FOXBORO — The Patriots didn’t fall into a trap game on a brief week.
Mike Vrabel’s squad prolonged their profitable streak to eight video games with a 27-14 win over the Jets on “Thursday Evening Soccer.” The Patriots at the moment are 9-2 on the season and in sole possession of first place within the AFC standings, not less than till the Broncos play Sunday afternoon.
Like many video games performed Thursday night time on quick relaxation, this was a sloppy recreation, although the Patriots’ offense and protection nonetheless confirmed moments of brilliance within the win over their AFC East rivals.
Shock, shock: The Patriots’ protection began gradual, permitting a 5-yard landing run from Jets quarterback Justin Fields on the sport’s opening collection. The 14-play, 72-yard drive lasted 8 minutes and 4 seconds. The Jets handed the ball simply 3 times for 16 yards and picked up 56 yards on the bottom.
It’s truthful to say the Patriots’ offense responded nicely, happening their very own 13-play, 69-yard drive, assisted by a private foul penalty on Jets cornerback Jarvin Brownlee Jr., who slammed huge receiver Stefon Diggs to the turf late after a catch. Drake Maye was an ideal 5-for-5 earlier than rookie working again TreVeyon Henderson scored on a 7-yard run, getting pushed into the endzone by half the Patriots’ offense.
The Patriots’ protection shortly compelled a three-and-out, placing their high-powred offense again on the sector. Henderson scored on one other 7-yard landing run after an eight-play, 83-yard drive that noticed QB Drake Maye full a 23-yard move to tight finish Hunter Henry and two straight 19-yard targets to Mack Hollins. Maye started the sport 9-of-9 for 97 yards.
After one other Jets three-and-out, the Patriots picked up one first down earlier than punting following a third-down drop from Stefon Diggs. The Jets adopted that up with one other three-and-out. The Patriots had been set to punt earlier than an unlawful contact penalty from the Jets gave them life. It didn’t wind up mattering when kicker Andy Borregales missed a 45-yard discipline aim huge proper.
Diggs dropped one other move on third down, forcing the Patriots to punt on their opening drive of the second half. The Jets had been pushed again by intentional grounding and private foul penalties earlier than punting once more.
Maye then put collectively a powerful drive, going 4-for-4 with a landing move to Henderson to place the Patriots forward 21-7. The Jets responded by chopping the Patriots’ lead again right down to 21-14 with a 22-yard landing move from Fields to John Metchie after rookie security Craig Woodson slipped and fell in protection, leaving the wideout huge open on a blitz.
The Patriots settled for a 44-yard discipline aim from Borregales to go up 24-14 on their subsequent possession.
The Jets and Patriots exchanged punts earlier than a nasty snap, recovered by exterior linebacker Anfernee Jennings, gave the Pats the ball again inside their crimson zone. They settled for 26-yard discipline aim from Borregales to go up 27-14.
The Jets obtained contained in the crimson zone earlier than turning the ball over on downs. Security Dell Pettus’ move breakup on a goal to tight finish Jeremy Ruckert compelled the turnover. Pettus made an influence each time he was on the sector.
BEST
RB TreVeyon Henderson: The Patriots capped off their first two drives with 7-yard touchdowns from Henderson. He later added a 6-yard receiving landing. The rookie is off the races after final week’s breakout efficiency.
QB Drake Maye: Maye helped his MVP candidacy on primetime, going 25-of-34 for 281 yards with a landing.
WR Mack Hollins: Hollins has had an enormous week. He led the Patriots in receiving in Sunday’s win, then caught 4 passes for 64 yardson Thursday night time.
WR Stefon Diggs: Diggs led the Patriots in receiving with 9 catches for 105 yards. He had two drops however made up for them by being Maye’s safety blanket all night time. It was Diggs’ third 100-yard efficiency of the season. He’s been every little thing the Patriots wanted and extra this yr.
WORST
Edge containment: There weren’t many points with the Patriots on Thursday night time, however their protection was letting Fields get by them on the sting with regularity on his strategy to an 11-carry, 67-yard, TD efficiency.
S Craig Woodson: The rookie security slipped and fell on a 22-yard landing catch from Jets huge receiver John Metchie.
WR Kyle Williams: The rookie receiver owes Maye some completion proportion factors. He didn’t have a catch on three targets.
WHAT ELSE WE LEARNED
• The Patriots tried to go heavy and dare Fields to move on the opening drive, popping out in a heavy base protection. It didn’t work, and the Jets had been nonetheless capable of run at will. The Patriots’ lack of pace on the perimeters confirmed up when Fields took off with the ball.
• The Patriots used defensive deal with Khyiris Tonga as a fullback in short-yardage conditions and guard/heart Ben Brown as a jumbo tight finish on their opening drive. With tight finish Austin Hooper out, they needed to get artistic to place additional blockers on the sector. We’ve seen Tonga at fullback, however Brown at tight finish was new.
• Rookie defensive deal with Eric Gregory made his NFL debut with a run stuff on his first play.
• With Jack Gibbens banged up coming into the sport, Jahlani Tavai took on an even bigger function at linebacker.
• The Patriots used exterior linebackers Harold Landry and Elijah Ponder off the road of scrimmage as inside linebackers at instances.
• D’Ernest Johnson obtained the nod over Terrell Jennings as Henderson’s backup. Jennings didn’t end Sunday’s recreation after injuring his knee, so it is smart that he was restricted on quick relaxation.
• Defensive deal with Milton Williams injured his ankle, returned to the sport however was later dominated out.
• Defensive deal with Christian Barmore registered his first sack of the season. Undrafted rookie Elijah Ponder recorded his second sack in as many video games.
