Vrabel Lends a Hand on Offense for Patriots

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. —  New England linebacker Mike Vrabel has made a habit of finding the end zone as a temporary tight end, and he did it twice Monday in lifting the Patriots over the New York Jets, 31-21.

“One touchdown’s awesome, but two ... “ said Vrabel, who scored on receptions of one and two yards. “I tried to give the football to Santa Claus in the stands, but someone took it away from Santa.”

Vrabel also had a sack, making him the first player with two touchdowns and a sack in a game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Tom Brady of the Patriots (10-5) completed 18 of 29 passes for 185 yards and went over 4,000 yards passing for the first time in his six-year career.

In brisk winds, Brady, the league’s leading passer, guided a ball-control offense that outgained the Jets (3-12) in yards, 321 to 171, and that held an advantage in time of possession of 43 minutes to 21.

The NFL’s oldest quarterbacks, 43-year-old Doug Flutie of the Patriots and 42-year-old Vinny Testaverde of the Jets, played in the final minutes.

Testaverde’s 27-yard pass to Laveranues Coles closed the scoring and made him the only quarterback to throw for a touchdown in 19 consecutive seasons.

“Just to get in and play, for me you couldn’t have scripted a better ending,” said Testaverde, who said he reminisced with Flutie after the game.

The game ended ABC’s 36-season “Monday Night Football” run. The Monday games move to ESPN next year.