Pats Fade Against Jets, Losing 24-3 in Thursday Night Football

The New England Patriots faced a tough defeat against the New York Jets, losing 24-3 in a Thursday night clash at MetLife Stadium. The offense of the Patriots struggled considerably, while Aaron Rodgers effectively dismantled the New England defense, showcasing an impressive performance.

Rodgers completed 27 of his 35 passes, accumulating 281 yards and two touchdowns. He displayed not only his passing accuracy but also his ability to extend plays, as he found eight different receivers throughout the match.

On the other side, Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett faced a relentless Jets defense, which pressured him constantly. He was sacked five times and managed to throw for only 98 yards. The New York defense recorded 10 quarterback hits, emphasizing their dominance over the Patriots’ offense.

New England’s DeMario Douglas had a notable performance, rebounding after expressing his frustration for not being targeted in Week 2. He secured seven receptions for 69 yards. Unfortunately, Rhamondre Stevenson struggled to make an impact on the ground, carrying the ball six times for just 23 yards. He further compounded his troubles by fumbling early in the fourth quarter.

In a late-game appearance, Patriots rookie Drake Maye made his NFL debut. He completed four passes out of eight for a total of 22 yards and added 12 rushing yards on two attempts, though he was also sacked twice by the Jets’ defense.

This defeat leaves the Patriots with a 1-2 record for the season.

The Jets opened the scoring with a touchdown on their second drive, which was bolstered by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty against New England linebacker Jahlani Tavai for roughing Breece Hall. Rodgers navigated the drive well, throwing for 33 yards, and finished it with a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Allan Lazard, who evaded cornerback Alex Austin to score.

After New England’s second consecutive punt, the Jets embarked on a 93-yard touchdown drive. Rodgers contributed significantly, completing three passes for 45 yards. Hall capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run, extending the Jets’ lead to 14-0 midway through the second quarter.

In the first half, the Jets dominated with 17 first downs compared to just four for the Patriots. New York racked up 252 yards of offense on 39 plays, while the Patriots managed a mere 40 yards across 18 plays, trailing 14-3 at halftime.

The Patriots’ offense faltered again at the start of the second half, going three-and-out. In contrast, the Jets drove 66 yards on 11 plays, culminating in another touchdown. Rodgers connected with Garrett Wilson for a two-yard touchdown with 6:18 remaining in the third quarter, pushing the score to 21-3.

During their next possession, the Patriots advanced to the New York 23-yard line. However, another sack—this time a 12-yard loss on Brissett during a critical third-and-14—halted their momentum and forced a punt from Bryce Baringer.

After the Jets punted on their next possession, the Patriots experienced further hardship as Stevenson had the ball stripped by safety Chuck Clark. This fumble gave New York possession at the New England 37-yard line, enabling them to score a field goal that extended the lead to 24-3.

The Jets converted 10 of their 15 third downs over the course of the game, significantly outgaining the Patriots 400 yards to 139. Additionally, New York dominated possession time, holding the ball for 40:04 compared to New England’s 19:56.

This loss marked the end of an eight-game winning streak for the Patriots at MetLife Stadium, a bittersweet record with a disappointing outcome. Looking ahead, the Patriots will have extra time to prepare for their Week 4 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, who are entering Week 3 with a record of 1-1.