FOXBOROUGH — Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ victory in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis.
HEADLINES
Patriots emerged healthy: Whether it was kind of/sort of by design (Rob Gronkowski) or just good fortune (Tom Brady, Dion Lewis), the Patriots emerged from the frozen season finale relatively healthy. Nate Solder definitely was feeling something after being rolled up on but stayed in the game. And Elandon Roberts left with a foot injury but returned. But other than that, the Patriots appeared very healthy -- and they're going to get some people back (James White, Malcolm Mitchell, Chris Hogan, etc. ) That was probably the best news coming out of this game, outside of winning and locking up home-field advantage.
Rob Gronkowski didn't get a pass thrown his way: He's the best player in the league at his position, and he's never not been targeted in a game he has played in. So it was definitely notable. The Jets did have a good plan for Gronk, but you got the feeling that Brady would have gone to him if he had to. But why risk an injury against an inexperienced Jets secondary? Gronk did come up 11 receptions short of the mark needed to cash in on his full $5.5-million incentive, but there's no way the Patriots were going to throw to him that much in this game, and he'll likely get it by being named first-team All-Pro.
The defense continued its strong play: The Patriots held the Jets without a third-down conversion (0-for-12) for only the fifth time since 1991, and the first time since the 2014 "On to Cincinnati" game (Bengals were 0-for-7). The Patriots allowed a field goal to the Jets on Sunday in the fourth quarter, and that was the first points they allowed in the final quarter in over a month (Miami, Nov. 26). The defense also held the Jets to four three-and-outs in the third, when the game was still in doubt. The Jets totaled 12 plays for 25 yards in the third quarter.
TURNING POINT
Leading 14-3 midway through the second quarter near the end of the second quarter, Marquis Flowers sacked Bryce Petty on third down. Then, the offense went nine plays in 58 yards to extend the lead to 21-3 on a Dion Lewis 5-yard reception. Game over.
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/947552424796889088
SECOND GUESS
Did Lewis really need to get a carry with the score 24-6 with 10:25 remaining? The guy had 33 touches to that point. Wisely, the Patriots removed him after that first-down carry and gave him the rest of the game off.
THREE UP
Dion Lewis: With the passing game hit and miss in those frigid conditions, and with Brandon Bolden the only other active running back, Lewis was the offense and he did it every way imaginable. He carried the ball 26 times for 93 yards and a touchdown, and he also caught 6-of-7 targets for 40 yards and another score.
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/947562353326882816
Marquis Flowers: Had the first of the Patriots' four sacks to give himself 3.5 in the past two games. Flowers has definitely earned himself more than a cameo role in the postseason by his ability to cover and to close quickly with the pass rush.
Punt team: Between Matthew Slater downing two punts inside the 5-yard line, and Ryan Allen rolling another one out of bounds at the 3, it was a banner day for the punt team. Five of Allen's eight punts went inside the 20, and his 42.3 average (41.8 net) was excellent when the ball probably felt like a rock. "Those were big field-position plays for us," Belichick said. "He had a good day and it’s a tough day out there. Tough to handle the ball, tough to drop it and get it to where you can punt it, but he did a good job of that as well as the extra points and field goals. That ball handling too – it was a challenging day for that."
Honorable mention: Patriots fans who showed up
I give you guys a ton of credit, I spent about 10 minutes outside and my face felt like it was going to fall off. You guys showed a ton of toughness by showing up and supporting your team in those conditions. You’re a lot tougher than I am. #warmpressbox
THREE DOWN
Officiating: They were a little bit flag happy for some stuff that was kind of ticky-tack. We've certainly seen worse go uncalled in other games. Going to start the New Year with the wish I have every NFL season: Can we please get some more consistent officiating?
Eric Lee: Had the safety — when Bryce Petty really ran into him — but that was his only tackle of the game, as Lee continued to issues on the edge in the running game and showed why James Harrison is here, and will probably see an uptick in playing time after the season.
Jonathan Bademosi's acting: Hey, we're big fans of drawing charging calls and a good flop, but the key is the timing, and Bademosi failed in that regard on this play:
Is that Bademosi or Marcus Smart? #GoPats pic.twitter.com/7bI71KoMmu
— Andrew Tashian (@Tashville401) December 31, 2017