Fresh off clinching a playoff birth with a come-from-behind victory on Sunday Night Football, the 12-3 New England Patriots are back on the road to take on the 3-12 New York Jets.
As New England is looking to end the year perfect on the road, they will need to survive without a handful of regular starters — which could thrust rookies such as Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III, and Bradyn Swinson into larger roles on both sides of the ball.
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Live score: Patriots 35 : 3 Jets
Sunday, Dec. 28, 1 p.m. ET | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ |Â Broadcast information | Inactives | Game day roster
First Quarter
The Patriots lost the coin toss which led to Drake Maye and the offense taking the field first Sunday. A good return by D’Ernest Johnson started the unit shy of midfield before a second-down completion to Stefon Diggs found New England in Jets territory. A 24-yard run by Rhamondre Stevenson and contested catch by Hunter Henry moved the unit inside the five, where Maye’s next pass went to Austin Hooper for a touchdown. [Patriots 7 : 0 Jets]
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New York’s first offensive possession of the day started in a 3rd-and-8, where Brady Cook’s pass was complete but short of the sticks leading to a punt.
Taking back over, New England got their rookie receivers involved as a first-down completion to Kyle Williams was followed by a 30-yard catch-and-run to Efton Chism III for his first career catch. A pair of double digit runs had the Pats back in the red zone before a DPI in the end zone set the offense up at the one-yard line. The next play, Stevenson found the end zone. [Patriots 14 : 0 Jets]
The Jets found themselves back in a 3rd-and-6 to start their next drive after a muffed snap, where Cook let one go downfield that was intercepted by safety Jaylinn Hawkins.
Second Quarter
New England regained possession at their own 34-yard line and struck a big play to Stefon Diggs who went up-and-over a defensive back for 30 yards. A completion to Kyle Williams then moved the chains — after a Mike Vrabel challenge — on third-down before New England was back in a 3rd-and-7, where Maye found Stevenson out of the backfield for a wide open 22-yard touchdown. [Patriots 21 : 0 Jets]
Down three scores, the Jets broke an explosive play as Breece Hall found 19 yards on a misdirection run. Over midfield for the first time, a check down to Hall saw the back break free for a 21-yard catch-and-run. Facing third-down inside the red zone, Cook’s dump off to Hall was complete before he was immediately dragged down for a loss. New York settled for a field goal. [Patriots 21 : 3 Jets]
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A play-action pass to Diggs kicked off the Patriots next drive with a 21-yard gain beef TreVeyon Henderson took the next carry for 17 more yards to move the offense over midfield. Facing a 3rd-and-short just inside the red zone, a handoff to Stevenson was stuffed behind the line for a loss. Leaving the offense on the field for 4th-and-3, Maye took off from the gun to pickup a new set of downs. Three straight runs in a goal-to-go situation could not find the end zone leading to a fourth-and-goal, where Maye’s quick pass to Diggs found the end zone. [Patriots 28 : 3 Jets]
Two run stuffs by K’Lavon Chaisson and former Jet Leonard Taylor set New York up in a 3rd-and-10 on the other side of the two-minute warning, where Cook’s pass was complete but short of the line to gain.
The Patriots took back over inside their own 10-yard line with 1:48 left in the half. In a 3rd-and-7, Maye’s pass over the middle to Diggs was broken up but a roughing the passer penalty on the Jets gave New England 15 yards and a new set of downs. They then struck a big play to Diggs again for a 26-yard gain over the middle to help set up outside the red zone. From the 13-yard line, Maye then stepped up in the pocket to find a wide open Hunter Henry for a touchdown. [Patriots 35 : 3 Jets]