With 37 seconds to go before halftime, leading 10-3, it appeared — for a beat — that this was definitely going to be the Jets moment. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones dropped back, felt the rush, hurried his throw and was picked off by Michael Carter II, who went coast to coast for an 84-yard touchdown to give Jets a 16-3 lead.
Until he didn’t. Flags were thrown, and Jets defensive end John Franklin Meyers was called for roughing the passer when he body slammed Jones after he threw the ball. The call was easy. The touchdown was wiped out, and the Patriots would eventually kick a field goal. Instead of the Jets running into the break up 17-3, they led only 10-6.
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That was the turning point, and the Jets never recovered.
Then the game turned into a sloppy performance by quarterback Zach Wilson, who tossed three interceptions in the second half. All the turnovers came when Wilson was trying to roll out of the pocket and throw off his back foot.
When Wilson did stand in the pocket and throw he was good, like the 8-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Conklin in the second quarter that gave the Jets a 10-3 lead.
Of the three turnovers by New York, the Patriots turned it into two field goals. In fact, ex-Jets kicker Nick Folk was a perfect 5-for-5 kicking on Sunday for New England.
The Patriots simplified their game plan for Mac Jones. Instead of testing the Jets secondary, they kept things underneath with throws in the middle of the field to the likes Rhamondre Stevenson and Jakobi Meyers.
Let’s just say Jets fans were none too happy!
