Rex Ryan: Danny Amendola ran 'greatest route' in football history

Patriots receiver Danny Amendola's red zone touchdown reception late in the game against the New York Jets was, according to Jets coach Rex Ryan, the "greatest route in the history of the game."

Trailing by one point with less than eight minutes left in the game, the Jets forced New England into a third-and-goal from the nineteen-yard line.

Despite the adverse down and distance, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady scrambled and found an opening for an acrobatic touchdown grab by Amendola.

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Ryan was asked after the game what cornerback Antonio Allen could have done to better defend the play. Ryan could only offer grudging praise for the Patriots receiver:

"No, I don't know, I have no idea--just the greatest route in the history of the game," Ryan said. "I think we were shocked that [Amendola] would even run a route to the goal line."

The play, however, was not by design. Amendola's route was in response to Brady's scramble. Brady admitted in a post-game interview that his teammate's catch was the result of improvisation.

"That was a great kind of ad lib," Brady said afterward. "He ran a little return route and then when he saw me scramble, broke it up field like we talk about all the time and made a great catch."

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The score pushed New England's lead to eight. The Jets were able to score again, cutting the lead to 27-25, but then failed to score on a two point conversion attempt.

A New England three-and-out gave the Jets the ball back with little time remaining, but a Nick Folk game-winning field goal attempt was blocked as time expired.

After their narrow loss at New England, the Jets fell to 1-6 and fourth place in the AFC East. Their next game will be against division rival Buffalo Bills on Oct. 26. The Bills are currently second in the division.

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- Christopher Woody