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FOXBOROUGH -- The Jets talked trash about the Patriots all week long. The Patriots promised they'd provide their retort on the field, but in the end they were left at a loss for words and left with a stunning 28-21 season-ending loss.

The Jets matched their strong talk with stronger play to best the Patriots in the rubber match of a bitter rivalry and win a game that New York's brash coach, Rex Ryan, had called the second-biggest in the history of the franchise behind Super Bowl III.

For the second straight year the Patriots, who now haven't won a playoff game in three seasons, went one and done with a shocking home playoff loss. For the second consecutive season the Jets are playing in the AFC title game.

The Patriots, who trailed 14-3 at the half, pulled within 21-14 on Shayne Graham's second field goal of the game, which came with 1:57 remaining. But on the ensuing on-side kick Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who antagonized Tom Brady with a profane name earlier in the week, scooped up the kick and returned it 23 yards. Two plays later Shonn Greene sealed Gang Green's triumph with a 16-yard touchdown run.

Ryan waddled down to the end zone and joined in the celebration, which drew penalty flags, and a jubilant Sanchez, who threw three touchdown passes in the game, hopped on Ryan's back.

The Jets had ratcheted up the rhetoric in the rivalry all week long with little response from the Patriots, except for wide receiver Wes Welker's subversive foot/toe references, a performance at the podium that caused him to be benched for the Patriots' first possession. Now, the entire New England team, which had won eight straight games, is sitting out the rest of the playoffs.

The Jets sacked Brady five times and held him to 29 of 45 for 299 yards with two touchdowns and his first interception since Oct. 17. It took the Patriots, who blasted the Jets 45-3 last month, until there were 13 seconds left in the third quarter to find the end zone this time.

New England marched 80 yards in eight plays to pull within 14-11. Brady hit Alge Crumpler with a 2-yard touchdown pass -- the 17th consecutive playoff game for TB12 with a TD toss -- and the Patriots dusted off the old direct snap play with Sammy Morris picking up the 2-point conversion.

The Jets came right back with a response. Sanchez (16 of 25 for 194 yards) threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes, who made a great diving grab in the back of the end zone. With all the talk about feet and toes this week, it was Holmes tapping his toes in the end zone to put the Jets up 21-11 with 13 minutes to go.

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