New York Jets vs. New England Patriots: 2006 Week 18 Recap

Game story

In Week 18 of the 2006 NFL season on 2007-01-07, the New England Patriots took care of business against the New York Jets, pulling away with a 37–16 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Pennington (New York Jets) paced the passing game, with -2.05 total EPA, and -2.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.75 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+24.0% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New York Jets changed the game: (14:56) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-C.Pennington pass deep right to 89-J.Cotchery for 77 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NE-93-R.Seymour, Defensive Offside, declined. longest playoff completion in Jets histo

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 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +12.75 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Cotchery · New York Jets · Receiving · +11.57 total EPA · 4 snaps · +2.89 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Gaffney · New England Patriots · Receiving · +8.08 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.01 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Baker · New York Jets · Receiving · +4.01 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Brown · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.75 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.87 EPA/play
6. 6 L. Coles · New York Jets · Receiving · +3.63 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.73 EPA/play
7. 7 K. Faulk · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.01 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.01 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Caldwell · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.98 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.60 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 — C. Dillon (Q1 57:00)
• New York Jets — J. Cotchery (C. Pennington pass) (Q2 44:56)
• New England Patriots — D. Graham (T. Brady pass) (Q2 30:14)
• New England Patriots — K. Faulk (T. Brady pass) (Q4 5:21)
• New England Patriots — A. Samuel (Q4 5:04)

Field goals

• New York Jets — M. Nugent (Q1 47:39)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 41:00)
• New York Jets — M. Nugent (Q3 23:22)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q3 19:28)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q3 15:07)
• New York Jets — M. Nugent (Q4 11:43)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–3. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NYJ 11 (Q1 57:00) — (12:00) (No Huddle) 28-C.Dillon right tackle for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q1 56:53) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel.; New York Jets connected on a field goal from the NE 10 (Q1 47:39) — (2:39) 1-M.Nugent 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–7. New York Jets found the end zone from the NE 77 (Q2 44:56); New York Jets added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 44:45) — 1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the NYJ 2 (Q2 41:00) — (11:00) 3-S.Gostkowski 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NYJ 1 (Q2 30:14); New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q2 30:11) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 6–3. New York Jets connected on a field goal from the NE 3 (Q3 23:22) — (8:22) 1-M.Nugent 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the NYJ 22 (Q3 19:28) — (4:28) 3-S.Gostkowski 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the NYJ 10 (Q3 15:07) — (:07) 3-S.Gostkowski 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–3. New York Jets connected on a field goal from the NE 19 (Q4 11:43) — (11:43) 1-M.Nugent 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NYJ 7 (Q4 5:21) — (5:21) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 33-K.Faulk for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q4 5:16) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 77 (Q4 5:04); New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q4 4:54) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel..

Turning points

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

• New York Jets (Q2 44:56) — (14:56) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-C.Pennington pass deep right to 89-J.Cotchery for 77 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NE-93-R.Seymour, Defensive Offside, declined. longest playoff completion in Jets histo [WPA +24.0% · EPA +7.67]
• New York Jets (Q3 16:52) — (1:52) (No Huddle) 10-C.Pennington to NYJ 46 for -6 yards (59-R.Colvin). FUMBLES (59-R.Colvin), RECOVERED by NE-75-V.Wilfork at NYJ 46. 75-V.Wilfork to NYJ 15 for 31 yards (89-J.Cotchery). backward pa [WPA -13.9% · EPA -7.08]
• New England Patriots (Q1 49:11) — (4:11) 28-C.Dillon right tackle to NE 15 for 1 yard (63-D.Robertson). FUMBLES (63-D.Robertson), RECOVERED by NYJ-31-H.Poteat at NE 15. 31-H.Poteat to NE 15 for no gain (28-C.Dillon). [WPA -11.1% · EPA -4.92]
• New England Patriots (Q1 58:24) — (13:24) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 10-J.Gaffney ran ob at NYJ 25 for 15 yards [25-K.Rhodes]. [WPA +8.5% · EPA +2.15]
• New England Patriots (Q1 57:37) — (12:37) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 80-T.Brown to NYJ 11 for 16 yards (33-E.Smith). [WPA +8.4% · EPA +2.06]

Impact plays

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

• New York Jets (Q2 44:56) — (14:56) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-C.Pennington pass deep right to 89-J.Cotchery for 77 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NE-93-R.Seymour, Defensive Offside, declined. longest playoff completion in Jets histo [WPA +24.0% · EPA +7.67]
• New York Jets (Q3 16:52) — (1:52) (No Huddle) 10-C.Pennington to NYJ 46 for -6 yards (59-R.Colvin). FUMBLES (59-R.Colvin), RECOVERED by NE-75-V.Wilfork at NYJ 46. 75-V.Wilfork to NYJ 15 for 31 yards (89-J.Cotchery). backward pa [WPA -13.9% · EPA -7.08]
• New York Jets (Q4 5:04) — (5:04) 10-C.Pennington pass short right intended for 81-J.McCareins INTERCEPTED by 22-A.Samuel at NYJ 36. 22-A.Samuel for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -2.1% · EPA -6.97]
• New England Patriots (Q1 49:11) — (4:11) 28-C.Dillon right tackle to NE 15 for 1 yard (63-D.Robertson). FUMBLES (63-D.Robertson), RECOVERED by NYJ-31-H.Poteat at NE 15. 31-H.Poteat to NE 15 for no gain (28-C.Dillon). [WPA -11.1% · EPA -4.92]

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) · 46 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -2.2% CPOE · -0.04 EPA/play · -2.05 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 37 dropbacks · 59.5% completion · +5.8% CPOE · +0.34 EPA/play · +12.75 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

New England Patriots held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.14 vs -0.08), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• New England Patriots: 11 drives, +12.53 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New York Jets: 11 drives, -6.12 total EPA, 5 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.
• T. Brady (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Brady (NE) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

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

1. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 57:00 · NYJ 11 · Score 0-6
   (12:00) (No Huddle) 28-C.Dillon right tackle for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 56:53 · NYJ 2 · Score 0-7
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel.
3. New York Jets FG (+3) — Q1 47:39 · NE 10 · Score 3-7
   (2:39) 1-M.Nugent 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.
4. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q2 44:56 · NE 77 · Score 9-7
   (14:56) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-C.Pennington pass deep right to 89-J.Cotchery for 77 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NE-93-R.Seymour, Defensive Offside, declined.
5. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q2 44:45 · NE 2 · Score 10-7
   1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.
6. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 41:00 · NYJ 2 · Score 10-10
   (11:00) 3-S.Gostkowski 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel.
7. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 30:14 · NYJ 1 · Score 10-16
   (:14) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 82-D.Graham for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. NE 12-Brady 10th straight playoff game with a TD pass, tying Ken Stabler & Joe Montana fo
8. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 30:11 · NYJ 2 · Score 10-17
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel.
9. New York Jets FG (+3) — Q3 23:22 · NE 3 · Score 13-17
   (8:22) 1-M.Nugent 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.
10. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 19:28 · NYJ 22 · Score 13-20
    (4:28) 3-S.Gostkowski 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel.
11. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 15:07 · NYJ 10 · Score 13-23
    (:07) 3-S.Gostkowski 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel.
12. New York Jets FG (+3) — Q4 11:43 · NE 19 · Score 16-23
    (11:43) 1-M.Nugent 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.
13. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 5:21 · NYJ 7 · Score 16-29
    (5:21) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 33-K.Faulk for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 5:16 · NYJ 2 · Score 16-30
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel.
15. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 5:04 · NE 77 · Score 16-36
    (5:04) 10-C.Pennington pass short right intended for 81-J.McCareins INTERCEPTED by 22-A.Samuel at NYJ 36. 22-A.Samuel for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 4:54 · NYJ 2 · Score 16-37
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-16-M.Cassel.