drive between the numbers and the hash marks and Marcus Jones returned the punt 84 yards for a controversial tie-breaking landing with 5 seconds remaining Sunday to carry the Patriots to a 10-3 victory in opposition to the Jets.
“The best way it went down, it’s tousled,” particular groups captain Justin Hardee stated. “Particular groups needs it on our again, and we failed. Put the blame on me. I really feel like I've to be the one to not even allow them to get that far.”
The blame wouldn’t be the one factor on the hustling Hardee’s again. Mack Wilson Sr.’s arms additionally had been between his numbers, which might have resulted in a penalty on the 16-yard line that will have taken the landing off the scoreboard. Ought to which were an unlawful block?
“Sure,” a dejected Hardee instructed The Publish with urging from a teammate. “It was a block within the again. They [officials] stated it was on the aspect.”
No tackler was inside 15 yards as Jones made the catch. The primary to converge was tight finish Tyler Conklin, who stated he isn't an everyday on the punt crew however picked up further obligations after the Jets traded Jacob Martin final month.
“The primary particular person down has to cease the vertical [route] so he can’t get upfield,” Conklin stated. “I needed to attempt to keep a bit little bit of my leverage however cease the vertical. As soon as I cease that, all the things goes sideways, and he’s clearly a bit sooner than me.”
Conklin pressured Jones to the sideline, however C.J. Uzomah, Ashytn Davis and C.J. Uzomah and Micheal Clemons had been triangulated in blocks. Pinned in opposition to the sideline, Hardee was in a double crew as Jones sped by. Lengthy snapper Thomas Hennessey was late getting over from the center of the sector, Mann whiffed on a dive at Jones’ ankles simply previous the 50-yard line and solely a penalty flag was going to save lots of the Jets at that time.
“I both have to get it up within the air or out of bounds in that scenario,” Mann stated. “I simply want a greater punt in that scenario.”
Jones, who set the NCAA document with 9 profession return touchdowns (three punts), is the primary to return a punt for a landing within the NFL this season. Mann lined up on fourth-and-3 with 26 seconds remaining.
“I believed they had been going to attempt to kick it out of bounds because of the time on the clock,” Jones stated.
Hardee later downplayed the shove on his last-gasp effort to corral Jones. If the penalty was known as, the Patriots would have gained possession across the 26-yard line, organising a 44-yard area purpose for Nick People, who already had two misses.
“Whether or not it was the aspect or the again, it wasn’t adequate,” Hardee stated. “It wasn’t as much as my requirements. It wasn’t as much as the Jets’ requirements. … I’m heartbroken off it. All I can do is return to the drafting board.”
Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley was on the sector for a comparable loss, when Auburn beat undefeated Alabama on the “Kick Six” on Nov. 30, 2013. It was a 100-yard return of a missed area purpose with no time remaining.
“I’ve felt this sense earlier than,” Mosley stated.
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