USA TODAY International Edition
Patriots show they can grind on ground
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – There were penalties, self-inflicted errors and a few cuts and bruises to Tom Brady, but the Patriots pulled out a 27-13 victory Sunday against the Jets at MetLife Stadium.
Three things we learned from the game: 1. Patriots may have found offensive identity: New England’s offense had been solid but inconsistent throughout the season.
And with its 215-rushing yard performance, it might signal that New England (8-3) might be best served as a runheavy offense.
First-round rookie Sony Michel scampered for 133 yards and one score on 21 carries, marking the most yardage a Patriots running back has had since Jonas Gray racked up 201 in Week 11 of 2014.
Now that the Patriots offensive line is returning to health, with right guard Shaq Mason making his return from a broken hand, the ground game could be a focus in the final stretch of the season. Tight end Rob Gronkowski, who on Sunday also recorded just his second touchdown catch of the season, had been nursing ankle and back injuries but helped open holes for Michel and James White.
The Patriots will have to be efficient in the ground game as the season winds down; three of their remaining five opponents (Vikings, Steelers and Bills) rank in the top 10 in rushing defense. 2. Brady’s health is worth watching: Brady, who was listed as questionable with knee and illness, took his fair share of hits.
He wore a thick brace on his left knee, but late in the first half, the team medical staff examined Brady’s other knee after he took a hard hit and landed on it.
Then in the second quarter, he appeared to suffer a cut to his right, throwing hand on his thumb. When he returned to the sideline, trainers mended the cut and wrapped a bandage over the injury. Brady also grabbed a towel to blot away the blood.
He remained in the game but misfired on several throws. With 8:51 to play in the third quarter on a first-and-goal from the 9-yard line, the Jets crowded the middle of the field and forced Brady to make quick throws to the perimeter of the field — two to White and one to Gronkowski — all three of which were incomplete. Later in the fourth quarter, on a deep pass intended for receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, Brady floated it, but it missed badly and hung in the air before falling harmlessly incomplete.
Still, Brady played very well, completing 20 of 31 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns.
3. Patriots’ pass rush remains an issue: New England entered the game ranked 30th in the NFL with 15 sacks. Against New York, the Patriots struggled to pressure quarterback Josh McCown.
And with ample time, he made enough plays to keep the Jets (3-8) competitive throughout most of the game.
The Patriots did get two sacks in the second half, by defensive ends Deatrich Wise and Trey Flowers, but they were coverage sacks, as McCown lingered in the pocket with the ball in his hands too long with the outcome of the game slipping out of hand.