Patriots vs. Jets score: Cam Newton leads New England to a come-from-behind victory on 'Monday Night Football'

The Patriots turned two 10-points deficits into a three-point win

Trailing 27-17 entering the fourth quarter, the Patriots scored the game's final 13 points to come away with a 30-27 road victory over the Jets on Monday night. Trailing 27-20 with six minutes left, J.C. Jackson's interception of Joe Flacco set up Cam Newton's second rushing touchdown of the game. The Patriots then forced a quick Jets punt before Newton's 20-yard completion to Jakobi Myers set up Nick Folk's game-winning 51-yard field goal as time expired. 

Along with his two rushing touchdowns, Newton threw for 274 yards while helping the Patriots improve to 3-5 on the season. Myers led all receivers with 169 yards, while running back Damien Harris rushed for a team-high 71 yards before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent injury. Flacco, starting in place of Sam Darnold, threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns that included two touchdown passes to Breshad Perriman. The Jets were unable to hold off New England's late rally, however, and New York is 0-9 for the first time in franchise history. 

Here are some immediate takeaways from Monday's AFC East battle:

Why the Patriots won

It'd be easy to chalk this up to the Jets being the Jets, because boy did New York all but beg New England to take this one despite a late 10-point lead. But let's give credit where it's due: Cam Newton looks physically spent half the time he's ripping the ball, but he willed his team back into this, taking what the defense gave him, grinding out the short yards on the ground and making do with one of the least imposing receiving corps in the NFL. He also started very efficiently. Damien Harris and Rex Burkhead were both productive carrying the ball as well, fighting for hard yards all the way to the close. Jakobi Meyers certainly stepped up to lead the pass catchers, whereas J.C. Jackson deserves a tip of the cap for keeping his head up and capitalizing on a bad Joe Flacco ball in the fourth quarter, redeeming himself for countless coverage slip-ups with a game-altering turnover.

Why the Jets lost

It feels wrong to negatively spotlight Joe Flacco on a night where the grizzled fill-in somehow often looked like the best and calmest QB on the field (and Flacco was good for long stretches, throwing some beauties to both Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder), but his fourth-quarter interception -- a mindless heave into double coverage with New York nursing a one-score lead with under six minutes to play -- all but ensured a New England comeback. Maybe Adam Gase deserves more of the blame there, for allowing such a risky play to be called in that situation. Either way, that -- and poor blocking in the ensuing drives -- marred three-plus quarters of surprising competence for Flacco, rookie Denzel Mims and Breshad Perriman, who torched the Pats all night. Defensively, Gregg Williams' unit fared just fine but also saved its worst hiccups for crunch time, surrendering one too many big runs and leaving far too much space in the secondary on New England's final drives.

Turning point

The Jets were up seven with just under six minutes to play in the game, on track to send the Patriots to 2-6 and hand their AFC East rivals a fifth straight loss. Then, inexplicably, Flacco aired out a bomb into double coverage, not only allowing J.C. Jackson to get sweet revenge for Perriman's repeated downfield success but allowing the Patriots to tie things up and, ultimately, steal the victory. Whether it was just a poor decision or a poor play call, it was the biggest momentum shift of a night owned by New York.

Play of the game

Newton made some good throws, and Jackson's pick was of the utmost importance for the Pats. But Flacco honestly had the best throw of the night when he hit Crowder in the corner of the end zone to give the Jets a surprising (and, ultimately, fleeting) 20-10 lead, with the wideout capping the score with a picture-perfect toe tap:

What's next

The Patriots (3-5) will face an even taller task in Week 10, when they host the Baltimore Ravens (6-2) on "Sunday Night Football." The Jets (0-9), meanwhile, will get a week off to reflect on their continued winless streak before visiting the Los Angeles Chargers (2-6) in Week 11.

[Nov 9, 2020 at 11:12 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

That's going to do it for our coverage of tonight's game. Stay tuned for our updated version of this story that will include a full breakdown of tonight's game. Thanks again, be sure to stay with CBSSports.com for all of your weekly NFL coverage. Goodnight!

[Nov 9, 2020 at 11:11 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Nick Folk drills the game-winning, 51-yard field goal, as Patriots improve to 3-5 while dropping the Jets to 0-9. Huge game for Cam Newton, who threw for 274 yards while also scoring on a five-yard run in the first quarter. Jets are 0-9 for the first time in franchise history. The late interception of Flacco appeared to stem the tide. Patriots did suffer a loss if Damien Harris has to miss a significant amount of time.

[Nov 9, 2020 at 11:06 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Great call for the screen pass from Patriots OB Josh McDaniels. James White gains 11 yards, as Patriots are about 35 yards away from getting in FG range with 34 seconds left.

[Nov 9, 2020 at 10:59 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

https://twitter.com/WillBrinso...

[Nov 9, 2020 at 10:57 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

What a phenomenal catch and run by Damiere Byrd to put the Patriots in position to tie the game. Byrd and Jakobi Myers have had big games for the Patriots, who looking to cash in on the game's first turnover.

[Nov 9, 2020 at 10:52 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Damien Harris is now heading to the locker room. His night looks like it could be over.

[Nov 9, 2020 at 10:50 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Doesn't look like Meyers came down with that one.

[Nov 9, 2020 at 10:46 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Damien Harris took a big shot and is down on the field. The second-year back out of Alabama had been emerging this season and has 71 yards rushing tonight on 5.1 yards per carry.

[Nov 9, 2020 at 10:45 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Damien Harris down on the Patriots' last play. Harris had just ripped off a 21-yard run before suffering an apparent injury.

[Nov 9, 2020 at 10:43 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Cam Newton and Jakobi Meyers had connected on all 10 of their targets prior to that miss. Likely would have been a touchdown.

[Nov 9, 2020 at 10:40 pm ET · Cody Benjamin]

Well, well, well. It turns out Joe Flacco is not invincible. J.C. Jackson gets sweet revenge on a deep shot that sails just over the head of Flacco's downfield target and comes up with the easy interception. An arm punt, essentially, but a huge one at this point in the game.

[Nov 9, 2020 at 10:40 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

J.C. Jackson gets the Patriots' first turnover on an interception fo Flacco. Patriots will take over at their own 28, down 7, with six minutes to go. Flacco had been near flawless before that ill advised throw into double coverage.

[Nov 9, 2020 at 10:36 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

In the end, Patriots still settle for a field goal but burn nearly 2:30 off the clock following that penalty. That may come back to bite them.

[Nov 9, 2020 at 10:27 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

For all of the hits he's taken, Cam Newton can still make incredible plays like this, as New England threatening to make this a one-score game.