New England Patriots vs. New York Jets: 2003 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2003 NFL season on 2003-12-20, the New England Patriots took care of business against the New York Jets, pulling away with a 21–16 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Pennington (New York Jets) paced the passing game, with -13.22 total EPA.

On the individual side, D. Givens (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.25 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-18.8% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New York Jets changed the game: (13:32) 10-C.Pennington pass intended for 81-C.Conway INTERCEPTED by 55-W.McGinest at NYJ 15. 55-W.McGinest for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 D. Givens · New England Patriots · Receiving · +7.25 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.81 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Baker · New York Jets · Receiving · +4.65 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.55 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Moss · New York Jets · Receiving · +4.15 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Pennington · New York Jets · Rushing · +4.14 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Conway · New York Jets · Receiving · +3.82 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.95 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Smith · New England Patriots · Rushing · +2.68 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.48 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.24 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Lockett · New York Jets · Receiving · +2.17 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.72 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• New England Patriots — D. Givens (T. Brady pass) (Q1 59:20)
• New York Jets — C. Pennington (Q1 49:59)
• New England Patriots — W. McGinest (Q2 43:32)
• New England Patriots — D. Givens (T. Brady pass) (Q3 26:00)
• New York Jets — C. Pennington (Q4 12:18)

Field goals

• New York Jets — D. Brien (Q2 30:06)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NYJ 35 (Q1 59:20) — (14:20) 12-T.Brady pass to 87-D.Givens for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q1 59:12) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-B.Kinchen, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New York Jets found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q1 49:59) — (4:59) 10-C.Pennington right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q1 49:52) — 6-D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–3. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 85 (Q2 43:32) — (13:32) 10-C.Pennington pass intended for 81-C.Conway INTERCEPTED by 55-W.McGinest at NYJ 15. 55-W.McGinest for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q2 43:24) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-B.Kinchen, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New York Jets connected on a field goal from the NE 11 (Q2 30:06) — (:06) 6-D.Brien 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NYJ 5 (Q3 26:00) — (11:00) 12-T.Brady pass to 87-D.Givens for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q3 25:53) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-B.Kinchen, Holder-13-K.Walter..

The fourth quarter: New York Jets won the period 6–0. New York Jets found the end zone from the NE 10 (Q4 12:18) — (12:18) 10-C.Pennington up the middle for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• New York Jets (Q2 43:32) — (13:32) 10-C.Pennington pass intended for 81-C.Conway INTERCEPTED by 55-W.McGinest at NYJ 15. 55-W.McGinest for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -18.8% · EPA -6.78]
• New York Jets (Q1 59:28) — (14:28) 10-C.Pennington pass intended for 88-A.Becht INTERCEPTED by 54-T.Bruschi at NYJ 38. 54-T.Bruschi to NYJ 35 for 3 yards (28-C.Martin, 74-B.Smith). [WPA -16.9% · EPA -5.25]
• New England Patriots (Q4 7:17) — (7:17) End around pass by 87-D.Givens. 87-D.Givens pass intended for 83-D.Branch INTERCEPTED by 22-T.Carter at NYJ 23. 22-T.Carter to NYJ 46 for 23 yards (88-C.Fauria). [WPA -15.3% · EPA -4.01]
• New York Jets (Q4 0:45) — (:45) 10-C.Pennington pass intended for 83-S.Moss INTERCEPTED by 26-E.Wilson at NE 36. 26-E.Wilson to NE 46 for 10 yards (81-C.Conway). [WPA -13.9% · EPA -0.49]
• New England Patriots (Q4 2:21) — (2:21) 13-K.Walter punts 26 yards to NYJ 18, Center-46-B.Kinchen, downed by NE-23-A.Harris. [WPA -11.0% · EPA -1.23]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• New York Jets (Q2 43:32) — (13:32) 10-C.Pennington pass intended for 81-C.Conway INTERCEPTED by 55-W.McGinest at NYJ 15. 55-W.McGinest for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -18.8% · EPA -6.78]
• New York Jets (Q1 59:28) — (14:28) 10-C.Pennington pass intended for 88-A.Becht INTERCEPTED by 54-T.Bruschi at NYJ 38. 54-T.Bruschi to NYJ 35 for 3 yards (28-C.Martin, 74-B.Smith). [WPA -16.9% · EPA -5.25]
• New England Patriots (Q4 7:17) — (7:17) End around pass by 87-D.Givens. 87-D.Givens pass intended for 83-D.Branch INTERCEPTED by 22-T.Carter at NYJ 23. 22-T.Carter to NYJ 46 for 23 yards (88-C.Fauria). [WPA -15.3% · EPA -4.01]
• New England Patriots (Q1 59:20) — (14:20) 12-T.Brady pass to 87-D.Givens for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.7% · EPA +3.92]

Quarterback report card

C.Pennington led all passers in efficiency for New York Jets, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Pennington (New York Jets) · 50 dropbacks · 48.0% completion · -0.26 EPA/play · -13.22 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 25 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · -0.04 EPA/play · -0.89 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New England Patriots generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.01 vs -0.10), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New England Patriots: 13 drives, -0.49 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New York Jets: 12 drives, -8.61 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• D. Givens (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 59:20 · NYJ 35 · Score 6-0
   (14:20) 12-T.Brady pass to 87-D.Givens for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 59:12 · NYJ 2 · Score 7-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-B.Kinchen, Holder-13-K.Walter.
3. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q1 49:59 · NE 1 · Score 7-6
   (4:59) 10-C.Pennington right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q1 49:52 · NE 2 · Score 7-7
   6-D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.
5. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 43:32 · NE 85 · Score 13-7
   (13:32) 10-C.Pennington pass intended for 81-C.Conway INTERCEPTED by 55-W.McGinest at NYJ 15. 55-W.McGinest for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 43:24 · NYJ 2 · Score 14-7
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-B.Kinchen, Holder-13-K.Walter.
7. New York Jets FG (+3) — Q2 30:06 · NE 11 · Score 14-10
   (:06) 6-D.Brien 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.
8. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 26:00 · NYJ 5 · Score 20-10
   (11:00) 12-T.Brady pass to 87-D.Givens for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 25:53 · NYJ 2 · Score 21-10
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-B.Kinchen, Holder-13-K.Walter.
10. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q4 12:18 · NE 10 · Score 21-16
    (12:18) 10-C.Pennington up the middle for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.