Butt fumble

Butt fumble

MetLife Stadium, the site of the game
New England Patriots (7–3) New York Jets (4–6) 49 19 Head coach: Bill Belichick Head coach: Rex Ryan
1 2 3 4 Total NE 0 35 0 14 49 NYJ 0 3 9 7 19
Date	November 22, 2012
Stadium	MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Favorite	Patriots by 7
Referee	Mike Carey
Attendance	79,088
TV in the United States
Network	NBC
Announcers	Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya

The butt fumble was a notable American football play from a National Football League (NFL) game played on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012, between the New York Jets and New England Patriots.

In front of a New York home crowd of 79,000 at MetLife Stadium and a primetime television audience of 20 million, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez collided with the backside of his teammate Brandon Moore and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Patriots' Steve Gregory and returned for a touchdown. The play was the centerpiece of a disastrous sequence in the second quarter, as the Jets lost three fumbles and the Patriots scored three touchdowns—one each on offense, defense, and special teams—all in the span of 52 seconds of game time; in that quarter, the Jets held the ball for over 12 minutes (out of 15), but were outscored 35–3. The game and the so-called "butt fumble" in particular are remembered as the low point of the Jets' 2012 season. The butt fumble was ranked as the most embarrassing moment in Jets history by ESPN.

The game was the 108th meeting between the two clubs and third at MetLife Stadium.

After a Week 11 victory at the St. Louis Rams, the Jets returned home with a 4–6 record, tied with the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. The Patriots had defeated the Indianapolis Colts in Week 11, entering the game with a 7–3 record, leading the AFC East.