A week that began with a win at Raymond James Stadium ended the same way at Gillette Stadium.
The New England Patriots defeated the New York Jets by a score of 27-14 on Thursday night, extending the streak to eight games.
Here’s a glance back on the 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff as head coach Mike Vrabel and the AFC East leaders move forward with a 9-2 record.
Maye completes first 10 under the lights
A 23-year-old NFL MVP frontrunner stayed ahead of schedule on a short week. Drake Maye completed 25-of-34 passes for 281 yards with one touchdown against
the Jets.
The debut drive in Storm Blue stretched into the second quarter for the Patriots. The 13-play, 54-yard journey included a fourth-and-2 connection through the air and ended with a 7-7 score by ground. Next time out, the offense returned to its destination the same way to make it 14 unanswered points.
The Patriots quarterback didn’t see a pass hit the turf until the 3:36 mark before halftime. It was his 11th attempt. A punt followed that downfield shot into a tight window. Yet so did a shot at a double score going into the break. Coming out of it, things quickly went from a three-and-out to a 21-7 lead with a touchdown strike to a rookie leaking out of the backfield.
Maye finished the divisional bout without a turnover and with a 107.6 passer rating.
New England entered the night light at tight end with Austin Hooper in the league’s concussion protocol. But captain Hunter Henry caught four passes for 45 yards, led by a play-action crossing route for 23 and a fight for extra yardage on a third-and-7. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels also added muscle in the form of starting nose tackle Khyiris Tonga and sixth offensive lineman Ben Brown.
Diggs logs third 100-yard game as a Patriot
Five different wide receivers have reached the end zone this season for the Patriots. And while none did so on Thursday night, there was enough to go around.
The eldest statesman led the way. Stefon Diggs reeled in a team-high nine throws for 105 yards. After logging touchdowns in three straight games, it went in the books as his third game over the third century mark altogehter this fall. Targeted early and often, five of the throws sent his direction came on third down.
Fellow starter Mack Hollins chipped in 64 receiving yards and drew holding and illegal contact versus Jets cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. Also there to sustain drives for New England was DeMario Douglas. The shifty slot was turned to on the game’s initial fourth down. He was then turned back to on third down with a crossing over the middle that went for 26. It’d be the longest connection of the night for the aerial attack.
Leaned on, Henderson turns in a hat-trick
Thursday night marked the third game without Rhamondre Stevenson due to a toe injury. But in the absence of the lead running back, there was the No. 38 overall pick by way of Ohio State to lean on.
Fresh off reaching 21.38 and 22.01 mph on touchdowns from 55 and 69 yards away, TreVeyon Henderson bested his career best in short order. He did so with three from closer range. A tackle-dodging, pile-pushing TD on a pitch got New England on the board with a statement. He scored again as a rusher in the second quarter and did so as a receiver in the third quarter.
Henderson turned 24 touches into 93 yards along with the hat-trick.
For the final time as a standard elevation from the practice squad, the ground game also had D’Ernest Johnson on hand. The veteran operated as the No. 2 back. Recent 53-man promotion Terrell Jennings was active insurance after suffering a knee injury days prior.
Offensive line starts and finishes
New England’s offensive line did not have to host NFL trade deadline departure Quinnen Williams on Thursday night. But the perennial Pro Bowler’s older brother was in town.
New York managed a single sack during the divisional visit. Illegal contact negated what would have been another from linebacker Quincy Williams.
The Patriots started the same five for the tenth time this campaign. That same five finished what was started. Will Campbell and Jared Wilson occupied the blindside and roadgraded on a seven-yard touchdown that appeared to have no business being one. Next to the No. 4 overall pick out of LSU and the No. 95 overall pick out of Georgia, there stood gameday captain Garrett Bradbury, who entered the evening having played all 640 offensive snaps at center. Mike Onwenu and ex-Jet Morgan Moses filled out the seasoned side of the pass protection.
Both offensive tackles were called for holding penalties in the first half. One was declined and one was accepted. No more followed.
Fields held to 116 yards on 26 throws
Justin Fields needed to attempt just 11 passes in a Jets victory last weekend. He needed to turn to the air more frequently at Gillette Stadium. The embattled Jets quarterback completed 15-of-26 throws for 116 yards and one touchdown versus the Patriots. He added another score on the ground as well as one turnover.
The night’s opening series spanned 14 plays, 72 yards, 8:04 of game clock and a 4-of-4 success rate on third down. It ended with a 7-0 New York on a zone-read keeper. But the next trio of possessions brought punts in three-and-out fashion. The script got away. That was the case despite cutting the deficit to 21-14 late in the third quarter on a touchdown catch by John Metchie III against extra pressure and a stumbling rookie safety.
Along with Craig Woodson, New England’s starting secondary included Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III and Jaylinn Hawkins. And in coverage on the New York tight ends, Dell Pettus subbed in for third-and-9 tackle short of the chains as well as a breakup that forced a turnover on downs.
Williams exits, but defensive front rebounds
No running back had rushed for 50 yards against the Patriots until Nov. 9. That happened again on Nov. 13. Only narrowly as Breece Hall turned 14 carries into 58 yards on the ground.
The Jets running back would also be stopped for loss by linebacker Jack Gibbens after collecting a pass.
Entering primetime atop the NFL with 79.2 yards allowed on the ground per game, New England began in the base personnel. Milton Williams soon headed to and from the locker room with an ankle injury. He was replaced by undrafted rookie Eric Gregory, a summer waiver claim making his NFL debut, on the way to an immediate run stuff. The reigning Super Bowl champion briefly returned yet was formally ruled out in the final frame.
Pressure would get home late. Rotational veteran Anfernee Jennings recovered a fumbled snap by the Jets quarterback. Soon after, defensive tackle Christian Barmore broke through for his first sack of the campaign and undrafted rookie Elijah Ponder got his second in as many games off the edge.
Past and present kickers
At age 41, old friend Nick Folk was back in Foxborough for his 252nd NFL game. At age 22, Andy Borregales was also there for his 11th NFL game.
The Patriots rookie kicker pushed wide right going into halftime on a 45-yard attempt. Iced by the Jets, it stood as his first miss in either capacity since the second week of the season.
Borregales returned to finish 2-of-3 on field goals and 3-of-3 extra points. Those conversions sailed through from 44 and 26 yards out.
