The New England Patriots can breathe a sigh of relief after Sunday's run-in with an underrated New York Jets football team. Too many mistakes by the Patriots, combined with an incredibly tough effort by the Jets, could have led to a catastrophic upset at Gillette Stadium.
But the Patriots managed to hold on for the 26-19 victory.
The Jets came into Sunday's game with a defense ranked top-five in the NFL and an offense that wasn't turning the ball over. So they had the recipe to cause real chaos in Foxborough. However, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye continued his efficient run, despite losing multiple offensive linemen.
He finished the game going 18-of-32 passing for 235 yards and three touchdowns. There was hope that he would have another air assault performance with star wide receiver A.J. Brown back on the field, but this game was all about establishing the run and resisting the urge to force throws downfield.
And Maye passed with flying colors.
He avoided sacks and navigated the pocket well enough to extend drives. Wideout DeMario Douglas led the team with seven receptions for 86 yards and one touchdown, while Brown turned in only three receptions for 27 yards on 10 targets. It was clear that the Patriots were trying to get Brown involved, but he had multiple drops in the game. He also whiffed on an onside kick late that nearly gave the Jets a chance to take the game into overtime.
It was an all-around forgettable performance from Brown, who clearly wasn't 100 percent after missing the previous four games with an ankle injury.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Patriots forced the first interception of the year against Jets quarterback Geno Smith, with cornerback Charles Woods picking him off. With that said, the Jets were game on offense, and they gave the Patriots' defense all they could handle on the ground and through the air.
The biggest concern for the Patriots following this game will be the injuries. They lost three offensive linemen to injuries, including Alijah Vera-Tucker, Ben Brown and Morgan Moses. That's a concerning number of injuries in a short week for a Patriots offense that was finally hitting its stride.
The win over the Jets keeps them in the hunt for the AFC East crown, but now, they'll have limp into a Thursday Night Football showdown on the road against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears next week.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Instant analysis of Patriots' 26-19 win over Jets