That was the get-right game the Patriots needed.
Following two straight losses, the Patriots rolled over the Jaguars 50-10, Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium.
New England scored touchdowns on its first five offensive possessions of the game. Its first punt came with 5:03 left in the third quarter.
With the win, the Patriots clinched a spot in the playoffs thanks to Miami losing to Tennessee.
Here are 10 quick thoughts from the game.
1. Getting off to a fast start was definitely a point of emphasis this week for the Patriots and it paid off. New England forced a three-and-out and then scored on its opening possession on a terrific 11-play, well-balanced drive. It was their seventh opening touchdown drive of the season, their most in a season since 2017. The Patriots came into the game averaging 6.2 points in the first quarter in wins, compared to 2.3 points in losses. Playing from ahead is a big key to their success this year.
2. After two subpar games, Mac Jones bounced back nicely. The rookie finished 22-for-30 passing for 227 yards and three touchdowns. He was removed from the game early in the fourth quarter. It was his ninth game this year with a completion percentage of 70% or higher, tying the rookie record set by Dak Prescott. He made some very nice throws down the field and showed some better pocket awareness than in the past. He also showed his running ability for the third straight week. This was the type of game he needed.
3. Damien Harris had another solid game where he ran extremely hard on his way to 35 yards on 12. His two touchdowns brought him to 14 on the season, which ties Curtis Martin for the second-most in Patriots history. For the first time since the bye week both Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson (107 yards, two touchdowns) were active and it made for a nice 1-2 punch. It’s hard to imagine a more physical running backs room in the league. Harris did not play much in the second half and the Patriots announced him as questionable to return with the hamstring injury he's been dealing with for several weeks.
4. After not forcing a turnover for the first time in 10 games last week against Buffalo, the Patriots defense finished with three against Jacksonville. While it came against one of the worst offenses in the game, it certainly gives the unit some momentum heading into Week 18 and the playoffs.
5. J.C. Jackson had another interception, his eighth of the season and first in roughly a month. It also tied an NFL record with 25 in his first four years (Lester Hayes, Everson Walls). The pick was a very athletic play and not one just just fell into his arms.
6. Kristian Wilkerson (practice squad) was active for the second time this season and he finished with four catches for 42 yards, including two touchdowns. They were the first catches of his career. Wilkerson was active over N’Keal Harry and he was able to surpass Harry’s season-high in catches with two. Wilkerson and Jones developed a nice chemistry in training camp when the rookie quarterback got a lot of work with the second unit.
7. The Patriots clearly managed Matthew Judon, who returned from the COVID list on Saturday. He did not play the first three series’ of the game and played sparingly the rest of the way. This meant more snaps for players like Chase Winovich and Josh Uche. Meanwhile, it seemed Ja’Whaun Bentley got his normal reps.
8. Overall, the Patriots got as many players as they could involved on both sides of the ball. Offensively, there were a number of different packages and then on defense a lot of players rotated in and out -- more so than usual.
9. Although the Jaguars were missing several players due to COVID and then some season-ending injuries to key players, they did not show up at all. It’s tough to watch Trevor Lawrence have to play with his surrounding cast when he’s handled this debacle of a season about as well as he could.
10. Harry and Joejuan Williams being healthy inactives over practice squad players is not a good sign as it relates to their futures with the team. Those two players were the Patriots’ first two selections of the 2019 draft. It was also interesting the Patriots removed Harry (hip) from the injury report on Friday.
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