Breaking down three key sequences from the Patriots' win over the Jets, mostly through video analysis, including:
- Drake Maye setting up TreVeyon Henderson's second touchdown;
- Incredible Maye sequence leding to Henderson's third score;
- Elijah Ponder (with an assist from Christian Barmore) and Dell Pettus shutting down the Jets.
2-11-NYJ 46 (9:14) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short middle to M.Hollins to NYJ 27 for 19 yards (T.Adams; Q.Stiggers).
1-10-NYJ 27 (8:24) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep left to M.Hollins pushed ob at NYJ 7 for 20 yards (B.Stephens). Penalty on NYJ-J.Brownlee, Illegal Contact, declined. Penalty on NYJ-T.Adams, Illegal Contact, declined.
1-7-NYJ 7 (7:58) B.Brown reported in as eligible. T.Henderson left tackle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Just a ridiculous play from Maye after Will Campbell gives up the initial pressure (and then had an impressive finish) to elude two rushers and deliver a pass to a wide-open Mack Hollins, who stayed alive after his initial dig route.
Maye finds Hollins again on the next play. What was impressive was how Maye read the cornerback's hips and knew he was beaten.
On the touchdown run, many have made a big deal about Mike Onwenu's block ... meh. Ben Brown made the play by blocking two people, including the one Onwenu finished off. Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury did just enough on the backside to spring Henderson, who finally showed some patience on this run and showed some cutback ability.
1-10-NE 31 (11:16) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep middle to M.Hollins to NE 48 for 17 yards (J.Sherwood).
1-10-NE 48 (10:41) (Shotgun) T.Henderson right guard to 50 for 2 yards (Q.Williams).
2-8-50 (10:01) D.Maye pass deep right to S.Diggs to NYJ 29 for 21 yards (T.Adams).
1-10-NYJ 29 (9:16) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to S.Diggs to NYJ 11 for 18 yards (J.Sherwood).
1-10-NYJ 11 (8:28) B.Brown reported in as eligible. T.Henderson left end to NYJ 6 for 5 yards (J.Tufele).
2-5-NYJ 6 (7:51) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short left to T.Henderson for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Great call by Josh McDaniels, anticipating Tampa 2 coverage as Stefon Diggs clears out the middle linebacker so Hollins is wide open in the zone. Great protection to boot.
Maye later finds Diggs wide open again in the Jets' terrible zone after eluding two more rushers around Hunter Henry and Campbell.
Maye outruns Jermaine Johnson to flip a ball along the sideline to Diggs, who looked like he thought the play was basically over.
The TD was a McDaniels short week special as the Patriots quickly got on the ball to hide Diggs in the backfield as confusion with the Jets ensued. Diggs runs to the flat, taking two defenders with him, leaving Henderson wide open as Maye finds him.
3-2-NE 13 (2:34) (No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Fields sacked at NE 15 for -2 yards (E.Ponder)
4-4-NE 15 (2:02) (No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Fields pass incomplete short right to J.Ruckert (D.Pettus).
Jets were threatening to make it a game, but the Patriots had great coverage, and Barmore cleared a path for Ponder to the sack on third down.
Dell Pettus, working with Carlton Davis, was alert to the possible rub route, and had Davis change his level accordingly. Pettus fought through the rub and helped knock the ball away. Game over.
MILTON WILLIAMS HEADS TO INJURED RESERVE
NEWS: The New England Patriots announced today that they have placed DT Milton Williams on injured reserve, and signed rookie LB Bradyn Swinson to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.
The initial injury situation around Williams didn't appear too bad, considering Mike Vrabel said Williams could have possibly continued, and wanted to, but Vrabel took the decision out of his hands.
But subsequent testing revealed Williams has a high ankle sprain. It is curious that the Patriots put Williams on IR, instead of just carrying him on the roster because he has to miss a minimum of four games. The Patriots have a bye week in between, so that means he's going to be out for five weeks. That might be more than a high ankle sprain. It also means Williams, the team's best defensive player to this point, will miss the important Bills and Ravens games.
I'm not sure the Swinson move had much to do with Williams. He might have had an offer to sign with another team, and the Patriots had to match. Also, the Patriots' edge rush has been underwhelming of late, so they could be looking for a flash from Swinson. Still, they now have six players for edge/outside linebacker: K'Lavon Chaisson, Harold Landry, Anfernee Jennings, Elijah Ponder, Caleb Murphy and Swinson. That's a lot of guys. I feel like someone tried to poach Swinson.
