The New York Jets and New England Patriots faced off Sunday night in MetLife Stadium for control of the AFC East. The Patriots (6-3) and Tom Brady pounded the rival Jets (5-4) to the tune of a 37-16 victory behind three Brady touchdowns and a needed step-up performance from their defense.
The Patriots scored 31 of the last 38 points in the game and completely shut down the Jets in the second half. Mark Sanchez looked confused all night and his offensive line failed to protect him … from Andre Carter. Carter had 4.5 of the Patriots’ five sacks in the game, bringing down the quarterback on two consecutive plays at one point to force a punt.
Same was the case with their secondary, where one player stood out and made a huge impact: Rob Ninkovich. The linebacker had two interceptions in the game, one on a tipped ball, and the other on a brilliant play. Ninkovich read Sanchez’s eyes and jumped off a short pass to LaDainian Tomlinson in the fourth quarter that solidified the win, putting the Pats up three scores.
The Jets have officially lost their identity, as they began the season forcing the pass game but without Nick Mangold, gave up on the new project as he came back to return to the ground-and-pound, and are now stuck wondering if that made a mistake by switching back to the conservative offensive approach. Perhaps letting Sanchez go loose would have been the best move, but is it too late to try again?
Sanchez was 20 for 39 in the game for 306 yards and a touchdown as well as two interceptions. He also ran one in for a touchdown in the second quarter that gave the Jets their only lead of the night. A bad timeout call on that drive by Sanchez gave Brady extra time when the Patriots took the field, just long enough for them to drive downfield and take the lead back on a Rob Gronkowski touchdown reception.
Late in the third quarter, Brady again found Gronkowski in the end zone to put the Patriots ahead 23-9. He was 26 for 39 in the game with 329 yards and three touchdowns, good for a 118.4 passer rating on an absolutely impeccable performance.
Sanchez lead the Jets to an answer on the next drive in the form of a Plaxico Burress touchdown pass on a fade route, but the Gang Green offense was forced to sit and watch helplessly as Brady picked apart their defense for an answer of their own six minutes later. Sanchez’s pick-six came just plays later to seal the deal.
Shonn Greene was effective in the game, averaging 4.7 yards per carry on 61 yards rushing. LaDainian Tomlinson added 38 yards of his own on seven carries as the Jets broke the century mark on the ground in the game. The Patriots had trouble running all night but it didn’t make a difference with how good Brady was playing.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis managed only eight yards on eight carries, while Danny Woodhead ran for 38 yards on seven carries. The Patriots four-headed rushing attack, which also featured Kevin Faulk and Stevan Ridley totaled just 60 yards on an average of 2.1 yards per carry.
The Jets will travel to Denver to face the Broncos on Thursday Night Football. The Patriots will go back to New England to host the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
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