Berry Takes Chances, Patriots Top Jets, 27-24

A lot of people have been wondering what New England Coach Ray Berry is going to do with defensive stars Andre Tippett, Ronnie Lippett and Garin Veris sidelined for the season.

If the Patriots’ season-opening 27-24 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday is any indication, Berry is going to gamble. So far, his luck has been good.

The Patriots converted two key fourth-down plays in the first half to set up touchdowns, then parlayed a late missed fourth-quarter gamble into a game-winning, four-yard touchdown run by Reggie Dupard with 1:55 to play to win their sixth straight season opener.

It was a game the Patriots also tried to give away. They scored the first three times they had the ball to build a 21-0 halftime lead, and then watched as the Jets scored 24 straight points to take a 24-21 lead with 7:28 to play on a 49-yard touchdown pass from Ken O’Brien to JoJo Townsell.

New England came back and drove from its 40 to the New York four with about three minutes to play. On fourth down, Berry could have elected to let Greg Davis attempt a chip shot field goal for a tie. Instead, he sent Dupard up the middle for no gain.

Although the gamble didn’t result in a first-down or touchdown, the Patriots were able to hold on defense. They got the ball back on the New York 38 with 2:22 left following a 38-yard punt by Joe Prokop, who earlier had scored on a 17-yard run on a fake field goal.

Three plays later, Dupard was in the end zone. Tony Eason got the drive going with a 31-yard pass to Cedric Jones to the New York seven. Dupard got three on first down and then scored.

The Jets never got farther than their own 44 on their final drive.

“We’re going to have learn that in this league you can’t get away playing one half,” O’Brien said. “You just can’t leave 30 minutes on the sidelines.”