DEFENSIVE NOTES
Personnel breakdown: 39% three-cornerback nickel package, 38% three-safety nickel package, 19% dime package, 4% base package.
□ Pressure rate: 48.7%
□ Blitz rate: 25.6%
□ Blitz efficacy: 5.0 yards allowed per play, sack, interception.
□ Yards per carry allowed: 4.9
□ Third downs: 5-13
□ Red-zone efficiency: 0-2
□ Sacks: Josh Uche 2, Matt Judon, Carl Davis
□ QB hits: Christian Barmore, Deatrich Wise, Joejuan Williams, Judon, Uche
□ Hurries: Judon 3, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Davon Godchaux, Lawrence Guy, Chase Winovich, Wise, Team
□ Run stuffs: Team 2
□ Interceptions: J.C. Jackson 2, Devin McCourty, Adrian Phillips
□ Pass deflections: Jonathan Jones, Bentley, Williams
□ Missed tackles: Bentley 2, Guy 2, Jalen Mills 2, Barmore, Jackson, Uche, Judon, Hightower
□ The Patriots opened primarily in threesafety nickel, before pivoting to threecorner over most of the second half when they led by double digits.
□ The majority of their snaps in dime personnel — with six defensive backs — were taken on the Jets’ final drive in garbage time.
□ Belichick hardly blitzed Zach Wilson, and even those pressures were tame. The Pats recognized Wilson’s aggression would eventually hurt him, and it did on all four picks.
□ Dont’a Hightower took a notable step Sunday, and it may have been tied to his usage. After playing 75% of his snaps at inside linebacker in the opener, he took more than half of his snaps Sunday on the edge, where he played fierce run defense.
□ On the flip side, Judon and Uche both got pancaked on separate run plays. Judon’s run defense will smooth out, but the opposite outside linebacker spot remains a question mark.
□ Tashawn Bower, promoted from the practice squad Saturday, played opposite Judon on the team’s rare snaps of base defense. The Pats played just three snaps of 3-4 defense and allowed inside runs of 17 and five yards.
□ In the middle Ja’Whaun Bentley played 97% of the defense’s snaps, one of the highest single-game marks of his career.
□ If/when Stephon Gilmore’s return, Bentley’s usage will bear watching, as the Patriots seem to prefer deploying him over a third cornerback. He’s been relaying signals from the sideline and making checks.
□ On both his interceptions, J.C. Jackson ran the route for his receiver, a theme throughout Sunday.
□ The Pats secondary may need to thank Kendrick Bourne, who played under the Jets’ offensive staff when they were in San Francisco and shared intel of the offense during preparation.
SOURCE: Statistics for passing depth, broken tackles and missed tackles courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
*12 personnel = one back, two tight ends; 11 personnel = one back; 21 personnel = two backs, one tight end; 22 personnel = two tight ends, two backs.