Cam Newton rescued the Patriots from rock bottom against the Jets

You never want to lose the Jets.

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The New England Patriots were facing a rock-bottom moment during Monday night’s game against the Jets when Cam Newton put the team on his back and led them to a 30-27 victory that was secured with a last-second field goal by Nick Folk.

The once-great Patriots trailed the Jets by 10 points in the fourth quarter. A loss to the winless Jets would have been their fifth in a row and would have easily been the lowest point of Bill Belichick’s 100 years as head coach of the team.

Newton didn’t let that happen, though, as he led them to a field goal, a touchdown, and then another field goal over the last eight minutes to escape with the win.

The Jets also tried to help the Patriots win the game, which had NFL fans roasting them.

Are the Patriots back now? No, not even close. They’re 3-5 and nowhere near a playoff team at the moment.

But no professional football team wants to lose Adam Gase’s Jets. Throw any analytics away here. A loss the Jets means you’re a really bad football team. You don’t want to be that.

Newton finished the night with 274 yards passing and ran for two touchdowns. He came up with a number of big plays down the stretch and bounced back from a crushing fumble late in last week’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.

While it wasn’t a beautiful win at all, it was a win and that’s all that matters for a Patriots team that hasn’t had a victory since late September.

And they have Newton to thank for it.

Quick hits: Chiefs are all alone… Fantasy football trades… Jimmie Johnson’s quiet farewell… And more.

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

– Steven Ruiz breaks down a number of key things we learned from Week 9, including the Chiefs being the lone elite team in the NFL.

– Charles Curtis looks at 8 players fantasy football owners should trade for, including Carson Wentz.

– Michelle Martinelli says Jimmie Johnson’s quiet farewell robbed NASCAR’s GOAT of the recognition he deserves.

– Charles Curtis looks at where teams stand in the “Tank for Trevor” race.

– Henry McKenna looks at some players you should be picking up on your fantasy football waiver wires.