A win is a win, no matter how poor.
On a rainy Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford, N.J., the New England Patriots took on the New York Jets in a contest to determine last place in the AFC East.
Buy Patriots TicketsThe conditions determined the gameplay. Both teams combined for just over 500 total yards, and the Jets were limited to just 38 yards rushing between running backs Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook.
Ultimately, in the battle of strong defenses versus mediocre offenses, the Patriots prevailed 15-10, though not in a convincing fashion.
Here are 3 big takeaways from New England’s first win of the 2023 season.
1
The Patriots didn't play to win, they played not to lose
The Patriots attempted 40 rushing plays throughout Sunday’s game, averaging 3.9 yards per carry between their two running backs, Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott. In contrast, they attempted just 29 passes in the pouring New Jersey rain.
The rushing plays themselves aren’t what stalled New England’s offense throughout the game – at times, they gave the unit some much-needed life that they had been lacking in the passing game.
But the Patriots’ game script became apparent after the first quarter to just about anyone watching. They would run on first down, run on second down (if they were only seven yards or so short of the marker), and then pass on third down.
Occasionally, such as on the 58-yard touchdown to third-string tight end Pharaoh Brown, the Patriots would break out of that mold. But those occasions were few and far between, with offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien rarely testing the Jets’ defense on first down.
And the product of these play calls was a down game for Mac Jones. The third-year quarterback was consistently tasked with converting third downs at medium and long distances from the first-down marker – not easy in a vacuum, and especially so against a smothering Jets secondary.
Although he completed just over 50 percent of his passes for just over 200 yards, Jones had a quality game. Against a formidable New York front, he kept his composure and stood in the pocket long enough to find open receivers, even while taking a few significant hits in the process.
The biggest difference btwn last year and this one for Mac Jones has been his play under pressure.
Was 31st in QBR last year; so far this year, he's been 7th. He has answers, belief in the offense, etc.
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) September 24, 2023
Tony Romo also noted his appreciation for Jones’ play on the CBS broadcast.
Tony Romo is really showing love for the #Patriots QB: "Mac Jones is making some incredible choices under pressure over and over again."
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) September 24, 2023
While the first two games of the season, both of which featured late-game comebacks led by the offense, alluded to the quarterback’s improved play under a true offensive coordinator, Sunday’s game cemented that fact. Jones consistently made good decisions and quality throws all game long, even though he was routinely asked to bail out the coaches whose playcalling had put the team in an early hole.
2
Did the Patriots win, or did the Jets lose?
New England’s 58-yard touchdown at the beginning of the second quarter put them up 10-0 and seemed to bring life to an offense that struggled to find it to begin the game. But that life quickly dwindled, as the Patriots seemed to put their offense in park for the back half of the matchup.
The team’s field goal at the start of the second half marked their last offensive points of the game and was the last time that they ran a play within New York’s 35-yard line during the matchup.
New England’s complacency could have quite easily turned into an opportunity for the Jets to make a comeback. The Patriots’ predictable run, run, pass offense became easy to scheme against after halftime, and multiple punts gave New York countless opportunities to mount late drives against New England’s defense.
And the Jets began to take advantage of these chances late in the fourth quarter. On their tenth drive of the game and beginning at their own 13-yard line, quarterback Zack Wilson found his rhythm and led the offense on a 13-play, 87-yard drive that finished with a one-yard touchdown carry by fullback Nick Bawden, cutting New England’s lead to just three.
And a five-play following drive that ended in a punt for the Patriots gave the Jets that chance. On their own 10-yard line and down just three points with 2:44 left in the game, New York had the opportunity to take full advantage of New England’s complacency. But Wilson couldn’t find his open receivers, and the Patriots’ Matt Judon added to New England’s lead, sacking Wilson 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage for a safety.
And it wasn’t like Wilson was short of options to throw to.
#Jets QB Zach Wilson had two checkdown options, but instead ended up taking the safety.
😬😬😬😬😬 pic.twitter.com/Xk8f8wjuab
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) September 24, 2023
Even after the Patriots extended their lead to five, the Jets had two more opportunities to win the matchup. But Wilson inexplicably threw to his check-down receiver on 4th and 10 and then failed to complete a Hail Mary at the end of the game.
The Jets NEARLY had the Hail Mary. Went off the fingers of Randall Cobb. pic.twitter.com/pMDJ82BebX
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) September 24, 2023
For years, New England prided themselves on never becoming complacent in their in-game play. But in the first game all season that they had the lead, they played that way. Hopefully, the culprit of this was less of a philosophical coaching change and more of a product of the wet conditions on the field.
3
Situational football needs to improve, badly
For years, the Patriots were known for coming up clutch when they needed points. Their fundamentals were perfect, their execution was flawless.
That old New England football hasn’t truly been present since Tom Brady left town, but Sunday’s game truly showed how far they have fallen.
Long snapper Joe Cardona, a Patriots veteran long-heralded as one of the most reliable players on the team, made rookie kicker Chad Ryland’s day harder than the rainy conditions did already. Cardona snapped not one, but two balls just a bit too high, throwing off the timing between Ryland and holder Bryce Baringer and contributing to Ryland’s 2-of-4 performance.
Later in the game, a Patriots drive beginning at their own 20-yard line was pushed backward by egregious penalty after egregious penalty. First, a pass for no gain to tight end Mike Gesicki was nullified by an illegal block in the back by wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster. Then, consecutive false-start penalties by offensive linemen Trent Brown and Mike Onwenu pushed the drive back further, ultimately giving the offense a 3rd-and-23 on their own seven-yard line. The drive ended in a punt.
But the worst of these plays came on New York’s touchdown drive. After the Patriots stopped the Jets’ advance on 3rd-and-goal, defensive back Myles Bryant was called for a pass interference penalty on an arguably uncatchable pass intended for New York wide receiver Randall Cobb. The Jets got a first down on New England’s one-yard line and found the endzone on the very next play.
The Patriots certainly aren’t as disciplined as they used to be. But if they want to win football games, they need to stop shooting themselves in the foot in critical situations.
