FOXBORO — The 11-2 Patriots will go into their long-awaited bye week on a excessive observe.
The Patriots beat the Giants 33-15 in a Monday night time shellacking to increase their successful streak to 10 video games earlier than a well-deserved week off.
After taking part in 13 straight video games and not using a break, the injury-depleted Patriots will lastly get to relaxation and luxuriate in their Week 14 bye.
“I’m completely satisfied to be on the bye. Comfortable to be the place we’re at,” head coach Mike Vrabel mentioned.
Monday night time’s win noticed fireworks on particular groups, an MVP-worthy efficiency from Drake Maye and a protection trying to lay the lumber.
A 39-yard kick return from Terrell Jennings put the Patriots in good place at their very own 47-yard on the sport’s opening drive. The Patriots made it down inside their pink zone however needed to accept a 22-yard area aim from Andy Borregales from the Giants’ 4-yard line to take an early 3-0 lead. Working again Rhamondre Stevenson ran laborious on the drive, choosing up 19 yards on three carries.
The Patriots’ protection made an opening-drive cease, limiting the Giants to only one first down. That’s been a uncommon incidence for the unit. It helped arrange a 94-yard punt return landing for Marcus Jones, which despatched Gillette Stadium right into a rumbling celebration. It was Jones’ second punt return landing of the season.
“Now we have to complete higher, however at the least we got here out able to go,” Vrabel mentioned. “We targeted on being aggressive and attacking and protecting that mindset. And I believe we did.”
The Giants have been pressured to punt once more, this time failing to choose up a primary down. Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart was despatched flying when he took an enormous hit from Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss down the sideline. A retaliation from Giants tight finish Theo Johnson pushed the Giants again. Dart stayed within the recreation.
The Patriots responded with a fast five-play, 61-yard landing drive. Maye hit broad receiver Kayshon Boutte ultimately zone for a 3-yard landing cross one play after connecting with tight finish Hunter Henry for a 36-yard achieve.
Some poor tackling led to a Giants rating, when Dart hit broad receiver Darius Slayton for a 30-yard catch-and-run landing. A private foul penalty on Patriots security Jaylinn Hawkins, who delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit on Johnson, gave the Giants 15 free yards.
The Giants failed to attain on their ensuing sequence with one of many strangest performs you’ll ever see on a soccer area. Kicker Younghoe Koo missed the ball, kicking the turf as a substitute, on a 47-yard area aim try. That left holder Jamie Gillan scrambling. He was introduced down by defensive sort out Jeremiah Pharms Jr. for a 13-yard sack.
M-V-P chants rained down from Gillette Stadium after Maye hit Kyle Williams for a 33-yard landing to go forward 24-7.
The hits saved coming. Gunner Olszewski, a former Patriot, fumbled on the following kick return whereas taking a success from Elliss and Marte Mapu. It was recovered by Elijah Ponder on the Giants’ 27-yard line. The Patriots couldn’t get ultimately zone however settled for a 30-yard area aim to go up 27-7.
The Giants then gifted the Patriots three factors by electing to take a delay of recreation, slightly than going for it on fourth-and-1 from the Giants’ 40-yard line. Maye rapidly orchestrated a four-play, 67-yard drive, and Borregales knocked via a 28-yard area aim. The Patriots went into the half with a 30-7 lead.
The Giants did elect to go for it on fourth-and-6 popping out of the half, however the Patriots pressured a turnover on downs. The offense couldn’t capitalize, nevertheless, attending to the Giants’ 27-yard line earlier than Borregales missed a 45-yard area aim broad left.
The Giants lower the Patriots’ result in two scores with a 22-yard landing run on a direct snap to working again Devin Singletary. They transformed on a two-point try and make the rating 30-15 when Dart discovered Slayton ultimately zone on a scramble play. Cornerback Carlton Davis was in protection on the two-point conversion.
The Patriots put up three extra factors simply forward of the two-minute warning on a 23-yard area aim from Borregales.
Finest
CB Marcus Jones: The slot cornerback/punt returner scored a landing in his second straight recreation. This one was a 94-yard punt return for a landing. He had a pick-six on protection final week.
QB Drake Maye: Maye was majestic deep on Monday night time, hitting Williams and tight finish Hunter Henry on 30-plus yard throws. Total, he was 24-of-31 for 282 yards with two touchdowns and 4 speeding makes an attempt for 15 yards.
LB Christian Elliss: Elliss helped pressure Olszewski’s fumble. He additionally delivered the laborious hit on Dart down the sideline.
Patriots replacements: Let’s give it up for left sort out Vederian Lowe, left guard Ben Brown and defensive tackles Cory Durden and Eric Gregory, all thrust into larger roles as a result of accidents. Have been the performances good? No, however it was adequate to win.
Worst
S Jaylinn Hawkins: A private foul penalty on Hawkins helped arrange the Giants’ first-half landing. He later had a key cross breakup, nevertheless.
Purple-zone offense: The Patriots have been 1-of-5 within the pink zone. Additionally they obtained all the way down to the Giants’ 27-yard line earlier than a missed area aim from Borregales.
TreVeyon Henderson’s blitz pickup: Total, Henderson had a high quality recreation. However he obtained beat by a sack late by Giants linebacker Zaire Barnes. In any other case, Henderson ran 11 instances for 67 yards and caught three passes on 4 targets for 19 yards with a drop.
What we realized
• Vederian Lowe and Ben Brown began at left sort out and left guard, respectively, as anticipated, to fill in for Will Campbell and Jared Wilson.
• Jones’ return certified him for the all-time record for punt return common. He’s first with a 14.6 common. He’s the fourth participant in Patriots historical past to return two punts for touchdowns in the identical season.
• Working again Terrell Jennings left the sport with a head harm and didn’t return.
• Stevenson noticed his taking part in time improve this week. It nonetheless appeared he was working his means again from a toe harm in Week 12.
• Rookie edge defender Elijah Ponder posted his third sack in 4 video games. He’s stuffed in properly for the reason that Patriots traded Keion White.
