Patriots close out regular season with 38-3 blowout of Jets taken at Gillette Stadium (Patriots)

(Adam Richins/Boston Sports Journal)

Patriots

Patriots close out regular season with 38-3 blowout of Jets

By Christopher Price

Dec 30, 2018 • 11:03 am

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FOXBOROUGH — Bring on the playoffs.

The Patriots closed out the regular season with a thunderous 38-3 win over the Jets on Sunday, securing a first-round bye.

This one was never in doubt -- Tom Brady was red-hot out of the gate, going 16-for-22 for 165 yards and three touchdowns in the first half as New England built a 21-3 lead after two. Brady connected with James White (17 yards), Rex Burkhead (18 yards) and Phillip Dorsett (nine yards) in the first half as the Patriots dominated a Jets team that looked mostly ready for the start of another offseason.

Brady ended up going 24-for-33 for 250 yards and four touchdowns, looking an awful lot sharper than he did the last two weeks. (He was pulled in favor of Brian Hoyer with just over two minutes to go in regulation.) Sony Michel (50 rushing yards), White (69 yards from scrimmage) and Julian Edelman (69 yards receiving, 24 yards rushing) all chipped in offensively for the Patriots.

In the second half, the defense had some fun, as Adam Butler delivered a sack and a forced fumble on Sam Darnold. Kyle Van Noy scooped up the ball and dashed 46 yards for the score. It was one of four sacks on the day for New England, as Trey Flowers, Lawrence Guy and Derek Rivers also got to Darnold.

The Patriots tacked on a 38-yard field goal (with 9:40 to go) and a late 5-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Edelman (with 3:26 left) in the fourth quarter to finish the scoring, and close out the regular season a perfect 8-0 at home.

IN-GAME NOTES



3:51 p.m.: Here comes Hoyer. That's it for Brady.....and it's victory formation. That'll do it for the afternoon. 38-3. Everyone drive home safely.

3:46 p.m.: There's one for Edelman. He finds a way to get another, he's in line for a $500K bonus. It's the 499th reception of his career.

3:42 p.m.: Smart play here -- if you're keeping Brady in, just have him hand it off.

3:37 p.m.: McCourty (head) will not return, says the team.

3:36 p.m.: Brady on the field here for the start of this series.

3:29 p.m.: So, do you yank the rest of the starters at this point? Not sure there's much in having them go the rest of the way, to be honest.

3:17 p.m.: End of the third....Pats hold a 28-3 lead. People starting to head for the exits already.

3:12 p.m.: Good day for New England's special teams.

3:03 p.m.: Pats have kept Gilmore on Robbie Anderson pretty much all day now. Two stops inside their own 10 is a good day for any defense.

2:55 p.m.: McCourty (head) is questionable to return. He's off to the locker room.

2:50 p.m.: Darnold is swallowed up by the pass rush. Butler with the sack and forced fumble, and Van Noy comes away with the football and touchdown. It's hard to overstate just how vital Van Noy has been to the success of the defense this year. Just a dynamite season from start to finish -- he's played his way into becoming one of the most important guys on the roster. Anyway, it's 28-3 with 10:48 left in the third quarter. The Patriots will be able to break 40 today without breaking a sweat if they leave the starters in there.




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PREGAME NOTES


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DL:


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DB:


11:36 a.m.:




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11:11 a.m.:


Game:


TV:
Ian Eagle
Dan Fouts


Online:


Radio:
Bob Socci
Scott Zolak


Online: 


Betting line:


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