Classic Rewind: 1985 AFC Playoffs – Patriots at Jets 3
Through out the NFL season, Sports Then and Now will pick one upcoming NFL matchup and look through the history books to find an intriguing past meeting between the two teams. We will recap the game and hopefully help reintroduce (or introduce for you younger readers) you to some of the greats (and in some cases not so greats) from the history of professional football.
The Matchup: New England Patriots vs. New York Jets
Playoff Head to Head Record: First Meeting
The Game: December 28, 1985 at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Regular Season Team Records: New England Patriots (11-5), New York Jets (11-5)
Overview: The Patriots and Jets both earned wild card berths in the log jam that was the AFC East. The Miami Dolphins with a 12-4 record edged out New York and New England by one win for the division crown.
The teams split two close contests during the regular season. The Patriots edged the Jets in Foxboro 20-13 on October 20th pushing their record to 4-3. They would go 7-2 the rest of the regular season.
The Jets handed them one of those defeats, 16-13 on November 24th. This would be the rubber match between the two AFC East rivals.
