Rex Ryan knew it was a mistake right away.
When Mark Sanchez took a time out with 1:24 left in the first half, Ryan was angry, already thinking about the Patriots next possession.
Ryan told NBC’s Michele TaFoya that the timeout was the “stupidest play in NFL history.”
Sanchez scored a touchdown on the next play. And sure enough, the extra time allowed the Patriots to move the ball all the way down the field for their first touchdown of the first half.
The Patriots lead 13-9 in a game that has included a lot of good red zone defense, a safety by the Jets, and some oddly off-target throws by Tom Brady.
We think that the winner of this game will win the AFC East. If the Patriots prevail, the sequence at the end of the first half will loom large.
The Patriots are playing without starting cornerback Devin McCourty, who is questionable to return with a shoulder injury.