Patriots defense gets merely a passing grade in win over Jets

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In the end, the Patriots did what they should do to a team with a very bad offense. It kept it from scoring.

But death wasn’t swift. A defense that – when it’s at its best is more boa constrictor than, um, something that kills things really fast – let the Jets hang around, hang around, hang around before getting the submission.

In fact, it was the Patriots offense that deserves a lot of credit for making sure the Jets were left with a lot to make up and not much time to do it.

The Patriots held the ball for more than 34 minutes on Sunday. The Jets had just one third-quarter possession (a 12-play, 50-yard field goal drive) and even though they nearly made it into the fourth quarter in a 13-13 tie, they sputtered out.

There were plenty of things for the Patriots to hang their hats on offensively in this one. Defensively, it was shrug-worthy. The Jets were 8 for 52 on third down in their previous four games. They were 5 for 14 in this one and 3-for-7 in the first half.

HARD TRUTHS

Their lack of pressure on Josh McCown on the Jets lone touchdown to Jermaine Kearse put corner Jonathan Jones in a losing position. And a third-down roughing-the-passer penalty on Deatrich Wise extended that drive to put them in position to get that touchdown.

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The Patriots can lament penalties that hurt them offensively, but so can the Jets.

They were driving on their first possession and had gotten to the New England 41 (thanks in part to a 17-yard completion to Jermaine Kearse on third-and-7) when a hold backed them out of that drive. And they were at the Patriots 42 on the last play of the third quarter when they had a holding penalty turn a first-and-10 into a first-and-20.

That drive stalled thanks to a Wise sack on third down.

It’s the early parts of games when the Patriots defense seems to breathe life into these otherwise wretched quarterbacks allowing them to play easy pitch-and-catch.
New York had eight plays of 16 yards or more in the first half – half of those coming on third down.

Tight ends continue to be a problem for the Patriots. Sunday, it was rookie fourth-rounder Chris Herndon who was targeted eight times and caught seven for 57 yards. He had 12 catches on 18 targets entering the game.

Tight ends have been an issue in the red zone for the Patriots much of the year, from the Titans Jonnu Smith to the Colts Eric Ebron and Eric Swope to the Packers Jimmy Graham and the Jaguars Austin Sefarian-Jenkins.

PATRIOTS 27, JETS 13

On the Jets’ lone touchdown drive (second possession of the game) Herndon got them started with a 19-yard catch. He later had a 21-yard catch late in the third when the Jets were trying to even the game at 20. That drive sputtered.

It was just a very blah performance against a not-very-talented offense.

And  the Jets – who’ve been really awful – can actually say with some honesty, “We beat ourselves out there…”

The Patriots have it in them defensively. The Packers game showed that. But New England’s going to see much, much better offensive talent next week against the Vikings and three weeks out against the Steelers. They need to be a little more ornery than they are currently showing.

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