Best Of Social Media: Week 17 Jets vs Patriots

Heading into Sunday’s regular season finale against the New York Jets, the Patriots were seeking to secure the number one seed in the AFC and lock up home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Julian Edelman (@edelman11)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dont'a Hightower (@_boomtower)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdX66aMnkmt/?hl=te&taken-by=getitonjones31

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdX9laRB9Sh/?hl=en&taken-by=money_mitch26

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by James Harrison (@jhharrison92)

Let’s go @Patriots. Last one of the year. Finish strong!!!! #patrios #GoPats

— Sebastian Vollmer (@SebVollmer) December 31, 2017

Let’s take care of biz today @Patriots!!! #LetsGoPats!!! #WIGGSOUT!! pic.twitter.com/ZIcTX5Eiex

— jermaine wiggins (@jwiggs85) December 31, 2017

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/947519305767378944

Belichick in shorts, a cutoff sweatshirt and gloves. pic.twitter.com/5207avEpoP

— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) December 31, 2017

*Obligatory temp shot* pic.twitter.com/2sO69XreKj

— Gillette Stadium (@GilletteStadium) December 31, 2017

A source with the Patriots tells me Bill Belichick ordered the field crew to place these thermometers inside the Jets tunnel so New York is reminded how cold it is. Mental warfare. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/I7IwcZQZXf

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 31, 2017

… and it all started because of Mo Lewis too. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/8G9IyngtN8

— Will D. (@WAD1980) December 31, 2017

In the first quarter, the Patriots won the toss and elected to recieve in an effort to score early, they did just that for the seventh time in 2017.

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/947532926597525505

SCORING UPDATE: The Patriots march 75 yards on 13 plays and score on a 3yd TD run by Dion Lewis. They lead 7-0 w/9:30 left to play in the opening quarter. #NEvsNYJ

— PatsFans.com (@PatsFans) December 31, 2017

Dion Lewis is the first @Patriots player to score a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in back-to-back games since Larry Garron in Weeks 5-6, 1964

Todd Gurley is the only other player to do so this season (Weeks 2-3)

— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 31, 2017

Dion Lewis has six rushing touchdowns, three receiving touchdowns and one return TD in the Patriots' last 13 games.

— Oliver Thomas (@OliverBThomas) December 31, 2017

The @Patriots scored on their opening drive for the 7th time this season, tied for most such TD in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/jeKaLDXT3R

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 31, 2017

Jets quarterback Bryce Petty got off to a difficult start seeking a response when he was caught by CBS cameras struggling to get his helmet on.

Inspiring start for Bryce Petty and the Jets pic.twitter.com/3t9LvfGCxb

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) December 31, 2017

In what would be a recurring topic of conversation throughout the afternoon, it was a little chilly in Foxborough.

https://twitter.com/fearthe_beard11/status/947537416654483457

The Jets would get on the board with a Chandler Catanzaro 48 yard field goal to bring the score to 7-3 after one quarter of play.

Despite early struggles connecting to wide receiver Brandin Cooks, Brady continued to show confidence in his new wideout, and found him from five yards out late in the second quarter to provide some breathing room. 14-3 Patriots.

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/947548599767855105

The Patriots defense throughout the first half shut down the Jets offense, and when they forced a three and out just before halftime, the Patriots offense continued to produce points in the final minute.

A Tom Brady block helped setup Dion Lewis for yet another touchdown in recent games.

21-3 Patriots at haltime.

https://twitter.com/nfl_dovkleiman/status/947550236309942272

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/947552424796889088

#Patriots score in the final minute of the first half for the 11th time in 2017. #GoPats

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 31, 2017

Tom, your thoughts on the game so far?

https://twitter.com/ryan_spags/status/947551234910773249

In the third quarter, James Harrison made his presence known, landing this big hit after the catch, and forcing a Jets punt.

Welcome to the #Patriots, @jharrison9292! pic.twitter.com/RQgfaAooDj

— Will D. (@WAD1980) December 31, 2017

Wow, James Harrison with the big tackle on third down, dropping Anderson after just 2yds. Jets now forced to punt.

— PatsFans.com (@PatsFans) December 31, 2017

Stephen Gostkowski would nail a 21 yard field goal to up the lead to 24-3 which was setup by this Dion Lewis carry.

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/947562353326882816

In what was otherwise an uneventful third quarter, Patriots cornerback Johnson Bademosi put on a terrific display of acting on the sidelines.

Johnson Bademosi flop… we’ll give it a 10 out of 10 #Patriots pic.twitter.com/RJ6wfXl3qW

— Guy Boston Sports (@GuyBostonSports) December 31, 2017

Man down on the #Patriots sidelines. pic.twitter.com/OPunkUVHDH

— Will D. (@WAD1980) December 31, 2017

Johnson Bademosi explaining himself to @STEVEBURTONWBZ was high comedy. pic.twitter.com/Z8FwntrxHO

— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) December 31, 2017

https://twitter.com/mcckshea/status/947564035645562885

In the fourth quarter, the Jets made Jet decisions, and elected to kick a field goal from 35 yards out to cut the deficit to 18 at 24-6.

Wait. The Jets kicked a field goal, down 24-3 with 10:28 to play? … To make it an 18-point game? Huh?

— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) December 31, 2017

SCORING UPDATE: Catanzaro hits the 35yd field goal and the Jets cut the lead to 18 as they now trail the Patriots 24-6 w/10:28 to go in the game. Patriots defense has now held the Jets to 0/10 on third down after that series.

— PatsFans.com (@PatsFans) December 31, 2017

Sabermetric stat of the day pic.twitter.com/Rz2xZhBRY8

— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) December 31, 2017

https://twitter.com/caseybake16/status/947565330368483330

The Patriots defense then put the icing on the cake with an Erice Lee safety on Petty.

https://twitter.com/caseybake16/status/947571951802961920

Take a look around the field before the #Patriots safety: pic.twitter.com/jTNYZADApc

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 3, 2018

With the game clock winding down, James Harrison tallied back to back sacks, doubling his season total when he was in Pittsburgh.

Two sacks in a row by James Harrison.

— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) December 31, 2017

James Harrison gets the SACK! #GoPats https://t.co/eyiTRFYNir

— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2017

James Harrison (2.0 sacks today) recorded his first multi-sack game since Week 9, 2016 against the Ravens

He had more sacks in his first game with New England (2.0) than he had all season with Pittsburgh (1.0)

— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 31, 2017

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdYaAljBFTd/?taken-by=tombrady

The @Patriots clinch their seventh No. 1 playoff seed since 1990, most by any team in that span.

This is their seventh 13-win season, second-most in the Super Bowl era. pic.twitter.com/UM2duiLRoQ

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 31, 2017

AFC East.
Postseason bye.
Home Field advantage. #NotDone #GoPats pic.twitter.com/KUDAvR4lck

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 31, 2017

The @Patriots allowed 32 points per game over the first four games of the season and 14 points per game over the final 12.

— The Hall presented by RTX (@TheHall) December 31, 2017

Of course pic.twitter.com/pTxOnn2Ddu

— SB Nation (@SBNation) December 31, 2017

Rob Gronkowski will finish the regular season with 69 catches. Not his best season, but still a pretty nice year.

— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) December 31, 2017