New York Jets vs. New England Patriots: 2010 Wild Card Recap

Game story

In the Wild Card of the 2010 NFL season on 2011-01-16, the New York Jets took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 28–21 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with -6.42 total EPA, and -0.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Sanchez (New York Jets) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.87 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-28.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (8:04) 12-T.Brady pass short right intended for 42-B.Green-Ellis INTERCEPTED by 52-D.Harris at NYJ 30. 52-D.Harris to NE 12 for 58 yards (82-A.Crumpler).

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 M. Sanchez · New York Jets · Passing · +12.87 total EPA · 26 snaps · +0.49 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Edwards · New York Jets · Receiving · +6.37 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.12 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +5.19 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Cotchery · New York Jets · Receiving · +4.02 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
5. 5 W. Welker · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.97 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Holmes · New York Jets · Receiving · +3.41 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.68 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.37 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Green-Ellis · New England Patriots · Rushing · +1.89 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.21 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 York Jets — L. Tomlinson (M. Sanchez pass) (Q2 40:30)
• New York Jets — B. Edwards (M. Sanchez pass) (Q2 30:39)
• New England Patriots — A. Crumpler (T. Brady pass) (Q3 15:15)
• New York Jets — S. Holmes (M. Sanchez pass) (Q4 13:06)
• New York Jets — S. Greene (Q4 1:46)
• New England Patriots — D. Branch (T. Brady pass) (Q4 0:30)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — S. Graham (Q1 46:15)
• New England Patriots — S. Graham (Q4 2:00)

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 3–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the NYJ 16 (Q1 46:15) — (1:15) 5-S.Graham 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko..

The second quarter: New York Jets won the period 14–0. New York Jets found the end zone from the NE 7 (Q2 40:30) — (10:30) 6-M.Sanchez pass short left to 21-L.Tomlinson for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 40:24) — 2-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Purdum, Holder-9-S.Weatherford.; New York Jets found the end zone from the NE 15 (Q2 30:39) — (:39) 6-M.Sanchez pass short right to 17-B.Edwards for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 30:33) — 2-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Purdum, Holder-9-S.Weatherford..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 8–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NYJ 2 (Q3 15:15); New England Patriots registered a safety from the NYJ 2 (Q3 15:13) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 34-S.Morris rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. Brady in shotgun, direct snap to Morris..

The fourth quarter: New York Jets won the period 14–10. New York Jets found the end zone from the NE 7 (Q4 13:06) — (13:06) (Shotgun) 6-M.Sanchez pass short left to 10-S.Holmes for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 13:00) — 2-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Purdum, Holder-9-S.Weatherford.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the NYJ 17 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 5-S.Graham 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; New York Jets found the end zone from the NE 16 (Q4 1:46); New York Jets added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 1:41) — 2-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Purdum, Holder-9-S.Weatherford.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NYJ 13 (Q4 0:30); New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q4 0:24) — 5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 53:04) — (8:04) 12-T.Brady pass short right intended for 42-B.Green-Ellis INTERCEPTED by 52-D.Harris at NYJ 30. 52-D.Harris to NE 12 for 58 yards (82-A.Crumpler). [WPA -28.9% · EPA -8.95]
• New York Jets (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 6-M.Sanchez pass short middle to 89-J.Cotchery pushed ob at NE 13 for 58 yards (31-B.Meriweather). [WPA +15.4% · EPA +4.30]
• New York Jets (Q2 41:38) — (11:38) (Shotgun) 6-M.Sanchez pass deep left to 17-B.Edwards pushed ob at NE 8 for 37 yards (28-D.Butler). [WPA +12.3% · EPA +3.68]
• New York Jets (Q1 50:48) — (5:48) 2-N.Folk 30 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-46-T.Purdum, Holder-9-S.Weatherford. [WPA -10.8% · EPA -3.59]
• New England Patriots (Q2 31:14) — (1:14) (Punt formation) Direct snap to 25-P.Chung. 25-P.Chung FUMBLES (Aborted) at NE 37, and recovers at NE 37. 25-P.Chung to NE 37 for no gain (33-E.Smith). [WPA -8.0% · EPA -2.46]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 53:04) — (8:04) 12-T.Brady pass short right intended for 42-B.Green-Ellis INTERCEPTED by 52-D.Harris at NYJ 30. 52-D.Harris to NE 12 for 58 yards (82-A.Crumpler). [WPA -28.9% · EPA -8.95]
• New York Jets (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 6-M.Sanchez pass short middle to 89-J.Cotchery pushed ob at NE 13 for 58 yards (31-B.Meriweather). [WPA +15.4% · EPA +4.30]
• New York Jets (Q2 41:38) — (11:38) (Shotgun) 6-M.Sanchez pass deep left to 17-B.Edwards pushed ob at NE 8 for 37 yards (28-D.Butler). [WPA +12.3% · EPA +3.68]
• New York Jets (Q1 50:48) — (5:48) 2-N.Folk 30 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-46-T.Purdum, Holder-9-S.Weatherford. [WPA -10.8% · EPA -3.59]

Quarterback report card

T.Brady led all passers in efficiency for New England Patriots, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 50 dropbacks · 58.0% completion · -0.5% CPOE · -0.13 EPA/play · -6.42 total EPA
• M.Sanchez (New York Jets) · 26 dropbacks · 61.5% completion · +0.8% CPOE · +0.49 EPA/play · +12.87 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New York Jets generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.11 vs -0.01), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New England Patriots: 12 drives, -1.36 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New York Jets: 12 drives, +8.34 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New York Jets 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.
• M. Sanchez (New York Jets) 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 FG (+3) — Q1 46:15 · NYJ 16 · Score 0-3
   (1:15) 5-S.Graham 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
2. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q2 40:30 · NE 7 · Score 6-3
   (10:30) 6-M.Sanchez pass short left to 21-L.Tomlinson for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q2 40:24 · NE 2 · Score 7-3
   2-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Purdum, Holder-9-S.Weatherford.
4. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q2 30:39 · NE 15 · Score 13-3
   (:39) 6-M.Sanchez pass short right to 17-B.Edwards for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q2 30:33 · NE 2 · Score 14-3
   2-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Purdum, Holder-9-S.Weatherford.
6. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 15:15 · NYJ 2 · Score 14-9
   (:15) (Shotgun) 63-D.Connolly reported in as eligible. 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 82-A.Crumpler for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 12-Brady 17th consecutive postse
7. New England Patriots Safety (+2) — Q3 15:13 · NYJ 2 · Score 14-11
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 34-S.Morris rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. Brady in shotgun, direct snap to Morris.
8. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q4 13:06 · NE 7 · Score 20-11
   (13:06) (Shotgun) 6-M.Sanchez pass short left to 10-S.Holmes for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q4 13:00 · NE 2 · Score 21-11
   2-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Purdum, Holder-9-S.Weatherford.
10. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 2:00 · NYJ 17 · Score 21-14
    (2:00) 5-S.Graham 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
11. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q4 1:46 · NE 16 · Score 27-14
    (1:46) 75-R.Turner reported in as eligible. 23-S.Greene right end for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on NYJ-23-S.Greene, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforc
12. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q4 1:41 · NE 2 · Score 28-14
    2-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Purdum, Holder-9-S.Weatherford.
13. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 0:30 · NYJ 13 · Score 28-20
    (:30) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 84-D.Branch for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 12-Brady 30th career postseason TD pass, ties Terry Bradshaw
14. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 0:24 · NYJ 2 · Score 28-21
    5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.