On Thursday Night Football, the Pats extended their win streak to eight games, overcoming a sluggish start to throttle the New York Jets 27-14 at Gillette Stadium.
While the Jets threw the first punch, it was the young duo of Drake Maye and TreVeyon Henderson who ultimately delivered the knockout blow, continuing New England’s midseason pole position for control of the AFC East.
The Turning Point
For a moment, it looked like an upset was potentially brewing in Foxborough. The Jets opened the game with a surgical 14-play, 72-yard drive, capped off by a 5-yard touchdown scamper from QB Justin Fields. New York led 7-0, and the Patriots’ defense looked back on its heels.
That illusion didn’t last long.
New England flipped the script immediately in the second quarter. While the Jets’ offense went ice cold—posting three straight three-and-outs—Drake Maye went to work. The second-year signal-caller dissected the Jets’ zone coverage with veteran poise, leading two scoring drives to take a 14-7 lead into the break. From there, the Patriots never looked back, using a suffocating defense and a relentless ground game to grind the Jets into submission.
Rookie Watch: The Henderson Show
If fantasy owners weren’t paying attention to TreVeyon Henderson before, they certainly are now. The rookie running back was electric, finding the end zone three times (two rushing, one receiving) in a primetime showcase.
Henderson’s hat-trick makes him just the second rookie in franchise history to score three touchdowns in a single game, joining the legendary Rob Gronkowski. Whether grinding out tough yards between the tackles or exploding into open space in the end zone for a receiving score, Henderson was the engine that powered the Patriots’ offense all night.
Studs and Duds
STUD: Patriots QB Drake Maye
Maye continues to operate like the franchise quarterback New England has been waiting for. He was efficient and deadly accurate, completing 25 of 34 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t force throws, didn’t turn the ball over, and controlled the tempo from the second quarter onward in Josh McDaniels’ offense.
DUD: The Jets Offense (Post-First Drive)
After that brilliant opening drive, the Jets’ offense fell off a cliff. They were plagued by execution errors and a lack of discipline, racking up seven penalties for 62 yards. A critical fumble on a snap deep in their own territory in the fourth quarter was the nail in the coffin, handing the Patriots an easy field goal to make it a two-score game.
STUD: Patriots Defense
After the initial shock of the first drive, this unit locked down. They completely erased Justin Fields’ passing attack, limiting him to just 116 yards through the air. When the game was on the line in the fourth quarter, they stood tall, stuffing the Jets on a do-or-die fourth down to seal the victory.
DUD: Jets QB Justin Fields
Fields started hot with his legs but cooled off drastically. Finishing with only 15 completions on 26 attempts, he struggled to sustain drives once the Patriots contained the run. To be fair, he didn’t get much help from his line, but 116 passing yards in a game where you’re trailing for three quarters simply doesn’t cut it.
The Bottom Line
New England’s resurgence in Year 1 under Mike Vrabel is one of the biggest stories of the year. Their ability to cover the spread week after week is a perfect example of momentum in action. This kind of consistency shifts the betting lines, a trend reflected, among others, at this sportsbook powered by an apparel giant to show how steady winning streaks impact future odds and long-term value.
Next up, the Patriots will look to make it nine in a row on Sunday, November 23, against the Cincinnati Bengals. On the same day, the Jets go back to the drawing board against the Baltimore Ravens.