Dude, coming off that absolute thrashing of the Raiders, you’d think the Patriots would just keep rolling, right? Nope. This 26-19 win against the Jets was a whole different beast. It wasn’t pretty, not by a long shot, and a big reason it stayed so tight was their own sloppy play: turnovers, dropped passes, and some seriously inconsistent run defense. But hey, they still closed it out, moving to a respectable 4-2 on the season. It wasn’t the kind of game that gets you hyped for highlight reels, but winning football is still winning football, even when it’s ugly.
Maye Was Just Built Different
Seriously, the Jets came out with a completely different plan than their usual blitz-heavy attack. They tried to keep Drake Maye contained, playing a less aggressive style, and you gotta give ’em some credit. But at the end of the day? Maye was just better. He was slinging some absolute dimes, taking what the defense gave him without forcing anything, and showing next-level anticipation. Remember that 3rd-and-10 throw to Kyle Williams? Pure brilliance. The guy’s making sound decisions and playing at a consistently high level, whether he’s dropping back to pass or scrambling to pick up crucial yards with his legs. His 0.39 expected points added per play isn’t just a number, it’s a testament to how locked in he was. You can tell he’s the real deal, even when the rest of the offense is having a rough go.
The Offense Had Some SERIOUS Rollercoaster Vibes
Alright, so while Maye was cooking, the rest of the offense was giving us all whiplash. Rhamondre Stevenson worked his tail off, averaging just 2.6 yards per carry, but he still forced four missed tackles and got all 36 of his rushing yards after contact. Plus, his pass protection was legit, giving up only one hurry on eleven reps. That guy is a warrior. And you saw that clip going around? Stevenson passing off that stunt with LT Will Campbell, totally neutralizing Will McDonald’s loop. Textbook. TreVeyon Henderson, who was playing on an ankle sprain, showed flashes of his best work in open space, but man, that fumble was a killer. That probably opened the door for Corey Kiner late in the game, and Kiner was hitting holes hard and churning through contact.
Then you get to the wide receivers, and it was a total mixed bag. Romeo Doubs started the game with a BANG, a 42-yard touchdown on the second snap, but then he got hurt with a game-ending shoulder injury. Brutal. DeMario Douglas led the team with seven catches for 86 yards and a touchdown, which is awesome, but then he fumbled trying to turn a big play into an even bigger one. You just gotta secure the ball, dude! Kyle Williams only had one catch, but it was a crucial one and proved he’s got more in his bag than just go routes. Efton Chism played a lot of snaps but ended up with zero catches and was inconsistent blocking in the run game. And then there’s A.J. Brown, back from IR. It was great to see him, but man, he looked rusty. Two drops? You just know that’s not what the team needs, especially from a veteran.
This team clearly showed they can grind out a win even when they’re making mistakes. But that kind of inconsistent play with fumbles and drops? They need to clean that up, and fast. Maye can’t do it all alone every week.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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