In Battle of Blunders, Patriots Clip Jets, 31-28 : AFC: New England takes advantage of fumble on kickoff return and scores winning touchdown to keep its slim playoff hopes alive.

Troy Brown was ready when New England made one more mistake in a mistake-filled game. He turned it into the winning touchdown.

While the Jets simply stood around, Brown scooped up Dave Meggett’s fumbled kickoff return and raced 75 yards with 5:39 left as the Patriots blundered their way past New York, 31-28, Sunday.

“I saw the ball was out of Dave’s arms and I scooped it up and everybody just stopped,” Brown said of his touchdown that made the score 24-21.

Said Meggett: “It was a negative play and something positive turned out from that. I’ve been in crazier games, but this one had to be the most mistakes at crucial times.”

Not surprising for two of the AFC’s worst teams.

Start with the mistakes of the Patriots (6-8). They broke a three-game home losing streak and remained mathematically alive for a wild-card berth.

But they lost two of their four fumbles, missed three of four field-goal tries, dropped at least three passes and had a touchdown nullified by a holding penalty. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe had one of his worst games, completing 11 of 38 passes and having at least six tipped at the line of scrimmage.

Now check out the Jets (3-11).

They lost three of six fumbles, committed eight penalties and missed their only field-goal attempt. Quarterback Boomer Esiason did throw four touchdown passes, but was sacked four times and threw a crucial interception after Brown’s touchdown.

“Had they gotten the fumble, we would have been in real trouble,” Patriot Coach Bill Parcells said.

Said Esiason: “I’ve seen some monumental plays in my career, but there’s no way to describe how that play changed the game. Then, to come out and throw an interception right afterward, that’s preposterous.”

Esiason succumbed on the first offensive play after Brown’s touchdown. Ty Law intercepted his pass, giving the Patriots the ball at the Jets’ 22-yard line.