Breaking down the biggest sequences in the Patriots' 15-10 victory over the Jets using analysis of the coaches' film. The plays/discussion points:
- Eight plays, including six third downs, in the first half that show Zach Wilson's struggles at being a capable NFL quarterback;
- What the Patriots exploited on Pharaoh Brown's 58-yard touchdown.
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3-15-NYJ 20 (13:33) (Shotgun) Z.Wilson pass incomplete short left [J.Bentley].
Opening drive, this was good defense. Patriots play zone, Josh Uche beats Mekhi Becton and Ja'Whaun Bentley cleans up to force the throwaway.
2-7-NYJ 28 (10:04) (Shotgun) Z.Wilson pass incomplete short left to G.Wilson (J.Bentley).
Wilson was open against zone coverage but Keion White's hit forces the incompletion. Good rush by White, but Becton initially jumped outside for no apparent reason, giving White a clean path to Wilson. The back is picking up Kyle Dugger's blitz and basically runs into White. This was poor protection.
3-7-NYJ 28 (9:59) (Shotgun) Z.Wilson pass short left to A.Lazard pushed ob at NYJ 40 for 12 yards (S.Wade). P1
One of Wilson's better throws of the game against Wade. The Jets should have gone after him more.
3-8-NYJ 42 (8:05) (Shotgun) Z.Wilson sacked at NYJ 35 for -7 yards (M.Judon).
This should not have been a sack, it should have been a first down. Wilson doesn't pull the trigger on two middle options, but the egregious error is not taking the easy checkdown to the tight end in the left flat. He was wide open and would have converted.
3-7-NYJ 9 (3:41) (Shotgun) Z.Wilson pass short middle to Mi.Carter pushed ob at NYJ 12 for 3 yards (J.Bentley; C.Gonzalez).
This is another play that should convert a first down with a capable QB. The Jets have a 7-man protection. Patriots show Cover 2 and are in Cover 2. Garrett Wilson is wide open in the hole along the left sideline. Despite having all day, Wilson takes the quick checkdown. This is horrible quarterbacking.
1-10-NYJ 38 (14:51) (Shotgun) Z.Wilson sacked at NYJ 26 for -12 yards (C.Barmore).
This is a 12-yard sack and it should be an easy first down. Randall Cobb is a good option to the left. The better option is Allen Lazard sitting down in the zone to Wilson's right. He stares him down but does not pull the trigger.
3-22-NYJ 26 (14:02) (Shotgun) Z.Wilson pass incomplete short middle.
The Jets are just trying to gain some yards and field position. The Jets have a good play called - sort of a middle screen to Wilson with waiting blockers. Wilson inexplicably looks left — no one is going out for a pass on that side — and doesn't throw the ball to Wilson on time. This play had a lot of potential.
3-6-NE 38 (2:00) (Shotgun) Z.Wilson pass short right to G.Wilson to NE 34 for 4 yards (C.Gonzalez).
Jets run the first eight plays of this drive to get into Patriots territory. Good defense from the Patriots. The rush is a factor and Christian Gonzalez has good coverage on Wilson. Wilson did have some other options but I'm OK going to your best guy, but this pass needs to be thrown earlier and to the sideline so Wilson can catch and turn up field. The ball, instead, is late and thrown inside, which leads Wilson to have shot to convert the first down.
1-10-NE 42 (11:49) M.Jones pass deep right to P.Brown for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
This appears to be a gameplan play for the Patriots. They saw something on film against this personnel/alignment that led to a mistake in the Jets secondary, and they exploited it.
"Yeah, it was just a little play-action play and we kind of knew it was going to work and he made a great catch and we worked on that in practice and it worked in the game, so that’s what we want," Mac Jones said.
How did he know it was going to work?
"I’m going to keep it to myself," he said.
The Jets had an obvious coverage bust. It appears they were in Cover 3 and either CB Sauce Gardner or S Jordan Whitehead was supposed to have the deep third on the side that Pharaoh Brown exploited.
"Just a little miscommunication in the back end," said Gardner. "I don't know what to really say about it because I'm not the type to name-call and call certain guys out. But we'll fix it, it will be better."
Let the record state that this play came from under center and on playaction - what a novel concept. Good job on the pass protection, and for Jones throwing this early and in stride for Brown.
Said Robert Saleh: "Mistakes like the touchdown can’t happen. They can’t happen. Unfortunately, it did."