New York Jets (1-2) – New England Patriots (1-2): 10-15
The Patriots get their first victory of the year against their division rival. In doing so, New England won for the fifteenth time in a row against New York, the Patriots having not lost to the Jets since December 2015.
With inclement weather conditions, the game developed on an old-fashioned basis. Two teams which offer dominant defenses (16 punts hit during the game), attacks which insist on establishing their game on the ground, aerial solutions which struggle to be more than safety valves.
In the lead throughout the game, New England managed to win the decision, but well and truly because the defense rose to the level of the opponent of the day, and the attack led by Zach Wilson never decoded the solution of the match. Stifled, suffocating, the game was finally decided on the success of the kicks. In this game the Patriots had more opportunities, and more success.
Old-fashioned gaming
In a division duel and two big defenses, the Patriots are the first to draw. In pouring rain, the offenses struggled to establish their football, but New England made the most of its opportunities to score a field goal, while the defense and special teams completely stifled New York’s offense.
The second half opened with a missed opportunity for the men of Massachusetts, a missed kick which would have allowed the break. Disappointment without consequence since from the following series Mac Jones (QB, 15/29, 201, 1 TD) found Pharaoh Brown (TE, 71 yards, 1 TD) for a 58-yard escape behind the green defense for a touchdown long distance. Opposite, the Jets are struggling to react. Installed in a conservative game based on the races of Breece Hall (RB, 18 yards) and Dalvin Cook (RB, 18 yards), New York struggles to impose itself and advance. Despite everything, the formation scrounges yard after yard and gets close enough to the opposing goal to pass a field goal which reduces the gap. A half-hearted reaction, but as New England again misses a kick just before the whistle, the Greens remain in the match. The teams return to the locker room with a score of 3 to 10.
The Jets unable to reverse the trend
Back on the field, New England continues to develop its game plan based on power runs in the middle and some quick passes in the intermediate zone. Still no end zone, but a series which brings 3 new points to support the domination of the blues. Especially since the defense keeps the Jets perfectly at bay. Where Mac Jones managed to slip balls to progress, Zach Wilson (QB, 18/36, 157 yards) remains without a solution.
Gottham finally found rhythm and offensive liveliness 10 minutes from the end of the match. Wilson alternately alerts Garrett Wilson (WR, 48 yards), Allen Lazard (WR, 39 yards), then Randall Cobb (WR, 12 yards) before Nick Bawden (RB, 1 yard, 1 TD) crosses the line. New York can believe it. And even if the momentum is cut short when the Massachusetts defense tackles Wilson in its end zone for a safety with 2 minutes to go, the defense manages to give the attack back for a potential coup de grace. Yet the offensive squad still fails to provide solutions, to find the breach. There is only one chance left: the Ave Maria pass. Wilson rushes, the ball floats, the leather ricochets… and crashes to the ground. New England finally collected its first victory of the year, and repositioned itself in the race within their division.
