Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ victory over the Jets in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis, including second-guess, turning point, 3 up/3 down, and some takes we'll probably regret later:
HEADLINES
Wasn't perfect, but Patriots got the result they needed: There was a lot of good in this game -- which we'll get to -- but there was a lot of sloppiness. Some of it was the Patriots' usual post-bye malaise. But New England set a season high for penalties (11) and yards (105), including seven for 75 in the first half. The Patriots also won't be happy about their third-down conversions (5 of 12 — 3 of 9 after the first quarter) and they were just 1 of 3 in the red zone. Still, by the end of the game, the Patriots outscored the Jets 17-3 in the second half to win comfortably.
Run game gets going: The Jets entered the game with the 21st-ranked run defense and was coming off a 41-10 home loss to the Bills in which the Jets allowed 212 yards rushing, so it was not a surprise to see the Patriots go with a more balanced rushing attack (35 carries, 31 pass attempts) and run the ball well with 214 yards. Sony Michel fought through another injury to set a career-high with 133 yards, and James White averaged a game-high 8.1 yards on his nine carries.
Defense adjusts and buckles down: The Patriots shut down the Jets' running game to force 39-year-old backup Josh McCown to beat them, and he did early as ended the first quarter by completing 10 of 12 (83.3 percent) passes for 103 yards and a touchdown for a passer rating of 130.2. In the final three quarters, McCown was 16 of 33 (45.8 percent) for 173 yards and one interception (51.7 rating).
TURNING POINT
Early in the fourth quarter, the game was still very much in doubt with the Patriots leading 20-13 and facing a third-and-10 from the Jets' 47-yard line. New York brought a designed pressure look, with the linebackers on the line, but backing off as it brought a slot blitz and five rushers. Tom Brady looked toward Julian Edelman (where the blitz was coming from) and Rob Gronkowski in the left seam, but it was covered. James White did an effective with blitz pickup, Brady stepped up in the pocket and got enough on the pass to complete a 17-yard pass to Josh Gordon, who did a nice job coming back to the ball and picking it before the ball hit the turf. Six plays later, the Patriots scored to go up 27-13 and send most Jets fans to the exits with 8:54 left.
Brady to Gordon on 3rd & 10 pic.twitter.com/HkItHaEEIl
— #FreePhillipDorsett (@ftbeard_17) November 25, 2018
SECOND GUESSES
Patriots tied a season-low with just one touchdown on three drives into the red zone (33 percent), so not even the return of Gronkowski could cure those ills. It seems that the Patriots' red-zone passing offense is increasingly relying on low-percentage throws to the corners and sideline. Figured the Patriots would have a better plan coming out of the bye, but it seems like more of the same. New England will need to find a better way to be more efficient with the passing game in the red area to win the big games.
THREE UP
Run-game operation: Tough to say it was just the backs, who were often going dozens of yards without getting caught — and it was both Michel and White — and it wasn't just the offensive line because the receivers, Gronkowski and James Develin were also doing some good work. When the Patriots decide they're going to run the ball and emphasize it, there aren't many teams that are going to stop them — no matter who the running back is.
James White 27 yard run pic.twitter.com/8EsnofUxVW
— #FreePhillipDorsett (@ftbeard_17) November 25, 2018
Julian Edelman: Caught four of his five targets for a game-high 84 yards and a touchdown. He was back to being the No. 1 option in the passing offense, and things seemed a lot better in that area as a result. Edelman's score gave the Patriots a lead they would not relinquish.
Trey Flowers: Had a sack and three more quarterback hits officially, one of which helped cause Stephon Gilmore's interception in the end zone.
THREE DOWN
Trent Brown: Was called for two penalties that wiped out runs totaling 38 yards and helped to give up some edge pressure that got Brady tattooed a few times.
Cordarrelle Patterson: Touched the ball six times for a total of 9 yards and also got caught on film giving somebody the business and might get fined.
Deatrich Wise: Had a sack and two additional quarterback hits but both were way late. One was flagged on third down when the Patriots should have gotten off the field but, instead, allowed the only Jets touchdown. The other came on the Jets' final fourth-down throw and he very well could have been flagged. Need to be smarter than that.
INJURIES
Sony Michel (back): Could barely even stand up vertical after getting bent backwards again in short yardage (maybe that's not his thing?), but he returned to the game and was still effective.
Tom Brady (right thumb): Cut his thumb during the game but stayed in and downplayed it after the game.
TOP PLAYS
Gronk ... back in the end zone...
Edelman's obviously preparing for the holiday season...
TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
Way too many penalties: You would have figured a Patriots team that was having some penalty issues leading into the bye week — especially on special teams — would have been a little cleaner in that area coming out, but then they set a season-high with 11. There were another two on special teams, and a dumb roughing the passer on Wise that led to the Jets' only touchdown. Yes, the Shawn Hochuli officiating crew calls a lot of penalties, but the Patriots were well aware of this going into the game. This has to be cleaned up to win in the postseason when the margin of error is smaller.
Hightower continues to be a liability in pass coverage: Dont'a Hightower is still viable against the run and rushing the passer, but the Jets took advantage of him a few times in the pass game. The better teams in the postseason are going to target this area so the Patriots need to come up with a better plan now — they can't wait for a postseason bye to do it.