FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Message received.
After being called “soft” by head coach Jerod Mayo, the New England Patriots responded on Sunday by earning a dramatic 25-22 win over the New York Jets. The Patriots lost rookie quarterback Drake Maye to a concussion in the second quarter, but Jacoby Brissett filled in and eventually orchestrated a game-winning drive in the final minutes.
Patriots Top Reeling Jets for Needed Victory
New York held a 22-17 lead with just under three minutes remaining.
Brissett then led the Patriots on a 12-yard, 70-yard drive that finished with a one-yard Rhamondre Stevenson touchdown with 25 seconds left. Brissett had completions of 12 and 34 yards on the drive, plus a scramble for 14 yards.
TWO MORE POINTS FOR MONDRE@dreeday32 | #NEPats
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/rdfy3v00pN
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 27, 2024
The veteran completed 15 of 24 passes for 132 yards and zero touchdowns while committing zero turnovers. Stevenson finished with 48 yards and two scores on 20 carries, while Kayshon Boutte and Hunter Henry posted 46 and 45 receiving yards, respectively.
On the other side, Aaron Rodgers completed 17 of 28 passes for 233 yards and two scores. Breece Hall finished with 80 yards on 16 carries, while Garrett Wilson led all pass-catchers with five catches for 113 yards.
Overall, the Jets racked up 336 total yards compared to 247 for the Patriots and posted more first downs (22 to 19). New England was slightly better on third downs and committed three fewer penalties.
The Patriots improved to 2-6 with the win, while the Jets dropped to 2-6 with the loss. New England will visit the Tennessee Titans next Sunday.
Let’s look at three studs and three duds from Sunday’s game at Gillette Stadium.
Best Players for the Patriots in Win Over the Jets
CB Christian Gonzalez
Christian Gonzalez was targeted twice, with one resulting in a bogus defensive-pass-interference penalty and the other a pass breakup. He spent most of the game covering Davante Adams, who finished with just three catches for 39 yards.
Gonzalez has been inconsistent this season, but Sunday saw one of his better performances. When Rodgers rarely looks your way, you know you’re doing something right.
QB Jacoby Brissett
You have to feel good for Brissett, who understandably was disappointed after losing his job to Maye. Patriots fans were ready to pounce on him during this game, but he kept his cool and played a solid, clean game. He was great on the game-winning drive.
TE Hunter Henry
Ho-hum.
The veteran tight end had another impressive game, finishing with five catches on seven targets for 45 yards. Henry is New England’s most reliable pass catcher by far, and it’s scary to think where this offense would be without him.
Bonus: QB Drake Maye
Maye probably shouldn’t qualify as he didn’t even play two full quarters, but I make the rules for this list, and I’m putting him in here.
Before exiting the game, Maye completed three of six passes for 23 yards along with 46 rushing yards and a touchdown. After his 17-yard rushing TD, he was well on his way to a third consecutive strong start.
.@DrakeMaye2's first rushing TD 👏@budlight | #EasyToCelebrate pic.twitter.com/3KiwEdkQFk
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 27, 2024
In his first start, the UNC product completed 60.6% of his passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns while committing three turnovers in a loss to the Houston Texans. He added five rushes for 38 yards.
In his second start, Maye completed 70.3% of his passes for two TDs while committing zero turnovers in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He added three rushes for 18 yards.
Going by Pro Football Network’s proprietary QB+ Metric, Maye’s graded better in both of his first two starts than Brissett did in any of the first five weeks this season.
- Brissett Week 1: 54.2 (C)
- Brissett Week 2: 52.9 (C)
- Brissett Week 3: 41.7 (D+)
- Brissett Week 4: 47.7 (C-)
- Brissett Week 5: 48.1 (C-)
- Maye Week 6: 55.6 (C+)
- Maye Week 7: 63.8 (B-)
In fact, Maye is responsible for the fifth-best Patriots QB+ grade over the last three seasons.
- Mac Jones Week 7, 2023: 69.2 (B)
- Bailey Zappe Week 6, 2022: 68.6 (B)
- Mac Jones Week 12, 2022: 66.4 (B)
- Bailey Zappe Week 5, 2022: 66.2 (B)
- Drake Maye Week 7, 2024: 63.8 (B-)
Maye still has much to work on, including not putting himself in dangerous positions. His footwork and accuracy also remain inconsistent.
However, Maye’s talent is undeniable, and his ceiling undoubtedly is higher than that of Jones, Brissett, or any other post-Tom Brady quarterback in New England.
Honorable mentions: Rhamondre Stevenson, Keion White, Anfernee Jennings, Mike Onwenu, Davon Godchaux
Who Struggled for the Patriots in Week 8?
Offensive Line
The offensive line wasn’t terrible in this game, but it wasn’t good, either. Everyone other than Mike Onwenu appeared to have issues.
The Patriots allowed two sacks and likely would’ve allowed more if not for Maye using his legs to evade pressure early in the game. As fun as it is to see Maye run around, the Patriots would prefer he stay in the pocket and avoid dangerous situations. Obviously, that can’t happen if the protection isn’t there.
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The run blocking was even worse.
Stevenson and Antonio Gibson combined for 54 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, good for an average of 2.16 yards. That’s not good enough.
As bad as New England’s offensive line was at protecting Brissett early in the season, the run blocking has been a bigger problem in recent weeks.
WR Kayshon Boutte
Earlier in the week, Boutte said he was tired of “demanding” the ball. He also said he shouldn’t have to ask for targets because he’s “caught every ball” thrown his way this season.
If you’re going to say stuff like that, you can’t go out a few days later and commit a bad drop on a key third down.
Kayshon Boutte told @ByMarkDaniels that he was “frustrated” that he had to “demand the ball.”
Rough start today. Two targets. No catches. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/O5TUDWNDgd
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) October 27, 2024
Boutte, who dropped another would-be first down in the fourth quarter, finished with three catches on six targets for 46 yards. He salvaged an otherwise awful day with catches of 34 yards and four yards on the final drive.
Still, not exactly putting your money where your mouth is.
WR Tyquan Thornton
Tyquan Thornton, a healthy scratch the last two weeks, got an opportunity on Sunday with Ja’Lynn Polk out due to a concussion. The embattled receiver responded by dropping a deep pass that, if caught, would’ve been one of the longest plays of his career.
Tyquan Thornton AGAIN can't come down with the catch
This dude needs to be sent to the XFL pic.twitter.com/uE9WPAg70Z
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) October 27, 2024
Thornton rightfully has earned a reputation as a soft receiver, and plays like that won’t get him any closer to seeing a large role in the offense. If the Patriots had better options, he likely would’ve been released by now.
Honorable mentions: Kendrick Bourne, Jahlani Tavai, Jaylinn Hawkins, punt coverage