FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Patriots found another way to stay unbeaten — with a running game. And their stone-faced coach showed a new way to greet his nemesis — with a smile.
Facing rain, wind and chilly gusts above 20 mph, New England relied on Laurence Maroney’s rushing instead of Tom Brady’s passing and beat the New York Jets 20-10 on Sunday in the “Spy-gate” rematch to clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
After the Patriots became the second team in NFL history to go 14-0, coach Bill Belichick broke into a broad grin at his sideline and kept it until he met Eric Mangini, his former protege and defensive coordinator. Mangini had angered Belichick when he left to become coach of the Jets last season.
“Great game, awesome,” Belichick appeared to say as they shook hands.
“He said, ‘Good game or good luck,’ ” Mangini said. “I can’t remember.”
The Patriots led 17-7 and the teams exchanged field goals in the fourth quarter.
Maroney ran for 104 yards, just the fourth time this season a New England rusher surpassed 100.
Brady didn’t throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season as the Jets (3-11) played the Patriots a lot closer than the 21-point spread.
