The New England Patriots secured a 26‑19 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday at Gillette Stadium, showcasing the depth of Coach Mike Vrabel’s roster and a breakout performance by quarterback Drake Maye.
Maye’s turnaround
Maye, now 24, has dramatically improved his production. After a slow start to the season—just one touchdown pass in his first three games—he has thrown ten touchdowns in his last three outings, a streak that coincides with the Patriots remaining unbeaten during that span.
His deep‑ball accuracy has also surged. According to NextGen Stats, Maye connected on two of three deep attempts in the win, a 50 % success rate compared with a 33 % rate and four interceptions in Weeks 1‑3.
Depth makes the difference
Vrabel’s earlier comments about the team’s depth were put to the test on Sunday, and the players delivered. Guard Walter Rouse and Matt Pryor, both camp‑stand‑ins, filled in for injured starters Alijah Vera‑Tucker and Ben Brown, helping the offense sustain a four‑minute drive that ate the clock in the final minutes.
Rookie Caleb Lomu stepped in for veteran tackle Morgan Moses and even took on the task of blocking the Jets’ rookie pass‑rusher David Bailey. The offensive line as a whole recorded zero sacks.
Running back Corey Kiner emerged as the workhorse in the closing drive, gaining 57 yards on 11 carries. Backup wideout Kyle Williams also contributed, hauling in a first‑down catch on a crucial third‑and‑10.
Defensive highlights
Reserve cornerback Charles Woods, filling in for the injured Carlton Davis, recorded a fourth‑quarter interception that helped seal the win. Linebacker Robert Spillane made a pivotal fourth‑down stop early in the second quarter, standing up 235‑pound running back Braelon Allen to force a turnover on downs, and later helped create a sack opportunity for outside linebacker Elijah Ponder.
Overall, Spillane logged five tackles, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and the key fourth‑down stop. The Jets managed only three conversions on twelve third‑ and fourth‑down attempts.
A.J. Brown’s return
Veteran receiver A.J. Brown returned from a high‑ankle sprain that sidelined him for four weeks, but struggled to find his rhythm. Vrabel noted Brown “could’ve probably made a few more plays.” Brown was targeted ten times, catching three passes. He admitted his timing was off and pledged to improve, saying, “I’m more than capable of making those catches.”
Other notes
Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson suffered a fumble after a Jets touchdown, but recovered quickly and finished the game relatively healthy despite a lingering high‑ankle sprain.
Kicker Andy Borregales missed his first extra‑point of the season early in the fourth quarter, marking his third missed PAT attempt.
The Patriots’ win keeps them unbeaten in the early part of the season and highlights the value of a deep, versatile roster ready to step up when injuries arise.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
