Patriots Hold Off Late Jets Comeback to Secure 3rd Straight Win

‘Jet's Week’ is always a week of football the New England Patriots take seriously, and although these two teams have had a lot of one-sided matchups lately, it's still circled on both teams' schedules.

For the 135th time, the division rivals squared off, and for the first time in a while, there were headlines leading up to it. The Patriots activated cornerback Christian Gonzalez after missing a few weeks with a shoulder injury and the long-awaited return of major offseason acquisition A.J. Brown, who is returning from an ankle injury sustained in Week 1.

The additions boosted the morale of a team that seemed to have found its stride lately and helped the Patriots with their 26-19 win this afternoon.

Out of the gate, the Jets orchestrated a methodical early scoring drive that ate nearly seven minutes off the clock in the first quarter, but it only gave them a 3-0 lead on a Jason Sanders field goal.

The Drake Maye of last week showed back up for a little while, linking up with Romeo Doubs on a gubslinger-style touchdown pass for 42 yards. Doubs would injure his shoulder on this play and leave for the locker room; he was ruled out for the rest of the afternoon. 

Before the half was through, Maye found DeMario Douglas in the end zone for a second straight-week touchdown pass on a nine-yard throw with 14 seconds remaining in the first half. It was 17-3 at half.

The New York Jets wouldn't leave Gillette Stadium without a fight, though, in the third quarter. Jets veteran quarterback Geno Smith found Omar Cooper Jr. on a 48-yard pass to ignite Gang Green. The Jets defense also had their star edge rusher, David Bailey, come out and get the ball back when he forced a crucial fumble recovered by linebacker Jamien Sherwood.

The Jets made things interesting with a 17-13 score after all this. It must be mentioned, though, that in the midst of this midgame surge by the Jets, Patriots edge rusher Elijah Ponder satayed on his hot streak as he recorded yet another sack on the season, putting him at 5.5. 

Still, the Patriots managed to hold on as injuries began to pile up again. Maye found tight end Hunter Henry a minute into the fourth quarter, but a missed extra point by Andy Borregales made the score 23-13, Pats.

Another Sanders field goal to get the Jets within a touchdown proved unhelpful as the Patriots offense overcame a key 3rd and 13 with a Maye to Hunter pass that kept things moving, ultimately ending with Borreglaes bouncing back from his missed extra point and making a 27-yard FG to make the score 26-16 with 1:35 left in the game.

The Patriots' defense didn't close out the game the way their offense needed them to; Geno Smith and company waltzed down the field, then opted to have Sanders kick a 36-yard field goal to get back within a touchdown, setting up an onside kick with 32 seconds remaining.

The ball went right to A.J. Brown, but he couldn't secure it; the Jets almost scooped up the kick, but New England recovered and secured a third straight win.

Maye finished Day 18 of 32 for 259 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The Patriots lost Doubs to injury, along with offensive linemen Ben Brown, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Morgan Moses. Despite the win, those injuries could be key as the Patriots head on the road in a quick turnaround to face the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football this coming week.

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