Jets Get Ahead Early, Stop Patriots Late : AFC: New England rallies from 21-0 deficit, but loses, 28-21, when Vaughn is tackled at one-yard line on last play.

This time, the New York Jets survived, but barely.

The Jets, who let a game against previously winless Indianapolis get away last week, held on for a 28-21 victory over the New England Patriots Sunday when Kyle Clifton tackled Jon Vaughn on the one-yard-line as time ran out.

“It was an unbelievable game,” Clifton said. “I’ve been in the league eight years, and I thought I’d seen everything. But this game was something different.

“I was nervous because of Vaughn’s success at running outside.”

The Jets (6-5), who revived their playoff hopes, had a 21-0 lead in the third quarter before the game turned around.

The Patriots (3-8) made it close but lost in the final minute for the fourth consecutive game.

“I’m sure a lot of people were ready to leave the stands in the third quarter,” New England linebacker Andre Tippett said. “We kept hanging in there, and we brought the game within reach.”

The Patriots rallied for three touchdowns in 10 minutes, with an instant-replay reversal giving Vaughn a two-yard scoring run, his second of the day, to tie the score with 2:16 left.

Ken O’Brien, booed by New York fans last week, brought the Jets back down the field and passed to reserve lineman Trevor Matich, who lined up at tight end, on a three-yard touchdown pass with 57 seconds left.

Matich, who has played every offensive line position for the Jets, was the Patriots’ No. 1 draft choice in 1985.

“He was in there because of the injury to (backup tight end) Pat Kelly, and we were forced to scramble on that formation all afternoon,” New York Coach Bruce Coslet said. Kelly sustained a concussion in the first half.

But the Patriots weren’t finished. Starting from their 27, they moved to a first down at the Jets’ eight with 12 seconds left on a 16-yard pass from Hugh Millen to Irving Fryar.

Millen passed to Greg McMurtry for a seven-yard gain with one second left. Vaughn ran behind the left side of the line, but was tackled as time ran out.

“Our team just needs to get some breaks now,” New England Coach Dick MacPherson said. “I’m tired of walking off the field and losing these type of games.

“We usually practice that formation with (fullback Leonard) Russell, but I went with Vaughn because he was the hot back. But I felt he had a hard time reading the play. He hadn’t practiced in that situation very many times.”

Millen completed 30 of 43 passes for 372 yards, all career highs. O’Brien passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns.

The Patriots’ comeback began when Millen connected with Fryar on a 56-yard scoring pass play with 12:01 left. With 4:28 remaining, Vaughn ran three yards for a touchdown to make it 21-14.