Patriots 3 - 24 Jets summary, stats, scores and highlights | NFL Week 3
It was a perfect night in the Meadowlands for Jets fans who have been waiting ove a year for this moment. Not only did they win, not only is Rodgers back, but this team looked like it can be a contender in the AFC if they play like this. The only thing that was missing was Rodgers connecting with his young star receiver Garett Wilson. He made sure to look for the No. 5 when the Jets got close to the goal line in the third quarter. Rodgers ended the game 27/35 for 281 yards and two TDs in the first game that let's everyone know the four time MVP still has some gas in the tank.
This was maybe the most important thing Jets fans saw in the 27-3 blowout win. Aaron Rodgers wasn't just zinging the ball all over the place. He was getting out of the pocket, creating plays, throwing on the run and occasionally scrambling. Football fans are going to be holding their breath everytime Rodgers decides to run it, but he looked comfortable and even took a few shots before popping right back up.
The run game helped the Jets control the Patriots and keep their defense on the field. New York had the ball for 40 minutes as Breece Hall and Braelon Allen picked up first down after first down. Hall ended the night with 54 yards and this TD on 16 carries while Allen led the Jets with 55 yard on 11 carries.
The Jets have plenty of offensive weapons, but the defense has been what has kept this team relevant over the last couple years. This is a great defense with talent at every position, and they pressured Jacoby Brissett all night. This was one of the 5 times they dropped Brissett who was limited to just 98 yards passing. The Patriots gained just 139 yards against a defense that never let them find a rhythm.
After more than a year long wait, Aaron Rodgers threw his first TD in the Meadowlands as a Jet. He found his old Packer teammate Allen Lazard who made the catch and had plenty to do to get to the endzone. Rodgers started the game 7/8 and for the first time this season he looked to have that Aaron Rodgers swag that we have grown so accustomed to seeing.
The New York Jets waited until their home debut to put on their best performance of the early season. Aaron Rodgers looked like the pre-injury Aaron Rodgers in the Jets 24-3 win over the New England Patriots.
The Jets came out and controlled the game from the very start. Rodgers was moving down the field and Breece Hall took advantage of the defense having to respect the pass by busting some big early runs.
IT'S ALL OVER FROM THE MEADOWLANDS!!!
The Jets came out and controlled the game from the very beginning. Aaron Rodgers is looking like pre injury Aaron Rodgers, and that's scary for the rest of the league.
Maye is dropped by McKinnley for a loss of 7 and that is going to do it!
Maye finds Douglas on the crossing route over the middle and he picks up 15 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the NE 7.
Maye's pass falls incomplete looking for Douglas on the slant pattern.
4th and 10 from the NY 22.
Maye under pressure and his pass was affected by the rush and falls incomplete for Boutte.
3rd and 10 from the NY 22.
Maye looks right to Hooper but the pass off the mark.
2nd and 10 from the NY 22.
Maye rolls right and he tucks it for an 11 yard gain.
1st and 10 from the NY 22.
Short pass to the flat for Douglas who runs out of bounds after a gain of 5.
4th and 8 from the NY 33.
Hasty gets five yards on the run to the left side.
3rd and 13 from the NY 38.
Maye is dropped by McDonald for a loss of 8 yards.
2nd and 18 from the NY 43.
Maye finds Boutte on a short pass to the right side for a 2 yard gain and a first down.
1st and 10 from the NY 35.
Gibson out of the shotgun and he takes the run to the right side for a gain of 8.
3rd and 2 from the NY 37.
Screen pass to Gibson but he is dropped for no gain.
2nd and 10 from the NY 45.
Gibson keeps the drive alive with a five yard gain after breaking a couple tackles.
1st and 10 from the NY 45.
Maye tucks it and runs but he is taken down after a gain of 1.
4th and 2 from the 50.
Gibson ges 7 yards up the middle out of the shotgun.
3rd and 3 from the NE 49.
Here comes NE and Drake Maye is going to be under center for the rest of the way.
His first pass on the left side to Hooper is almost picked off by Carter who came from behind and got his hands on that pass.
2nd and 10 from the NE 42.
Rodgers goes deep down the field for Wilson who was open but that pass was just short and that was maybe the only throw he didn't put right on the money tonight.
4th and 4 from the NY 26.
Allen up the middle for a gain of three.
3rd and 4 from the NY 26.
Hall to the left side and he picks up 3 yards on first down.
2nd and 7 from the NY 23.
Hall moves the chains with a one yard run up the middle.
1st and 10 from the NY 20.
Hall to the left side and he is taken down after a gain of 1.
3rd and 1 from the NE 18.
NY start the drive from their 9, and he finds Wilson on the comeback route on the left sideline for 8 yards.
2nd and 2 from the NE 17.
Brissett feels the pressure and he is dropped by Kinlaw for a loss of 9.
4th and 17 fro the NE 38.
Brissett's pass to Henry falls incomplete on the right side.
3rd and 8 from the NE 47.
Gibson picks up two yards on the run to the left side.
2nd and 8 from the NE 47.
Gibson picks up the first down with a gain of seven on the left side.
1st and 10 from the NE 45
NE get the ball from their 30 yard line and Brissett finds Douglas over the middle for a gain of 7 yards.
2nd and 3 from the NE 37.
FIELD GOAL!!!
Zuerlein drills a 28 yard field gaol and the lead stretches to three TDs.
NY are up 24-3 five minutes into the 4th quarter.
Rodgers to the endzone for Williams who had it in his hands but couldn't corral it as he hit the ground.
4th and 3 from the NE 9.
Allen with another tough run to the right side for a gain of 5.
3rd and 3 from the NE 9.
Rodgers takes off after rolling right and he slides for a gain of two.
2nd and 8 from the NE 14.
Rodgers finds Williams with a lob down the left side and he adjusts to make the catch with a defender all over him.
1st and 10 from the NE 16.
Davis to the left side and he is dropped for a loss of a yard.
3rd and 7 from the NE 34.
Davis with the run to the left and he picks up 4 yards on first down.
2nd and 6 from the NE 33.
FUMBLE!!!
NE get the ball from the 31 after an unnecessary roughness call on the Jets.
Stevenson got the handoff and got the ball ripped out of his hands by Clark and the Jets take the ball back!
NY ball at the NE 37!
Rodgers to Gipson in the flat and he picks up 5 yards but will be well short of the marker.
4th and long coming up and the Jets will punt
WE ARE HEADED TO THE FINAL QUARTER FROM THE MEADOWLANDS WITH THE JETS ALL OVER THE PATRIOTS.
Rodgers gets dropped by Uche for a loss of 8 yards.
3rd and 33 coming up for NY from their 46 yard line.
Rodgers looking for the back shoulder throw for Wilson on the left sideline but that pass was behind the WR. An unnecessary roughness call on NY will bring them back 15 yards.
2nd and 25 from the NE 46.
Davis up the left side and he moves the chains for 3 yards.
1st and 10 from the NE 31.
Rodgers over the middle for Conklin and he takes it 9 yards on a first down catch and run.
2nd and 1 from the NE 34.
Rodgers rolls left and finds Conklin sitting in the middle of the zone for a 22 yard gain. Rodgers got hit by Uche after the play and the flag flies for an extra 15 yards.
1st and 10 from the NE 43.
Rodgers finds Allen out of the backfield and he steam rolls a defender before picking up 7 yards.
3rd and 2 fro the NY 20.
NY take over from their 12 yard line, and Hall picks up a yard on the run to the right side.
2nd and 9 from the NY 13.
Brissett saw pressure come immediately and Williams got to him for a 12 yard sack and the Pats are now out of field goal range.
4th and very long from the NE 45.
Brissett finds Hooper inside the 5 but another holding penalty against NE will take that play off the board.
3rd and 14 from the NE 33.
Brissett's pass over the middle to Douglas is incomplete. Two flags fly for PI and holding, so the offsetting penalty will force a replay of the down.
3rd and 4 from the NE 23.
Brissett looking to the endzone for Thornton but he was double covered and that pass is batted away.
3rd and 4 from the NE 23.
Brissett finds Douglas over the middle on the stop route for a gain of 6 yards.
2nd and 4 from the NE 23.
Screen pass set up for Hooper who makes the catch and the right side and follows his blockers to the left sideline for a gain of 19 yards!
1st and 10 from the NE 29.
NE take over from the 30 and it's Brissett going long for Douglas down the right side for a gan of 22 yards to start the drive.
1st and 10 from the NY 48.
The night has been going perfectly for the Jets. The only thing that was missing was a Rodgers connection to his young star WR Garett Wilson. Rodgers made sure to look for him inside the five to put the Jets up 18.
TOUCHDOWN JETS!!!
Rodgers goes to the right pylon for Wilson and that pass just snuck by the defender and Wilson makes the catch and makes sure he's past the pylon.
Jets lead 21-3 with 6:18 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Rodgers finds Wilson in the flat on the left side and he takes it down to the 2 for a first down.
1st and Goal from the 2.
Rodgers look to Hall lined up in the flat and he picks up 6 yards on the right side.
2nd and 4 from the NE 10.
Rodgers rolls out to the right side and escapes the pressure before finding Conklin for a big gain of 18 yards.
1st and 10 from the NE 16.
Rodgers over the middle to Allen out of the backfield for 4 yards.
3rd and 3 from the NE 34.
Allen with the first round run to the right side for a gain of 3 yards.
2nd and 7 from the NE 38.
Rodgers breaks out of the pocket and finds Ruckert for a 4 yard gain on the right sideline to move the chains.
1st and 10 from the NE 41.
Hall to the left side and he gets 5 yards to bring up 3rd and short.
3rd and 1 from the NE 45.
Hall up the middle for a gain of four yards on first down.
2nd and 6 from the 50.
Rodgers takes off to the right side and he picks up a first down with a scramble to the sideline. He got tackled at the end of the play and the entire stadium gasped but he popped right back up and patted the defender on the head.
1st and 10 from the NY 46.
NY get the ball back from the 34 and Hall gets a yard on the run to the left side.
2nd and 9 from the NY 35.
Brissett goes over the middle for Douglas while under heavy pressure and his pass to Douglas skipped off the grass and the Pats go 3 and out.
4th and 4 and NE will punt.
Brissett over the middle for Polk who makes the catch on the slant pattern for 7 yards.
3rd and 4 from the NE 36.
The Pats start the half from the 30 and Stevenson is brought down by Willams for a loss of 1.
2nd and 11 from the NE 29.
WE ARE BACK IN THE MEADOWLANDS FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION.
Hall capped off the second TD drive with a run from a yard out. Hall has 43 yards and Allen has 40 on 6 carries.
The Pats got a field goal on the next drive thanks to a couple of penalties that put NE in position to put points on the board, but it's been a rough go on the offensive end for the Patriots.
If we were doubting Aaron Rodgers, and if he still had it, this first half should tell you all you need to know. He was getting out of the pocket and dropping dimes all over the field. He's got 170 yards and a TD on 15/20 passing.
With half of the Pats offensive line out injured tonight, the Jets have been giving Brissett nightmares. He's been sacked 3 times and pressured countless others.
Rodgers went was 7/8 to start the game, and his seventh completion turned into his first TD as a Jet in the Meadowlands. It just happened to be to his old Green Bay teammate Allen Lazard.
The Jets came out rolling in the first half, scoring on two of their first three drives thanks to Aaron Rodgers and Breece Hall. We have been waiting for him to have a breakout game, and this might be it. He's got 11 carried for 43 yards.
WE ARE HEADED TO HALFTIME HERE FROM THE MEADOWLANDS!!!
Brissett goes to the end zone on a hail mary, but that pass is batted down!
Brissett over the middle for Douglas who makes the grab for a gain of 12 yards.
1st and 10 from the NE 47.
MISSED FIELD GOAL!!!
Zuerline misses the 45 yard field goal wide left and the Jets leave some points on the field!
NE ball from the 35.
Rodgers looking for Wilson on the out route on the left side but that pass was too far out in front of the WR.
4th and 10 from the NY 27.
Rodgers had some time but nothing was open so he threw it over the end zone and into the second row.
3rd and 10 from the NY 27.
Rodgers goes short to Hall and that pass falls incomplete on the right side.
2nd and 10 from the NE 27.
Rodgers over the middle for Williams on the slant and he moves the chains on an 11 yard catch. Timeout Jets with 24 seconds to go.
1st and 10 from the NE 27.
Allen gets the pass out of the backfield and he is stopped after a short gain of 2. Timeout Jets with 29 seconds left.
3rd and 5 from the NE 32.
Rodgers roll to the right and takes a shot down field for Wilson but that pass was a hair over thrown. A flag for illegal motion will bring the Jets back 5 yards.
2nd and 7 from the NE 34.
Hall cuts inside and picks up 8 yards on a run up the middle. Timeout Jets with 46 seconds to go.
2nd and 2 from the NE 29 coming up.
Hall up the middle and he moves the chains with a 2 yard run.
1st and 10 from the NE 37.
Hall bounced off the pile up the middle and cut left to the sideline where he got 8 yards.
2nd and 2 from the NE 39.
After a false start on NY, Rodgers hits Conklin over the middle for for a big gain of 22 yards and that will take up to the Two Minute Warning!
1st and 10 from the NY 47 after the break.
Allen gets the handoff out of the shotgun and he picks up 6 yards up the middle.
3rd and 3 from he NY 31.
NY take over from their 24 with 3:52 to go, and Hall bounces off a tackle in the backfield and gets back to the line of scrimmage.
2nd and 9 from the NY 25.
The Jets have come out red hot tonight against the Pats. Rodgers and Lazard got the first TD, and Hall punched in the second TD from a yard out.
FIELD GOAL!!!
Slye puts the Pats on the board with a 44 yard field goal after penalties moved NE down the field on that drive.
NY lead NE 14-3 with under 4:00 to go in the 1st half.
Short pass to Gibson on the left side and he spins his way up field for a 7 yard gain.
4th and 11 from the NY 26.
Screen pass set up for Gibson and he is dropped after a gain of one as the Pats were waiting for that play.
3rd and 18 from the NY 33.
Brissett on the play action and as he turned he had two Jets waiting for him to drop him for a loss of 9.
2nd and 19 from the NY 34.
Brissett goes deep down the left side for Thornton and a flag flies for pass interference on Reed.
1st and 10 from the NY 25.
Brissett got wrapped up by Clark, but didn't go down. The refs whistled the play down before he could dump it off to Douglas and that results in a loss of 8
3rd and 9 from the NE 41.
Douglas to the right side and he picks up 9 yards on first down.
2nd and 1 from the NE 49.
Brissett over the middle for Thornton but that pass falls incomplete. A late flag flies on NY for unnecessary roughness and the Pats get a first down.
1st and 10 from the 40.
Stevenson breaks a run up the middle after bouncing off a defender, but that run of 13 yards will be coming back after a face mask on Stevenson as he tried to stiff arm the defender.
2nd and 9 from the 25
The Pats get the ball back from the 24 and they need a score on this drive before this game gets out of hands. Stevenson gets the handoff to the left side and he picks up 3 yards on first down.
2nd and 7 from the NE 27.
TOUCHDOWN JETS!!!!
Hall got hit at the line of scrimmage, but he spun off and dove towards the goal line. He was ruled short, but after a quick review they call that a TD!
NY lead 14-0 midway through the second quarter.
Rodgers with the play action and he looks to the back of the endzone for Conklin but he couldn't make the diving catch with a defender all over him.
3rd and Goal from the 1.
Hall up the middle and he gets all the way to the 1 yard line before getting stood up.
2nd and Goal from the 1.
Rodgers over the middle for Conklin and he takes off with a run after the catch inside the 10 yard line!
1st and Goal from the NE 6.
Hall gets eaten up on the pitch to the left side by Jennings who tackled him for a loss of 7.
2nd and 17 from the NE 28.
Rodgers with the pass to the left side for Wilson on the slant for a gain of 9 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the NE 21.
Hall is stuffed for a loss of two on his run out of the shotgun.
3rd and 5 from the NE 30.
Hall on the right side and he falls forward for a gain of 7 .
2nd and 3 from the NE 28.
Allen finds a hole on the right side and he bounces off a defender before getting 11 yard and a first down.
1st and 10 from the NE 35.
Rodgers finds Hall out of the backfield and pivots around a defender and turns for 14 yards for another first down.
1st and 10 from the NE 46.
On the first play of the first quarter, it's Rodgers rolling away from the pressure and he finds Lazard with a short pass before he turns of the field and goes for 27 on the catch and run.
1st and 10 from the NYJ 40.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER WITH THE JETS LEADING BY A TD.
Hall takes the carry to the right side and picks up 6 yards on the final play of the first quarter.
3rd and 6 from the NY 15 after the break.
Hall to the right side and he picks up 4 on the sweep, but a holding call is going to bring that play back.
2nd and 12 from the NY 9.
The Jets take take over from their 9 after the punt and it's Hall up the middle for a gain of 5 yards.
2nd and 5 from the NY 14.
Brissett is taken down by Clemons and McDonald and that brings the Pats drive to an end after a loss of 9.
4th and 16 and NE will punt for the 2nd time tonight.
Brissett off the play fake and he had time and space to find Hooper on the left side line, but he led his WR too far towards the sideline.
3rd and 7 from the NE49.
Stevenson gets the pitch on the left side and he picks up 3 yards on first down.
2nd and 7 from the NE 49.
Brissett over the middle for Henry and he moves the chains with a 9 yard catch.
1st and 10 from the NE 46.
Brissett goes short to Polk for a pick up of 6 on the right side.
3rd and 3 from the NE 37.
Back come the Pats, starting from the 30 and Brissett finds Douglas in the flat on the left side, and he cut it all the way back to the right side to gain only a yard.
2nd and 9 from the NE 31.
Rodgers has been as close to perfect as he can be. He's 7/8 after two drives and has his team up 7-0 with this short pass to Lazard who did all the work to get to the goal line. We have seen Rodgers get out of the pocket on a few occasions and looks mobile. Dare I say as mobile as he used to be.
TOUCHDOWN JETS!!!
Rodgers looks out to Lazard who makes the catch and shakes the defender before diving into the endzone for the game's first score!
NYJ lead 7-0 on Rodgers first TD pass in the Meadownlands as a Jet.
Rodgers over the middle for Gipson on the slant and he picks up the first down on an 11 yard pitch and catch.
1st and Goal from the NE 9.
Rodgers going down the left sideline to Wilson inside the 5 but he couldn't keep his second foot inbounds.
2nd and 10 from the NE 20.
Hall up the middle and he finds a pocket of space before spinning up field for an 11 yard gain and a first down.
1st and 10 from the NE 20.
Quick pass to Hall out of the back field and he was picked up and pile drived to the ground. A flag flies for unnecessary roughness.
1st and 10 from the NE 31.
Rodgers fakes the pitch, rolls right and goes with the short pass to Ruckert who turns up field and picks up a first down with and 11 yard catch and run.
1st and 10 from the NE 46.
Allen to the right side and he is tripped up after a gain of 5 on first down.
2nd and 5 from the NYJ 45.
The Jets take over from their 27 and Allen gets the handoff to the left side and he cuts back inside and drags a defender for a gain of 11 yards.
1st and 10 from the NYJ 38.
Pressure comes up the gut and Brissett has to throw it out of bounds off his back foot.
4th and 7 from the NE 23.
Stevenson gets his first handoff and he picks up a yard on the run to the right side.
3rd and 7 from the NE 23.
Brissett and the Pats take over from the 20 after the touchback, and Brissett goes play action to start the game but dumped it off to Henry with pressure in his face and that pass gets back to the line of scrimmage and nothing else.
2nd and 8 from the NE 22.
Rodgers look right to Hall out of the backfield but he is cut down well short of the marker.
4th and 10 from the NE 43.
Hall up the middle on his first carry and he picks up 7 yards.
3rd and 19 from the NY 48.
Rodgers drops back and the pocket collapses on him as he is dropped for a loss of 6.
2nd and 26 from the NY 41.
Rodgers rolls to the right side and he takes a shot to the endzone for Williams but that pass was batted away. A flag flies on NY for holding.
1st and 20 from the NY 47.
Pass to the flat to Lazard and he makes a move around a defender for a first down and a pick up of 11.
1st and 10 from the NE 43.
Rodgers stretches to make the catch on th left side for a five yard gain.
2nd and 5 from the NYJ 46.
Rodgers rolls to the left and slides for a first down at the 41.
1st and 10 from the NYJ 41.
Rodgers on play action to start the game and he finds WIlson on the right sideline for a gain of 5.
2nd and 5 from the NYJ 35.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM THE MEADOWLANDS!!!!
The Pats won the toss and the choose to kickoff first so the Jets start the game with the ball and Aaron Rodgers will begin the first NY possession from the 30.
Rodgers on Thursday
Aaron Rodgers has been around so long, that he has played an entire "season" on Thursday night. In those 17 games Rodgers is 11-6 and has passed for 4,385 yards. Tonight he takes the field making his real home debut more than a year after snapping his achilles.
Tonight's odds
The Jets make their home debut as obvious favorites against the Patriots, but these primetime division games can be tricky. The Jets are a 6 point favorite with the Over/Under set at 38.5.
I know the Pats have a good defense, but so do the Jets. When you take into account the injuries on the offensive line, that’s going to be a big advantage for New York who will not only look to stop the run but also pressure Brissett all night. I think the Jets win it big, and we get a big night from Aaron Rodgers.
Jets win 27-7.
Head to head
This is a rivalry that goes back as far as the 1960’s. It’s been a matchup that has been dominated by the Patriots, especially lately. New England has an overall record of 74-55-1 against the New York Jets in a rivalry that goes back to the 1960s. The Jets won most of the matchups through the first forty years, but ever since the turn of the century this has been a matchup owned by the New England. Since 2000, the Pats are 34-11 against the Jets. A lot of that success can be chalked up to Tom Brady and the New England dynasty, but even after he left Foxborough, the Pats continued to have the Jets number. They had won 15 straight games against the Jets before the Jets beat them 17-3 in Week 18 of last season.
Allen on the rise
While all the attention is on Breece Hall in the Jets backfield, their rookie RB made headlines last week scoring two TDs against the Titans last week He not only is the youngest player in the NFL this season at 20 years old (he won’t turn 21 until January of 2025) but he also became the youngest player in the history of the league to score a TD. Hall is the main man, but having two reliable running backs is only going to help Robert Saleh and the Jets.
AFC East
The Pats had a strangle hold on this division for nearly two decades as Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the greatest dynasty in league history ripped through the NFL and especially the AFC East. From 2001 to 2019 the Pats won all but two of the division titles and since Brady left, the torch has been handed over to the Bills who have won four straight. The last time the Jets won the AFC East was back in 2002. With Rodgers, Hall and their defense the Jets have every right to eye another division title this year.
Haason's hold out
It’s turning into one of the ugliest holdouts we have ever seen. Haason Reddick was traded to the Jets in the offseason after a contract dispute with the Eagles, and now is in the midst of a holdout that has reportedly cost him over 5 million dollars. He didn’t show up to training camp or preseason and has missed the first two games of the season as he seeks a better deal. This is the only hold out of a handful we saw this summer that has stretched into the regular season.
Pats injury report
The Patriots offensive line has been the back bone of their success over the first two games as Stevenson and Gibson ran for over 170 yards, but tonight they will be without two of their key lineman on the left side. Vederian Lowe and Sidy Sow who play left tackle and left guard are out tonight. Lowe has a knee injury and Sow has an ankle injury which means Stevenson will be trying to run behind a couple of back ups and Brissett’s blind side could be at risk when he drops back against this powerful Jets pass rush.
Career year for Stevenson?
Rhamondre Stevenson is one of the most overlooked stars in this league. It’s been tough for him considering he was drafted in the same offseason that Tom Brady left New England. Since then the offense has been less than stellar as the Pats look for a steady starter at the QB position. Despite the fact that he has been the center point of opposing defenses’ game plans he still averaged 1,040 yards in his sophomore season. Last season was cut short when he suffered a season ending ankle injury, but he is back and he looks like he hasn’t missed a beat to start the season. In the season opener against Cincy, Stevenson had 120 yards and a TD on 25 carries and last week he put up 81 yards and a TD on 21 carries.
Brissett making most of his time
In the mean time, while Drake Maye sit back and studies the position at the next level, it’s Jacoby Brissett in under center for the Pats. Brissett was drafted by New England but has been a bit of a journey man for the last seven years. He started all 16 games for the Colts after getting traded to Indy in his second year. He had 3000 yards that year and threw 13 TDs and 7 picks. In 2019 he was again the QB1 for 15 games, throwing 18 TDs and 6 INTs. He has made stops in Miami, Washington, Cleveland and now he’s back in New England. We all know the starting role in New England is going to be a temporary gig, lets just see how long he lasts.
Drake Maye
Being the quarterback in New England is a big deal. Ever since the GOAT led this franchise to all six of their Super Bowls. After Mac Jones was kindly asked not to come back, the Pats took Drake Maye out of North Carolina with the third pick of this years draft. He did pretty well in the preseason and there was a lot of excitement to throw him into the fire Week 1, but Jerod Mayo is doing the smart thing with his rookie. Although they are 1-1, this team wasn’t expected to be very good and to ask a rookie to come in with not a lot of help around him is a tough task.
Mayo on the sideline in NE
It’s not easy thing replacing a legend no matter what sport, what city or what fan base. Replacing a legend in Boston maybe the toughest job you could ever ask for. This is a sports crazed city with a history of winning titles, whether it be Super Bowls, NBA titles or Stanley Cups. Jerod Mayo has the unenviable task of filling the shoes of Bill Belichick, the winningest coach in the history of the NFL. The good thing he is one of New England’s own. He played with the Patriots his whole career, and a decade after retiring he rejoined the Pats as the inside linebackers coach. Robert Kraft had seen enough from him to know he was the man for the job in Foxborough and was named head coach shortly after Belichick and the Pats parted ways. He’s an ex player, he’s young and it looks like there’s a bit of a more light hearted feel on the sidelines these day than in year’s previous.
Easy Breece-y
Breece Hall could have a chance to be one of the top running backs in the league. He was a second round draft pick a few years ago, and a teammate of Brock Purdy’s at Iowa State. He came into the league and had a promising rookie season, and last year we saw flashes of how good he could be despite having no quarterback to keep a defense honest. Hall has yet to take off in the run game, totaling 116 yards on 30 carries, but also has 91 yards and a TD receiving. He is a great two way RB, but the Jets want to establish the run game with Hall which will help Rodgers get some more time in the pocket.
Rodgers time to shine
It’s been a long, long wait for the Aaron Rodgers era to begin in the Big Apple. While the hype is real, and deserved, the four time MVP is pushing 40 years old and coming off of an achilles injury. It’s hard to expect him to come out and play at his top level after not playing essentially since the 2022 season. Not to mention, that season, he wasn’t enjoying his best football that year. He had one of the worst QB ratings in the league as he struggled to develop chemistry with his young receivers. This year things seem different. Rodgers is going to need some time, both with his receivers and getting comfortable following the injury. He’s passed for 343 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT on 31/51 passing.
AFC Standings
It’s early but it’s never too early to start looking at the standings. The AFC East is led by the Bills who are 2-0 even after offloading most of their offensive stars from last year. They are one of nine teams to come into Week 3 undefeated, while nine other teams are winless and 14 teams are 1-1. Two of those teams face off tonight as the Jets and Pats get ready for a division showdown.
Last year: Pats
The Patriots and Bill Belichick suffered the worst season since the Brady dynasty began. Mac Jones was in his make or break year as the quarterback that New England thought would be the future face of the franchise, but it never worked out. They eventually benched Jones and put Bailey Zappe after a 2-9 start to the season, but that didn’t help much. The Pats ended the season 4-13 marking an end to the Belichick era in New England and got the 3rd pick in the draft which they used to hopefully bring in the real face of the future, Drake Maye.
Last year: Jets
We all know the story. Aaron Rodgers debuts in this very stadium with a city full of hope of a return to the Super Bowl decades later, and what happens? The four time MVP tears his achilles on the fourth snap of the season. The Jets held on for a little while in the aftermath of the injury, but the defense could only do so much as the offense slowed to a halt. The end of the season couldn’t come quickly enough for the Jets, who ended up 7-10 and missed out on the playoffs while not getting a particularly high draft pick.
Star watch: Jets
All eyes may be on the Jets’ four time MVP quarterback, but those who follow the Jets know this is a team that needs to be anchored on their running back Breece Hall. Hall is a shifty, dynamic, exciting running back that was made for primetime. He is in his third year after getting drafted out of Iowa State, and while he is still searching for his first 1,000 yard season rushing, he has been a great two way running back over the course of his first two seasons. With Aaron Rodgers under center, Hall should get much more space as defenders have to worry about the pass just as much as the run this year.
Star watch: Pats
There aren’t a whole lot of stars on this Patriots team. Maybe that’s why they struggled so much last year. Rhamhondre Stevenson was the only one who was a threat on the offensive end until his season ending injury, but he has returned and the Pats suddenly have more options, both in the backfield and at the WR position.
Last game: Jets
The Jets trailed the Titans for most of the first half but they would turn things around in the after the Two Minute Warning. Rodgers found Braedon Allen brought in a 12 yard TD pass to tie the game up at 7-7. On the drive after the halftime break, Rodgers found Breece Hall on a 26 yard TD as the Jets took a 14-10 lead, their first of the game. Greg Zuerlein stretched the lead with a field goal a few plays after Titans gave up a blocked punt for the second week in a row. Will Levis and the Titans responded by tying the game up with a 40 yard pass to Calvin Ridley at the end of the 3rd quarter, but that would be the last time the Titans scored on the Jets. Aaron Rodgers showed us he still knows how to win a game as the Jets ran five minutes off the clock on a TD drive that ended with a game winning 20 yard TD run from Allen with just over 4:30 to go.
Last game: Pats
After stunning the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, the Patriots hosted the Seattle Seahawks and almost pulled off another win thanks to their seemingly unstoppable run game. Antonio Gibson had 96 yards on 11 carries and Rhamondre Stevenson got 21 carried for 81 yards and a TD at the beginning of the fourth quarter as the Pats took a 20-17 lead over the Seahawks. Joey Slye had a chance to stretch the lead to 6 with under 4:00 to go but his 48 yard field goal was blocked and the game went to overtime after Seattle kicked a field goal to tie it up. NE went three and out in the first drive of OT and Jared Meyers hit a 31 yard field goal to seal the game for the Seahawks.
We are live from the Meadowlands
Hello everyone and welcome to East Rutherford where the Jets are home for the first time this year. They have yet to look like the team everyone thought they would be with Aaron Rodgers under center. After two games, they are 1-1 but have’t been great in either game. They got beat up by the Niners from San Fran and then squeaked by the Titans in Tennessee last week. They will be hoping to put on a show for the home fans tonight against a team that has been one of the surprises of the early season. The Pats were a Joey Slye field goal away from going 2-0 in their first two games following the end of the Bill Belichick era in New England. They beat Cincy and hung with the Seahawks over the weekend.
Pats vs. Jets live
For the second straight week the AFC East is in the spotlight on Thursday Night Football. This time it’s two teams who come into the season with very different objectives, but at the moment they are even in the standings. Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets host the New England Patriots on a primetime bout between two franchises with plenty of history. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, scores and highlights of tonight’s game from the Meadowlands.