BSJ Game Report: Patriots 54, Jets 13 - New England puts up 551 yards, 7 TDs to blow out NY

Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ 54-13 win over the Jets in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Offense can do no wrong: Through the first six games, the Patriots' offense was in a plug-your-finger-in-the-dike situation. If it wasn't poor pass protection, the backs were fumbling at the worst times. If Mac Jones wasn't throwing to a deep open receiver, the backs were getting stuffed behind the lines. There were dumb penalties and dropped passes. You name the mistake, they were committing them, at times on a down-by-down basis.

Suddenly, Week 7 and the Jets arrived, and all the Patriots' offensive problems were solved.

The Patriots put up 551 total yards — including Mac Jones' first 300-yard passing day (307 yards) — and scored seven touchdowns. The Patriots had scored 11 offensive touchdowns in the first six games ... total.

The Patriots didn't fumble a ball, or throw an interception. They converted 58 percent of third downs, and were SIX FOR SIX in the red zone. And they scored points on nine of their 10 possessions.

Yeah, the Patriots. 

"I think the energy was really good," said Jones. "We've made an emphasis to start fast, and that's what every team wants to do when they get the ball, try and score a field goal or a touchdown. When we do that, it's good, and when we don't, we just have to keep playing. You've seen us do both, and we've just got to continue to come out, and the offensive line had great juice early on, and they played great. I don't think I got hit but maybe one time on like a trick play or something. It was really impressive the way they played and came together, just everybody just playing together, all 11."

Total team game: As opposed to other weeks, the Patriots didn't seem to have many killer penalties (although there were more than a few pass interference calls that didn't hurt them in this game). There weren't substitution blunders burning timeouts or blocked punts. The defense turned the ball over to give the team a plus-2 turnover differential for the first time in what felt like a long time. Everything seemed cohesive for the first time.

Of course, it was against the 1-5 Jets, a team they had already beaten. Combined records of the three teams the Patriots have beaten: 2-10 (3-15 if you count the Jets twice). And New York lost QB Zach Wilson early to an injury.

Patriots win a game at home: After starting the season 0-4 at home for the first time since 1993, the Patriots notched their first win of the season at Gillette. The last home non-Jets victory came on Nov. 29th against the Cardinals. 

TURNING POINT

Kickoff? Kidding ... kind of.

Probably the biggest plays were Damien Harris' 37-yard second score, and Christian Barmore's 4th-down stop that set the stage for the Patriots to score before halftime to make it 31-7. Game ov-ah.

SECOND GUESS

Some (me) might quibble with Matthew Judon being on the field too much at the end, others were probably laughing with the Patriots going playaction and throwing deep up multiple touchdowns late in the fourth quarter. But Jets coach Robert Saleh didn't have a problem with it.

"No. It's the NFL."

Oh, and many people on my Twitter feed did not like Rhamondre Stevenson being a healthy scratch. Usually that indicates the coaches were not happy with something.

THREE UP

Offensive line: Kept Mac Jones upright for most of the day (he said he thinks he got hit once), opened up some great holes so Harris only needed 14 carries to get 106 yards, and they paved the way for four rushing touchdowns. Like this combo with Mike Onwenu at RT and Ted Karras at LG.

DT Christian Barmore: Had a huge fourth-down stop and also continues to get after the quarterback. Seemed to have a big uptick in playing time, and that's well-deserved. He's growing into an impact player by the week.

Josh McDaniels: We had him on the down list a few weeks ago, so let's be fair. Yes, he called a lot of trick plays, but the first one for a score was a beauty and this was the most balanced the offense has looked in a long time.

"Josh does a great job of mixing plays in to take advantage of the defense's overaggressiveness, whether it's pursuit or run force or whatever it happens to be," Bill Belichick said.

TWO DOWN

CB Jalen Mills: Had two big penalties in rough spots and gave up the first Jets touchdown.

Injury report: That was a bit rough after this one. And the Chargers will be coming off a bye and the Patriots have to fly out there.

INJURIES

FS Devin McCourty (abs) returned to play.
DT Carl Davis (wrist) did not return.
TE Jonnu Smith (shoulder) did not return.
LB Harvey Langhi did not return.
RG Shaq Mason (abdomen) did not return.

QUOTE OF NOTE

"They punched us in the freaking mouth and scored points, so credit to them. That's it. I mean, I've been in part of some of those in my life. They just don't feel good." — Robert Saleh.

TOP PLAYS

TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

This is how it starts. Yes, it was the Jets — but you can't climb Mount Everest without scaling some smaller mountains first. As we've been telling you since ... forever, the offense is going to be a work in progress. Some fits and starts. This was a good start. Now the challenge is stacking success. They need to build off this against the Chargers. 

"We're not satisfied," said Jones. "We've got plenty of games left, and we're excited we finally kind of saw a little bit of a result that was good, and we've just got to stick to the formula and stick to the process."

Worried about the cornerback position. The Patriots were fine in this game, of course, but with Jonathan Jones on IR now, things are getting really thin. You have to think that the more tape that's out there, the more teams are going to go after Mills. Myles Bryant did a solid job today, but both Mills and Bryant will be facing a midterm exam against the Chargers. Sink or swim time.