Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ win over the Jets in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
It wasn't pretty, but the Patriots got their result: The Jets were definitely complicit with some busted coverages, passing on two field goals to get stuffed on fourth down, but the Patriots did enough to take control of the game at the end of the first half and thwarted the Jets' upset bid.
The Patriots' defense had some issues in the run game against Braelon Allen (17 for 78), but stiffened when needed. Jets were 3 of 12 on third and fourth downs. The Patriots blitzed 44% of the time and had a 44% pressure rate.
Drake Maye didn't turn the ball over for the second-straight game and his numbers would have been a lot better if A.J. Brown (3 catches on 10 targets for 27 yards) could catch the ball. Maye had some accuracy issues as well, but he hit the big ones. Corey Kiner (11 for 57 yards) came off the bench to help kill the clock for a field goal put the Patriots up 10 with about a minute left.
"Lucky to win," said Mike Vrabel. "We didn't play very well and we tried to beat ourselves, but we made enough plays in critical situations to get us through here.
"I just know that you have to be able to continue to improve, and I don't feel like we did. We won, which is the most important thing. I don't think we improved from what we had shown the previous two weeks, and I have to figure out why."
Injuries, especially on the line, are a big concern: Will Campbell did start the game and played the whole way, and they needed him to because they lost three starters (Morgan Moses, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Ben Brown) during the course of the game. They ended the game with no available linemen on the bench. The Patriots finished the game with a line of LT Campbell, LG Walter Rouse, C Jared Wilson, RG Matt Pryor and RT Caleb Lomu. The Jets blitzed 37% and got pressure on 43% of dropbacks. But the line of misfits did a good job, especially on the final drive that sealed the game
TURNING POINT
With the Jets trailing 17-13 in the middle of the third quarter, the Patriots faced 3rd and 10 at midfield when Maye hit DeMario Douglas for 12 yards on a play where Maye threw on time and with great anticipation. It was a big-boy completion. Patriots went on to score on a pass to a wide-open Hunter Henry to go up 23-13.
SECOND GUESS