The Patriots couldn’t depart MetLife Stadium on the unsuitable finish of the scoreboard if that they had any hopes conserving their season alive, to not point out conserving issues from going utterly sideways within the locker room.
While it didn’t look very fairly on the half, however the Patriots nonetheless managed to proper the ship and save their season.
Actually, Zach Wilson saved their season.
He’s only one extra Jets quarterback who sees ghosts in opposition to Bill Belichick’s protection.
At least, that’s the way in which it regarded with Wilson making a slew of loopy choices that led to pricey turnovers. For some purpose, Wilson stored complicated Devin McCourty for one in all his personal, because the defensive captain had two of the three interceptions snatched by the Patriots.
The protection, which pressured Wilson all afternoon, had an enormous help within the 22-17 win. They may not have secured a ton of sacks, however they have been in Wilson’s face — and thoughts — all through.
They spooked Wilson simply sufficient to make a distinction.
And the Patriots will fortunately take it. This was as near a must-win because it will get solely eight video games right into a season. A loss would have buried them within the AFC East, and would have added to the distress of getting blown out at house by the Chicago Bears on Monday evening.
“We needed it,” mentioned McCourty. “It’s powerful. You go on the market at house, you get booed, you don’t actually present up in any section of the sport. It was ugly for us. Chicago whooped us … and it’s the power to show the web page. And if you happen to’re being trustworthy, you don’t know what that appears like.
“We talked about it all week, but come Sunday, what’s going to happen? How are we going to show up? I thought the guys did a good job of just showing up.”
They confirmed up, and now they’ve life.
They received again to .500 at 4-4, and whereas they’re nonetheless in final place within the AFC East, they’ve a few winnable video games forward in opposition to Indy, and a second assembly with the Jets (5-3) following a bye.
So they did precisely what they wanted to do.
As for the elephant within the room? Well, even with the win, they nonetheless have questions in regards to the offense going ahead.
Mac Jones was OK, not nice, taking part in the entire recreation this week, versus simply three collection. The greatest information is the Patriots have him, and never Wilson, who was taken second general within the 2021 draft, and may’t get out of his personal method.
But this was clearly an enormous recreation for the Patriots quarterback. Coming off his shortened stint Monday, Jones had one thing to show.
During the week, Belichick mentioned Jones could be the starter for the Jets recreation, however made no guarantees past.
While Jones was good at occasions, particularly after they went no-huddle to begin the second half, he didn’t precisely silence the doubters.
Some of his decision-making was extremely questionable. He nonetheless appears shaky on the market at occasions.
But, to be honest, Jones wasn’t completely at fault. He wasn’t the only real purpose the offense couldn’t get into the top zone and wanted 5 area objectives by Nick Folk to recover from the hump.
The Patriots had safety points but once more. The offensive line was woeful. The Jets took benefit of a few turnstiles at left guard, heart, and proper sort out.
Rookie Cole Strange, backup heart James Ferentz (taking part in rather than the injured David Andrews), and Isaiah Wynn struggled all day to include the Jets cross rush.
Quinnen Williams, John Franklin-Myers and Carl Lawson spelled hassle up entrance all recreation, forcing Jones out of the pocket, or into errors.
Jones and the Patriots have been fortunate {that a} pick-six proper earlier than the half was referred to as again because of a questionable roughing the passer penalty on Franklin-Myers, who launched at Jones.
Beyond that, Matt Patricia’s play-calling was simply so-so, however he made a great determination to begin the second half going uptempo. That lastly received Jones in some rhythm.
He accomplished 24 of 35 passes for 194 yards on the day with a landing and a choose.
While Gang Green’s protection actually got here as marketed, there are some things for Jones and the offense to construct on. That’s additionally excellent news.
Rhamondre Stevenson has just about stepped into the lead again function, and delivered. He had 71 speeding yards, and 72 receiving yards to assist transfer the chains. He and Jakobi Meyers have been Jones’ greatest retailers.
Belichick, who needed to be thrilled to cross George Halas for teaching wins and transfer into second place behind solely Don Shula by beating the Jets, was in one in all his higher post-game moods.
For the primary time in a very long time, he was significantly upbeat and constructive about Jones. He was pleased with the way in which the Patriots stepped up on a brief week, praising Jones for his efforts.
“I thought Mac did a good job today. he got the ball out quickly,” mentioned Belichick. “We gave up some stress, however I assumed he did a great job taking good care of the ball.
“Stevenson is obviously just a tremendous back. Makes a lot of yards on his own … but I thought Mac did a great job.”
Translation?
Jones will likely be underneath heart in opposition to the Colts subsequent week, and maybe, he can proceed to get again to being a minimum of pretty much as good as he was for a lot of final season.
For his half, Jones mentioned being Belichick’s quarterback was “a huge blessing.” But he additionally is aware of to maintain that title, he nonetheless has to get higher.
“I thought today was a good win,” mentioned Jones. “I think the defense played exceptional … obviously, we did enough to put points up. We want to do better and we will.”
The Patriots will see the Jets once more in a pair weeks. Their second-place file now looks like a product of with the ability to disguise Wilson. But with explosive rookie again Breece Hall performed for the season, they couldn’t disguise him from the Patriots, particularly after the protection held the Jets to only 51 yards speeding.
So because of spooking the Jets quarterback, or as Matt Judon mentioned, “boogie-oogying” Wilson into some errant throws, the Patriots can take a breath.
For now, they nonetheless have life. The season isn’t lifeless.
“We found an identity, but we can’t keep letting that monster creep in,” mentioned Judon. “We have some good games, and then we have some bad games. Today was a good game. That’s the defense we want to put out there.”
It’s the kind of protection they want, with the offense nonetheless attempting to stand up to hurry.
Source: www.bostonherald.com