FOXBOROUGH, MA (WTIC News) -- A pair of second half fumbles kept the New York Jets alive, but Drake Maye’s three touchdown passes, a workmanlike running game behind a makeshift offensive line and a defense that came up with clutch third and fourth down stops were enough to lift the New England Patriots to their third straight win, 26-19.
“We’re lucky to win,” said head coach Mike Vrabel. “Fortunate, whatever… We tried to beat ourselves, but we made enough plays in critical situations to help us get through here today.”
Maye (18-32 for 235 yds.) became the first Patriot to throw for 3 or more touchdowns in 3 straight games since Tom Brady did it in 2014. Maye has 10 scoring strikes over that span.
Maye did not throw an interception and wasn't sacked, but like his coach, the quarterback expressed a bit of disappointment regarding the overall effort, saying, “It was sloppy, it wasn’t clean… We weren’t protecting the football on offense. It took us a while to get into a rhythm.”
The Patriots seemed to have a comfortable halftime lead at 17-3, but those mistakes kicked in and the Jets stayed close. Rusty in his first game since the opener, WR A.J. Brown (3 catches on 10 targets for 27 yds., 3 drops) got his hands on a 4th down conversion attempt by Maye, but couldn’t hang on.
The turnover on downs set up New York at their own 40 yard line and the Jets’ talented rookies took over.
First, Omar Cooper escaped behind the defense and caught a 48 yard touchdown bomb from Geno Smith to bring the Jets to within 17-10.
Then, 2026 first round pick David Bailey stripped the ball from Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson, with New York recovering the fumble. The Jets were on the move, but Elijah Ponder’s third down sack (he has 5.5 on the year) of Smith held New York to a 36 yard Jason Sanders field goal. It was 17-13 Patriots.
New England got it together to expand the lead. Maye threw an accurate ball to Kyle Williams on the right sideline for 12 yards on third down. Corey Kiner (11 carries for 57 yds.) ran the ball back-to-back times for a combined 13 yards. Maye found Hunter Henry for a 7 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good, but the Patriots led by 10, 23-13.
Henry moved up to third all-time in the Patriots history for receiving yardage and touchdowns by a tight end, trailing only Rob Gronkowski and Ben Coates.
The Patriots, who had two sacks in the first half, turned up the heat on Smith, who was drilled hard by rookie LB Gabe Jacas, then knocked down by LB Dre’Mont Jones, who was called for roughing the passer. Smith’s overthrow on the next play resulted in the game’s only interception, by CB Charles Woods.
A few plays later, Demario Douglas was racing down the sideline with 39 yard catch that could have helped seal the game, but Jamien Sherwood of the Jets surprised him from behind and punched the ball out for a second Patriots lost fumble. The result was a Jason Sanders 40 yard field goal, bringing the Jets back within 7 with 7:20 remaining in the 4th quarter.
Then, the Patriots finally put it away with a time-consuming drive, keyed by Kiner, running behind a line staggered by the departure of three injured players: LG Alijah Vera-Tucker, RG Ben Brown and RT Morgan Moses. Walter Rouse, Matt Pryor and rookie Caleb Lomu stepped in effectively. Andy Borregales knocked through a 27 yard field goal with 1:12 left to put the Patriots back up by 10.
“I felt like we really gained some energy,” said Vrabel, “and that was impressive to go that long and get the ball down there.”
Sanders’ field goal in the final minute set the final margin at 26-19 Patriots.
There was a brief time on Sunday when the Jets actually held the lead. They settled for 3 points on the opening drive after they thought they scored 6. Geno Smith connected with Cooper at the goal line for an apparent 14 yard touchdown, but Tim Patrick was called for offensive pass interference on the play. After a Kevin Byard pass breakup on third down, the Jets settled for a 42 yd Sanders field goal.
Maye was never sacked by the Jets, but he was popped by S Minkah Fitzpatrick at the end of a 3 yard run on the Patriots’ first drive of the day and immediately got back up.
With the Jets still leading 3-0 in the first quarter, back-to-back sacks by Milton Williams and Christian Barmore forced a Jets punt. Marcus Jones brought the return over midfield to set up a drive start at the Jets’ 42.
After a catch by Brown was overturned by replay, Maye appeared to overthrow Romeo Doubs in the endzone—but Doubs accelerated for a racing, diving grab and a 42 yd. touchdown to give New England its first lead. Doubs was injured as he crashed to the ground and did not return.
The Jets drove to the Patriots’ 30 on their next possession but faced 4th and 2. Braelon Allen (17 carries for 78 yds.) seemed to have good momentum on the run up the middle but was outmuscled by LB Robert Spillane, who made the tackle to force the turnover on downs.
After a Patriots punt to the Jets’ 3 yard line, New York had another good drive going but turned it over on downs again. Geno Smith’s 4th and 1 sneak fell short of the line to gain.
That got Rhamondre Stevenson and the Patriots’ offense going. Stevenson converted a 4th-and-1, then ran for 12 yards to convert a 3rd down. Maye missed A.J. Brown on a 3rd down pass, leaving Andy Borregales with a 32 yd. FG. It was 10-3 Patriots.
After a Jets second quarter punt, Maye hit Brown, then Henry twice. Bailey was called for roughing the passer, bringing the Patriots to the 9 yd. line. From there, Maye hit DeMario Douglas (7 rcp. for 86 yds.) with a 9 yd touchdown strike just before halftime. It was the 3rd scoring catch of the year for Douglas to tie Doubs for the team lead.
--The Jets are now 5-22 all time at Gillette Stadium.
