Patriots Coming of Age at 18, 21

The New England Patriots don’t see themselves as winners of an NFL-record 18 consecutive regular-season games, but as owners of 18 one-game winning streaks.

And nothing, not even a 13-7 victory over the previously unbeaten New York Jets that was built on subtle moments rather than huge plays, could budge them off the live-in-the-moment philosophy Coach Bill Belichick has instilled while leading them to two Super Bowl championships in the last three seasons.

“You’ve just got to win one game a week. That’s what this team is all about,” quarterback Tom Brady said after the Patriots broke the record of 17 consecutive regular-season triumphs set by the 1933-34 Chicago Bears and won their 21st game in a row including playoffs, also a record.

“Coach Belichick, his approach is, ‘What are you going to do for me this week?’ ” Brady added after the Patriots improved to a franchise-best 6-0 and delighted a rain-dampened crowd of 68,756 at chilly Gillette Stadium. “Not, ‘What did you do for me last week? What are you going to do for me next year? or What did you do for me last year?’ ”

New England’s success on Sunday was built on forcing the Jets, who rarely commit turnovers or receive penalties, into doing both, most notably an illegal substitution penalty for having 12 men on the field after the Patriots were forced to punt the ball early in the second quarter. That infraction nullified the play and allowed the Patriots to continue a drive that led to Adam Vinatieri’s second field goal and a 6-0 lead.

It’s also about avoiding panic.

In only the fourth matchup between two undefeated NFL teams with five or more wins -- and first since a 1973 game between the 6-0 Minnesota Vikings and 6-0 Los Angeles Rams -- the Patriots scored on their first possession, a 41-yard field goal by Vinatieri, and forced a fumble to preserve that lead in the first quarter. A terrific catch by David Givens on the left sideline, a 42-yard play, sustained another drive that ended with a 27-yard Vinatieri field goal.

But the Jets (5-1) came back to take a 7-6 lead in the second quarter on a 13-play drive during which Curtis Martin carried the ball six times for 23 yards and vaulted past Jim Brown into seventh place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list. Chad Pennington capped it with a one-yard run around left end, and Doug Brien’s successful extra-point conversion left the Patriots facing a rare deficit.

Not to worry, even though the two-minute warning had sounded. The Patriots responded quickly and decisively, marching into the end zone with a 1-minute 50-second drive. Brady completed six consecutive passes, the last a seven-yard completion to a wide-open David Patten, to give the Patriots a lead they never relinquished.

“That gave us a lot of momentum and confidence coming into the second half,” Brady said.

Brady finished with 20 completions in 29 attempts for 230 yards, and the Patriots won their 15th consecutive game at home. Their last home loss was inflicted by the Jets, 30-17, on Dec. 22, 2002.

“Mr. Brady, Mr. Wonderful, makes things happen,” said running back Corey Dillon, who contributed a 115-yard performance in 22 carries, his third 100-yard game this season and 31st of his career.

“This never gets old for me. As a team, we played a great game.”

The Patriots’ defense deserved plaudits for holding Martin, who began the game with a league-leading 613 yards rushing, to only 70.

With the Jets pressing late in the fourth quarter after Pennington had marched them from their 14 to the Patriots’ 27, linebacker Willie McGinest and lineman Richard Seymour stepped in on a third-and-five play to push Martin back for a three-yard loss, leaving him with 12,352 for his career.

When Pennington’s attempt to hit Wayne Chrebet on fourth and eight was swatted away by safety Rodney Harrison at about the five-yard line, the Patriots had only to let the clock wind down. Dillon helped by grinding out 12 yards in three carries; Brady finished by kneeling on three consecutive plays.

“That team is so good, you can’t give them chances and make it harder on yourself,” Jet guard Pete Kendall said. “The Patriots have turned the corner and become the premier team in the league.”

The Patriots face the 5-1 Steelers next week at Pittsburgh, and Belichick had turned his thoughts to that game long before the last taillights had vanished from the Gillette Field parking lot Sunday.

The Steelers had this week off, Belichick said. They’re playing well and have a good running game and blitz a lot on defense. With that in mind, he wasn’t in any mood to discuss whether he appreciates his team’s winning streak.

“Come ask me about that when I am in a rocking chair,” he said.

When, no doubt, he’ll take it one rock at a time.