Sanchez finished 14 of 22 for 163 yards and the touchdown to Keller, while Brady was 23 of 47 for 216 yards and an interception. He was without one of his favorite targets as Wes Welker sat out with a knee injury, and Randy Moss was held to four catches for 24 yards.

“We’re not really firing on all cylinders right now,” Brady said. “To not get the ball in the end zone is unacceptable.”

The Patriots got three field goals from Stephen Gostkowski a week after the Jets’ defense held the high-scoring Houston Texans without an offensive touchdown in a 24-7 win.

“That’s a statement not just to us,” cornerback Darrelle Revis said, “but to the league that every week we’re going to come out here and try to get a shutout.”

Sanchez was 3 of 5 for 15 yards in the first half, but connected with Jerricho Cotchery for a 45-yard gain to the Patriots 11 on the first play of the third quarter. After a 2-yard run by Thomas Jones, Sanchez found Keller in the back of the end zone to give the Jets a 10-9 lead 1:03 into the third quarter.

Slideshow   Week 17 action Take a look at shots from the NFL's 17th week of play in 2009. NBCSports.com

“We just needed to relax and find our game,” Sanchez said. “As soon as we do, we are going to get this thing started and rolling, and that’s what we did.”

Jay Feely added two field goals to make it 16-9 with 9:48 remaining.

“Give the Jets credit,” Belichick said. “They just did a better job than we did today and I don’t think there’s really a while lot more to say about it.”

Gostkowski’s 29-yarder with 17 seconds left in the first half gave the Patriots a 9-3 lead. It capped a 14-play, 79-yard drive that almost resulted in a touchdown.

Brady’s throw on third-and-3 from the 11 was tipped by Lowery and almost grabbed in the back of the end zone by Moss, who couldn’t bring in the ball when was shoved in the back and out of bounds by Jim Leonhard.

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 9 games STEELERS 28, BRONCOS 10: Roethlisberger throws 3 TDs COWBOYS 20, EAGLES 16: Austin’s TD puts Dallas atop NFC East COLTS 20, TEXANS 17: Indy's 17th-straight regular season win  |    Video SAINTS 30, PANTHERS 20: N.O. now 8-0 for first time in its history CHARGERS 21, GIANTS 20: N.Y. loses 4th straight  |    Video BUCS 38, PACKERS 28: Rookie QB leads Tampa to first win  |    Video PATRIOTS 27, DOLPHINS 17: Brady-Moss connection thrives  |    Video CARDINALS 41, BEARS 21: Warner tosses 5 TDs  |    Video BENGALS 17, RAVENS 7: Cincy cements AFC North status  |    Video FALCONS 31, REDSKINS 17: Atlanta gets into scuffle, still wins TITANS 34, 49ERS 27: Young improves to 2-0 as a starter this year SEAHAWKS 32, LIONS 20: Seattle overcomes 17-0 hole JAGUARS 24, CHIEFS 21: Chargers cast-off Chambers can't save K.C. Byes: Bills, Browns, Raiders, Rams, Vikings, Jets