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If you're a God fearing sort, after taking a look at the weather in Boston today, you'd have to think that the man upstairs didn't want Bill Belichick and Patriots fans to have the satisfaction of a blowout victory over the Jets. In fact, you might even think that ol' flowing robes didn't want them to get a win at all. Alas, human beings were blessed with free will and much like Job, Jonah and Lot's wife, the Jets couldn't stay out of their own way long enough to do anything but lose 20-10.

Both Patriots touchdowns came as a result of Jets miscues. On Kellen Clemens' first pass of the game, Richard Seymour demolished him and created an easy interception which Eugene Wilson took back for six points. Later in the first half, Ben Graham got a punt blocked and the Pats took over on the three yard line. Laurence Maroney carried in for an easy score and the Patriots led 17-7 at the half.

In the second half, things didn't get much better for the Jets. Darrelle Revis picked off Tom Brady, just the 2nd home interception of the year for Brady, but Chris Baker fumbled the ball back inside the red zone. That was the way it went for Chad Pennington. In a strong return engagement as Jets quarterback, Pennington moved the ball but his mates kept letting him down in the end.

Down 20-10 late in the fourth, Pennington hit Justin McCareins in the back of the end zone for a touchdown that would have changed the face of the game. For the second time this season, though, McCareins' hands deserted him. He bobbled the ball while going out of bounds and the TD was overturned on replay. Mike Nugent missed a field goal to end the drive and that was all she wrote. That was the fourth Jets trip to the red zone and they resulted in just three points. You don't win games against anyone playing that way, certainly not against the Patriots.

Weather certainly played a role in limiting the Patriot offense to 265 yards but the Jets defense must get some acclaim as well. They consistently pressured Brady and did a good job keeping Randy Moss from killing them. They did hook up deep once and it led to a field goal. If you're a believer in moral victories, though, the Jets D earned one today.

The Patriots defense earned a lot more than a moral victory. They completely shut down the Jets rushing attack, sacked Pennington five times and held their ground when their backs were against the wall. The strength against the run was a very positive sign after getting beaten up in that phase in each of the last two weeks.

Speaking of running, that was the only thing the Pats did well offensively. They rediscovered Maroney, who finished with 104 yards, and were content to grind out a win. That's another positive sign since this may not be the last time they are forced to play in bad weather this season. The elements and the Jets took their big weapons away from them but they adapted and clinched home field throughout the playoffs.