EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Patriots waited 5 lengthy weeks for Mac Jones to play a full recreation.
On Sunday, that wait ended with Jones untying and dumping a combined bag of quarterback play over 4 quarters at MetLife Stadium. He tossed one interception and had one other negated by penalty. But in the end, Jones accomplished 68.6% of his throws and led six scoring drives, indicators of a reliable passer.
Simultaneously, the Patriots protection waited out Zach Wilson, a quarterback touted for his athleticism, arm expertise and talent to increase performs. Basically, the anti-Jones. And as Jones labored to sharpen his accuracy and decision-making, Wilson rewarded the Pats’ lack of religion.
Because as a substitute of sinking their season, Wilson lifted them again to .500 and proved that even when the Jets enter at 5-2, they’re nonetheless the identical outdated Jets.
Wilson’s three interceptions fueled a 22-17 Patriots win, their thirteenth straight in as soon as hate-filled rivalry that’s taken a flip towards dormancy. The Pats took management with a 13-point third quarter began by Jones’ 5-yard landing go to Jakobi Meyers on fourth-and-1. Meyers’ rating pulled the Pats forward into their first lead, and ensuing subject targets from kicker Nick Folk, who went 5-for-5, quickly lifted them right into a lead they by no means relinquished.
Jones completed 24-of-35 for 194 yards, one landing and a choose. He additionally took six sacks, a results of leaky go safety and Jones taking too lengthy to dump sure throws. The Patriots began a backup heart and rotated gamers at left guard and proper sort out whereas Jones labored to knock off the proverbial rust.
But his sins had been nothing in comparison with Wilson’s. Wilson threw his first interception throughout a 2-minute drill on the finish of the primary half, one other whereas lazily making an attempt a third-quarter throwaway, and sailed his remaining interception into the keen arms of Pats captain Devin McCourty within the fourth quarter. McCourty grabbed Wilson’s second and third picks, then watched as he threw a remaining landing with 1:56 remaining that led to a misplaced onside kick.
The Patriots (4-4) now head into their remaining recreation earlier than a Week 10 bye. Offensively, operating again Rhamondre Stevenson led all gamers with 71 dashing yards. Stevenson added seven catches for 72 yards, whereas Meyers topped everybody with a dozen receptions.
Defensively, the Pats’ go rush hounded Wilson all day, although solely exterior linebacker Josh Uche and defensive sort out Lawrence Guy registered sacks.
Both groups opened by going three-and-out and following these drives with a made first- purpose. The Jets broke the 3-3 tie early within the second quarter, as Zach Wilson hit Garrett Wilson on consecutive passes for 33 yards and Pats security Jabrill Peppers (team-high 8 tackles) prolonged a long term with a late hit. Three snaps later, Zach Wilson rifled a back-shoulder landing go to backup tight finish Tyler Conklin in entrance of the left pylon to
The Patriots appeared primed to reply till Jones’ arm was hit at midfield on a protracted go supposed for Kendrick Bourne. Instead of discovering Bourne deep down the left seam, the ball fluttered excessive within the air and dropped into the ready arms of Jets defensive again Michael Carter II. Lucky for Jones, the Pats protection compelled a right away three-and-out, however all his offense might do was flip the ball over once more.
Facing fourth-and-1 on the Jets’ 24-yard line with two minute left, Jones drifted left from a shotgun alignment and overthrew a hopeless go supposed for Jakobi Meyers. But once more, the Patriots protection saved him, this time pressuring Zach Wilson into an interception over the center. Wilson gifted the go to linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, who hadn’t grabbed a choose since his rookie season of 2018.
And had been it not for one more Jets reward, the Pats could have misplaced the sport two performs later.
After a 15-yard dump-off to Stevenson, Jones bounced inside a well-built pocket on the Jets’ 25 with a half-minute to go. He turned left and whipped a brief go left for Meyers, who broke proper on the precise second the ball left his hand and obtained cracked from behind a second later by Jets defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers. The crowd went bananas.
Not as a result of Franklin-Myers had been whistled for a roughing the passer penalty, however Jones’ go initially regarded like one other interception for Carter II. And not simply any interception, however an 84-yard pick-six. Instead, the late hit nullified the play, the Pats known as three straight runs and drained the clock for a half-ending subject purpose earlier than
They trotted into the locker room with a 10-6 deficit, earlier than rising because the smarter and extra sound workforce most anticipated them to be. Folk hit from 49, 45 and 52 yards within the second half to place Gang Green away.
Here had been one of the best and worst Patriot performances from Sunday:
Best
Okay Nick Folk The longtime veteran went 5-for-5 for the second time this season.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson Running behind a harm and ineffective offensive line, Stevenson created most of his yards on his personal and served as a dependable pass-catcher out of the backfield.
Worst
Pass safety Miserable. All recreation. Six sacks mentioned all of it.
OL Cole Strange Two holding penalties led to a benching within the second half for Isaiah Wynn, who performed proper sort out and left guard.
LB DaMarcus Mitchell The rookie particular teamer recovered a punt exterior the Jets’ 5-yard line however rolled towards the top zone after which let his momentum over the purpose line, inflicting a touchback.
Source: www.bostonherald.com