EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Football fans across the country watching the Patriots in a national primetime spot Thursday night shut off their TVs – probably early – wondering how in the world this team actually had a winning record at one point this season.
The Patriots looked like the team many predicted before the 2024 season to finish with the NFL’s worst record in a 24-3 loss to the Jets.
The defense let quarterback Aaron Rodgers complete 77% of his passes with two touchdowns and allowed 133 yards on the ground. The offense gained a measly 93 net yards before quarterback Jacoby Brissett gave way to rookie Drake Maye, and running back Rhamondre Stevenson, their best player through three weeks, lost a fumble with the third ball he’s put on the ground in as many weeks.
Brissett finished just 12-of-18 for 98 yards and took five sacks. Through two weeks, he looked like a magician, pulling a rabbit out of his hat to avoid sacks despite constant pressure. The magic ran out. The rabbit ran away. It took Brissett longer and longer to get up from each subsequent hit.
Maye ended the night 4-of-8 for 22 yards with two carries for 12 yards and two sacks.
The Patriots’ defense allowed two quick first downs in the Jets’ first offensive series. Then Jets right tackle Morgan Moses was flagged for holding and quarterback Aaron Rodgers ran directly into Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise for a sack and 6-yard loss. The Jets were forced to punt after the seven-play, 27-yard drive.
The Jets’ defense made quick work of the Patriots’ offense, forcing a three-and-out. Brissett was hit on both of his dropbacks, when he went 1-of-2 for no gain. It was a sign of things to come.
The Jets got on the board after taking over from their own 27-yard line. Rodgers orchestrated an eight-play, 73-yard drive that culminated with a 10-yard touchdown catch from wide receiver Allen Lazard, who shimmied past cornerback Alex Austin, rotating in for Jonathan Jones, after a catch off of a short route. Rodgers was sharp, going 5-of-5, but linebacker Jahlani Tavai hurt the Patriots with a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty after stopping running back Breece Hall for no gain on a completion from Rodgers. Injured linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley’s replacement, Raekwon McMillan, also whiffed on a tackle on the first play of the series, an 11-yard run from rookie running back Braelon Allen.
The Patriots gained just one first down before punting again. Brissett was slow to get up after eating a sack on third down from Jets edge defenders Micheal Clemons and Will McDonald.
Rodgers and his running game were impossible to stop on their next drive, going 91 yards on 13 plays to go up 14-0 after a 1-yard run by running back Breece Hall. And that was after tight end Tyler Conklin was flagged for holding on the Jets’ second play of the drive. The Patriots’ tackling was abysmal on a 27-yard catch and run by Lazard. The Jets picked up four plays of 10-plus yards.
The Jets helped the Patriots put points on the scoreboard by committing two penalties for 34 yards, both on targets from Brissett to wide receiver Tyquan Thornton. The first was a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty by Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood, delivering a forearm shiver to Thornton’s head on an incompletion. The next was a 34-yard defensive pass interference penalty on cornerback D.J. Reed on a long incompletion to Thornton. Brissett was also sacked twice for a loss of 17 yards on the drive. Kicker Joey Slye hit a 44-yard field goal to cut the Jets’ lead to 14-3.
The Patriots’ defense ended things on a positive note as the first half expired. The Jets’ offense got down to the Patriots’ 27-yard line before three straight incompletions and a missed 45-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein. Brissett and the Patriots’ offense could do nothing to start off the second half, however, going three-and-out after a 1-yard loss from running back Rhamondre Stevenson, a 7-yard completion to wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk and an incompletion to wide receiver DeMario Douglas.
The Jets extended their lead to 21-3 on their next drive, which really signaled that nothing was going well for the Patriots. Rodgers hit wide receiver Garrett Wilson for a 2-yard touchdown over cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who had been their best player in the first half, limiting Wilson to 15 yards.
The Patriots were forced to punt again on their next drive after three straight holding penalties by their offensive linemen, including back-to-back flags from rookie left tackle Caedan Wallace.
The defense forced a punt, but the Patriots’ defense had the ball for just one play before running back Rhamondre Stevenson lost a fumble. The Jets extended their lead to 24-3 with good field position and a 28-yard field goal.
Austin (ankle), Wallace (knee) and left guard Michael Jordan (knee) didn’t finish the game. Both were ruled questionable.
Up
WR DeMario Douglas: It was nearly impossible to find three ups from this game. Douglas at least got to touch the ball this week, though. He rushed once for 9 yards and caught five passes on six targets for 49 yards.
K Joey Slye: Slye actually generated points, hitting a 44-yard field goal.
P Bryce Baringer: Baringer might be the Patriots’ MVP so far. He averaged 48.5 yards on four punts with no touchbacks and two inside the 20-yard line.
Down
LB Jahlani Tavai: Tavai took over the Patriots’ top linebacker role with Ja’Whaun Bentley out. He was flagged for unnecessary roughness and looked lost in coverage on a 22-yard gain by tight end Tyler Conklin.
Patriots offensive line: Jacoby Brissett dropped back 23 times. He was hit 10 times with five sacks. The O-line was also flagged four times.
CB Alex Austin: Austin replaced Marco Wilson as the Patriots’ top reserve cornerback. He gave up an 11-yard touchdown to Lazard when he couldn’t tackle him after a short completion.
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