Jets Defeat Patriots In OT Thriller After Bizarre Coin Toss Decision

by Ryan KappyDecember 28, 2015, 2:09 pmNews >

In what was probably the weirdest day in the NFL in recent memory, the early afternoon game with the New England Patriots taking on the New York Jets at Metlife Stadium showed that one big decision can change the outcome of a game.

Throughout the game, the Jets were keeping up with the AFC East division leaders while trying to keep their playoff hopes alive with the wild card still in the open. In the fourth quarter with the Jets up 20-13, the Patriots had forced overtime when quarterback Tom Brady threw a nine-yard touchdown to wide receiver James White. The big story of the game was to come with the controversial coin toss that was administered at the beginning of overtime. The visiting team Patriots had called for heads and the coin showed heads, with team captain Matthew Slater calling for the Patriots to kick first to the Jets, which would result in a bizarre exchange between Slater and head referee Clete Blakeman in the Patriots’ election to kick.

Slater stated after the game that there was confusion in which direction the Patriots wanted to kick and that he had asked the coaching staff numerous times if they wanted to kick first. Head coach Bill Belichick confirmed that he wanted the Patriots to kick off if they were to win the coin toss. “We thought that was the best thing to do,” Belichick said, not regretting the decision.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

After the Jets received the ball, they went down the field and scored the game-winning touchdown off a six-yard touchdown pass by Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to wide receiver Eric Decker, resulting in a 26-20 win. Fitzpatrick finished the day with 296 passing yards and three touchdowns, which included star wide receiver Brandon Marshall catching two of them and adding 115 receiving yards.

With the win, the Jets took possession of the second wild card spot with a postseason clinching win on the line next week against division rivals in the Buffalo Bills next week.

Photo: EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 27: Eric Decker #87 of the New York Jets scores the game winning touchdown in overtime against the New England Patriots in their game at MetLife Stadium on December 27, 2015 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the Patriots with a score of 26 to 20 in overtime. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)