RADIO
For a while there, the New York Jets were holding Rob Gronkowski down and really limiting the Patriots’ star tight end. The Patriots were without their budding running back star in Dion Lewis thanks to an abdomen injury, and so they only suited up two running backs, bulldozer LeGarrette Blount and the new pass catcher would be James White. It was clearly going to be on Tom Brady and the passing game to win for New England. Brady was being rushed early and often by a strong front seven, and he was being victimized by drops from Brandon LaFell and Julian Edelman. It was 17-16 Jets going into the fourth quarter, and then the Patriots turned it on.
The adjustments that were made by Belichick and Brady clearly paid off, and when you sprinkle in a few Jets’ gaffes (like leaving Gronkowski uncovered in the red zone, allowing him to score a 15 yard touchdown untouched), it is near impossible to stop New England. Brady found Gronkowski eleven times for 108 yards and said touchdown, and while early on the Jets were swarming Gronk, he started beating the one-on-one coverage and dragging defenders for extra yardage.
Danny Amendola also had a great game, finishing with 8 receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown, which was necessary thanks to the struggles of the other Patriots’ receivers and a nonexistent rushing game. Perhaps Edelman was still plagued by his finger injury that he suffered last week, but he dropped what should have been an easy touchdown on a crossing route. LaFell was benched for Aaron Dobson after only catching two of his eight targets on the day. Tom Brady was the leading rusher for the Patriots, as James White and LeGarrette Blount combined for only five attempts for one yard. It was clear how the Patriots were going to attack the Jets.
The Jets showed a ton of fight, and even pulled off a successful onside kick to give themselves a chance to tie the game at 30, but Brandon Marshall wasn’t able to get set by the time Ryan Fitzpatrick needed to spike the ball, and the game ended with a ten second runoff from the illegal shift penalty. These teams meet again in Week 16, and that game could very well be of great significance for the AFC East, but first teams are going to have to find a way to put the Patriots away. So far, no dice.
