FOXBORO — Late in coaching camp, Patriots gamers would climb the steps that bridge the concrete perimeter of Gillette Stadium to the observe fields exterior the stadium’s south finish.
At the highest of the steps, veteran cornerback Jalen Mills would greet his fellow defenders with an out-stretched hand and a message.
“Championship defense today, championship defense,” Mills would say. “Let’s go.”
Ten video games into the common season, Mills is talking that mindset into existence.
The Patriots entered Sunday’s rematch with the Jets ranked close to the highest of each defensive class, and their standings ought to solely rise after a dominant 10-3 win Sunday. The Pats pocketed 5 sacks and allowed a season-low 103 yards to a Jets group that had run up 387 of their prior assembly. Best of all, of these 103, solely two got here after halftime, a defensive franchise document.
“Still no ceiling,” Mills mentioned of the protection. “There’s still no ceiling.”
After fixing a pair wrinkles the Jets put in over their very own bye week, the Patriots preyed on Zach Wilson’s risk-averse strategy at quarterback. Several defenders disclosed post-game that they anticipated Wilson to play extra conservatively after serving up three interceptions to them on Oct. 30. So, they disguised their protection pre-snap and waited for him to both try a secure throw or get flushed out of the pocket by their hounding move rush.
“We know that he’s going to take what he sees and have an idea what he’s going to do already in his head,” mentioned Patriots security Kyle Dugger, who earned his first profession sack. “We definitely made sure that we were disguising heavy, so that post-snap he would have to think a little more, take a little longer and our D-line can do what they do.”
Judon led the Patriots’ move rush with 1.5 sacks, and later defined the plan was to use a managed strain on Wilson. The second-year gunslinger escaped for 2 scrambles, however in any other case folded inside pockets that routinely closed round him. Wilson once more accomplished fewer than half his passes in opposition to the Pats and managed a meager 77 yards by way of the air.
“Don’t get up the field behind the quarterback, just make him beat us from the pocket,” Judon mentioned. “Make him throw the ball instead of using his legs.”
The Jets’ working sport hardly fared any higher, grinding out 59 yards at 2.6 yards per carry. Wilson completed as their main rusher with 26 yards, adopted by working backs Michael Carter (19) and James Robinson (10). Unlike the groups’ earlier assembly, when the Patriots pulled away with a two-score lead late, New York may lean on its working sport within the second half and legitimately threaten the Pats with run fakes on play-action passes.
But it didn’t matter. The Patriots dealt with the Jets on the line of scrimmage, swarmed Wilson and squeezed 10 punts from 12 possessions, the others ensuing ultimately of half and a subject purpose. They’re permitting 16.9 factors per sport on the season and fewer than 12 per sport over their final six kickoffs.
Even Jets coach Robert Saleh felt hopeless watching Wilson and Co. work Sunday. Did he ever sense that the offense may get going?
“At any point?” Saleh requested the inquiring reporter. “No.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com