NFL

Marcus Jones' last-gasp punt return sees Patriots break Jets hearts again

By Sports Desk November 20, 2022

Marcus Jones scored the first punt return touchdown of the NFL season in the final seconds as the New England Patriots continued their hoodoo over the New York Jets.

The AFC East rivals appeared destined to take a game severely short on offensive production into overtime.

However, with the game locked in a 3-3 tie, rookie Jones took Braden Mann's punt back 84 yards to clinch a 10-3 win for New England and spark delirium at Gillette Stadium.

The dramatic ending was in stark contrast to the nature of a game that saw field goals from Nick Folk and Greg Zuerlein in the second quarter as the only scoring prior to Jones' decisive touchdown.

His return means the Patriots have won their last 14 games against the Jets, who were held to 2.1 yards per play in an offensive performance likely to spark significant questions about second-year quarterback Zach Wilson.

Had they ended their drought against New England, the Jets would have sat atop an ultra-competitive AFC East.

Instead, their defeat, combined with the Buffalo Bills' win over the Cleveland Browns, means drops them to the bottom of the division at 6-4.

Eagles survive scare

The Philadelphia Eagles lost for the first time on Monday, suffering defeat at the hands of the Washington Commanders, and they narrowly avoided a second successive loss on Sunday.

Philadelphia trailed the Indianapolis Colts, playing their second game under interim coach Jeff Saturday, 13-3 going into the fourth quarter.

But Jalen Hurts threw a 22-yard touchdown to Quez Watkins to set a comeback in motion, and eventually broke Indianapolis hearts with a seven-yard touchdown run with 80 seconds left, improving the NFC-leading Eagles to 9-1 with a 17-16 win.

Philadelphia also gained extra breathing room in the NFC East as the New York Giants dropped to 7-3 with a home loss to the Detroit Lions.

Patterson makes history in Falcons win

The Atlanta Falcons are still in the mix in the NFC playoff picture after coming through a thrilling game with the Chicago Bears 27-24.

It is a win Cordarrelle Patterson will remember forever after he took a kick return 103 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Patterson's score marked the ninth kick return touchdown of his career and saw him claim the outright record for the most in NFL history

Atlanta's NFC South rivals, the Carolina Panthers, lost 13-3 to the Baltimore Ravens, who are now 7-3 at the top of the AFC North.

Related items

  • Bobby Wagner clinches Seattle Seahawks return Bobby Wagner clinches Seattle Seahawks return

    Bobby Wagner has returned to the Seattle Seahawks one year after he was cut from the team.

    The eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker spent last season with the Los Angeles Rams but has now returned to the Pacific Northwest after mutually agreeing to end his five-year contract with the Rams earlier this year.

    Wagner was one of the top defensive players available in free agency, with murmurs of a return to the Seahawks being ever present since the period began.

    Quandre Diggs, who had campaigned on social media for a reunion, broke the news of Wagner's return before it was later confirmed by the franchise.

    "According to my sources future hall of famer LB Bobby Wagner has agreed to terms to return home to the Seattle Seahawks," he posted on Twitter.

    "Seahawks fill a huge need in the middle of their defense. 12's rejoice!"

    A Super Bowl winner with the Seahawks in his second year in the NFL, Wagner amassed nearly 1400 tackles and 23.5 sacks over 10 seasons.

    His return continues a strong free agency period for the Seahawks, who had already bolstered their defense with the additions of defensive ends Dre-Mont Jones and Jarran Reed, LB Devin Bush and safety Julian Love.

  • 'Special' Fullkrug can pull Germany along – Flick 'Special' Fullkrug can pull Germany along – Flick

    Germany coach Hansi Flick credited Niclas Fullkrug with having the ability to "pull the team along" after the striker's double against Peru.

    Fullkrug's two first-half goals ensured Euro 2024 hosts Germany claimed a routine 2-0 victory in their opening match of 2023.

    Germany dominated Saturday's friendly in Mainz, and only a twist of the rules prevented Kai Havertz making it 3-0 in the second half, with the Chelsea forward's first-time finish on the rebound after he hit the post with a penalty disallowed as no other player had touched the ball.

    Flick reserved special praise for Fullkrug, who has netted five goals in as many international games, and became the first Werder Bremen player to start for Germany since Serge Gnabry in 2016.

    "Niclas is a player who is special, he is very confident, he wants to win and can pull the team along. He also gives the team a lot of positive energy," Flick told Sky Sport.

    Sandro Wagner is the only other player this century to have scored five goals across his first five appearances for Germany.

    However, there are elements for Fullkrug to work on, with Flick noting: "There were a few situations that I wasn’t happy with today.

    "If we play forward, we have to have a certain seriousness about it.

    "Niclas has also had one or two situations where he can be better, but he's still there for goals and he scored them."

    Germany's game was their first since their disappointing showing at the World Cup, where they suffered a group-stage exit.

    However, Germany are on a 13-game unbeaten run in friendlies (W8 D5) equalling their record, which was set between 1994 and 1996.

    "I think you could see that the team played with a lot of dynamism, especially when it came to attacking," Flick said.

    "A lot of things were good, but not yet at 100 per cent, although you couldn't expect because we didn't train very much.

    "The team has never played together in this formation, but there were still a few situations that we played out well, where the last pass was missing.

    "We scored two nice goals and kept a clean sheet, which was a focus for us this week."

  • Joselu basks in unforgettable Spain debut: 'I still don't believe it!' Joselu basks in unforgettable Spain debut: 'I still don't believe it!'

    Joselu was in dreamland after scoring twice on his Spain debut to help La Roja beat Norway 3-0 in Malaga on Saturday.

    New head coach Luis de la Fuente named a somewhat unfamiliar squad ahead of their two opening Euro 2024 qualifiers as he began his tenure after replacing Luis Enrique.

    Joselu's call-up was long overdue in the eyes of many, given he had reached double figures for LaLiga goals in each of the previous three seasons.

    He was introduced at La Rosaleda in the second half with Spain stuttering unconvincingly towards a 1-0 win, but he scored twice to put the game to bed.

    As such, he became the oldest debutant to score for Spain since September 2006, two days before his 33rd birthday, and he was left in disbelief.

    "The truth is that I still don't believe it," he told TVE. "This is everything a player can have and in the end, the daily work has had its reward.

    "I think I would especially like to thank my wife and my children, and my mother, who have come here today.

    "The truth is that I am not believing it."

    Joselu was also Spain's oldest debutant since 2006, with De la Fuente opting to pick a few somewhat unfashionable options who were largely neglected by his predecessor.

    The striker subsequently paid tribute to De la Fuente for giving him the opportunity.

    "I thank him for everything, being here, trusting me, being on the first list," he said.

    "I think I have responded more than enough.

    "Age doesn't matter to me because I feel like a kid, I feel like an 18-year-old kid. I want to enjoy this; I want to hug my family because today is an incredible day."

    Joselu may feel he has done enough to earn a maiden start next time out, when Spain are set to face Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday.

    "Knowing the players and giving them confidence is our job, but all the credit belongs to him," De la Fuente said of Joselu. 

    "We have recognised the great work he does every day at his club and I am happy for him and for everyone else."

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.