Maye’s Stunning 5-TD Game Powers Patriots’ 42-10 Jets Rout
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The Patriots did exactly what they had to do on the road against the Jets in Week 17, scoring touchdowns the first six times they had the ball enroute to a 42-10 thrashing of the Jets in the Meadowlands.
The win boosted the Patriots’ record to 13-3 and a perfect 8-0 on the road this season. Although they’re tied with Denver for the best record in the league, Denver owns the tie-breaker for the #1 seed in the AFC.
The Patriots were missing several key players, especially at wide receiver, including Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins. But Drake Maye made it look easy, as if it were a 7-on-7 drill. Maye was magnificent, completing 19-21 for 256 yards with five touchdown passes to five different receivers for a passer rating of 157.0.
The amazing thing is Maye did all that in just two and a half quarters of work. Maye’s day ended with the young quarterback passing the 4,000-yard plateau, becoming the third Patriot QB to do so, joining Tom Brady (11 times) and Drew Bledsoe (twice).
The Patriots put the Jets in the rear-view mirror right away with a 62-yard drive that looked too, too easy in just seven plays before QB Drake Maye found tight end Austin Hooper for a 2-yard touchdown. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 33 yards on three carries. Maye was 3-of-3 on the opening drive.
After a quick three-and-out by the Jets, Maye quickly moved them down the field, hitting Efton Chism for a 30-yard reception (his first in the NFL), before Rhamondre Stevenson ran for a 1-yard touchdown to make the score 14-0.
Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins intercepted Brady Cook on third-and-6 to hand the ball back to Maye and the offense. The offense quickly responded with another touchdown — an easy 22-yard completion from Maye to Stevenson — to go up 21-0, and the rout was on.
After a Jets’ FG made it 21-3, Maye found Stefon Diggs on a fourth-and-goal screen to make it 28-3. After a Jets’ punt, Maye took over on the Patriots’ nine-yard line with time winding down in the first half.
He then engineered a 10-play, 91-yard scoring drive. Maye found tight end Hunter Henry for a 13-yard score for his fourth passing touchdown in the first half, with the Patriots going up 35-3 at the break.
The Jets went nowhere after receiving the second-half kickoff, but Maye and the Patriots were not done.
Maye hit Chism for his first NFL touchdown, a 10-yard diving catch in the end zone to go up 42-3. Maye’s day was done after just two and a half quarters.
Maye was asked after the game about reaching the 4,000-yard mark, joining Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe as the only Patriots’ QBs to do so.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t say I’m in conversation with them two. Those are probably two of the best in Patriots [history]. It’s an honor to do that, but it takes everybody. It took everybody. Like we say in the offensive room, it takes everybody, 11 of us each and every play. Whether it’s me throwing for that many yards or throwing for 20 yards, whatever it takes to win, I think that’s the most important thing. The thing I care about is our win-loss record. We still have some work left to do in some games ahead that should be fun.”
The Jets finally scored a TD when Breece Hall ripped off a 59-yard score against the Patriots’ backups, which ended the scoring.
Vrabel, after the game, spoke about how the team got to 8-0 on the road. “It was a tough one, the first one, just going all the way back to Miami, and I think that that was just a really important game for us. Being able to battle and give up a punt return, answer with a kickoff return, I mean, going all the way back and just … big kick from Andy.
“We’ve talked about all those things that have helped us along the way and talked about just unfinished business on the road and being able to, when we needed to, handle the environment and make critical plays and get off to a good start like we did today. Really proud of this football team and what they’ve been able to do. Anytime you travel, it’s difficult.”
-The Patriots’ running game answered the bell. Rhamondre Stevenson totalled over 100 yards from scrimmage with 47 yards on eight carries and a TD (5.9-yard average), and 55 yards on five catches and another score.
-TreVeyon Henderson was questionable to play but had a very solid game with 82 yards on 19 carries, with a long of 17. Overall, the Patriots rushed for 155 yards on 36 carries, an excellent day for the running game.
-Stefon Diggs had a huge first half, hauling in six catches on six targets for 101 yards. His touchdown catch was his 80th reception of the season, triggering a $500,000 bonus. He needs 30 yards next week to break 1,000 yards on the season.
-Due to injuries, Chism and fellow rookie Kyle Williams played expanded roles, with Chism chipping in two catches for 40 yards and a score, while Williams had three catches for 20 yards. With the team pounding the ball in the second half, there weren’t as many opportunities for them.
– Anfernee Jennings played for Harold Landry, and the veteran responded with a solid game (as always) in run support. He added a QB hit.
-While the Patriots allowed 164 yards rushing, the majority (including Hall’s TD run) were done against the backups.
-The defense held Brady Cook to just 152 yards passing; he went 19-33 (4.6-yard average) with an interception.
-The Special Teams allowed a fake punt that was obviously coming, but on the same drive, stopped the second attempt.
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The Patriots have their final regular-season game next week against Miami in Gillette Stadium. Depending upon the score of the Buffalo-Philadelphia game later today, the Patriots could be playing for not only the AFC East division crown, but the #1 seed in the AFC as well.
Check back later for our Positional Report Card on the big win.
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