Patriots prove “weak schedule” take wrong in win

 

Patriots prove “weak schedule” take wrong in win

The New England Patriots rout the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon, winning by a score of 42-10.

The Patriots, now 13-3 on the year, went into MetLife Stadium and took care of business against the Jets in a game that seemed to get away from them fast. The Jets allowed five touchdowns total and got in a whole early, being down 14-0 in the first quarter. The Jets currently rank 30th out of the 32 teams in points allowed this season at 426 (28.4 points per game).

Drake Maye and Co. were aggressive all game even with the control they had. The team has been criticized this season specifically for having a weaker schedule.  Despite the critiques, the Patriots not only won the games you should win on paper, but by a wide margin as well. The biggest win was week 4 against Carolina by a score of 42-13 and a 29-point differential.

Week 7 against the Browns and week 13 against the Giants were tied for 18-point differentials. The main part that needs to be remembered isn't that the Patriots should simply win these "easier" games, it's "by how much can the Patriots win these games by." Are they barely skating by in those stretches of games or are they dominating in those games? That is the true question that needs to be asked because that is what ultimately determines a "mid" team as the Patriots have been called this season vs a contending team, which they have shown they can be.

In that ten game stretch, the Patriots won with a 118-point win differential. They won by an average of 11.8 points per game during that stretch. Six out of ten of those games were won by more than ten points.

Drake Maye was consistent all game. He completed 19 of his 21 passes, throwing for 256 yards on five touchdown passes. Maye finished the game with a 90 percent completion percentage and a 158-passer rating.

Rookie halfback TreVeyon Henderson ran 19 times for 82 yards. Henderson carried the whole pile with him on a few powerful runs, showing the world why he is so dangerous at his size.

Rhamondre Stevenson had himself a day with eight carries and 47 yards on the ground and a touchdown. He contributed in the air as well with five receptions for 55 yards and a receiving touchdown.

Receiver Stefon Diggs had another big game in the win, recording six receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. This is the third game where he reached 100 yards or more in yards. The first was against the Jets in week 11 with 105. The second was in week 16 against the Ravens with 138.

Undrafted rookie Efton Chism III caught his first pass in the game as well. He saw some playing time with a depleted receiving corps going into the game. He had two receptions for 40 yards and the touchdown.

Tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper both caught a touchdown pass in the win. Hooper had two receptions for 11 yards and the score. Henry had three receptions for 49 yards and the score.

New England completes an impressive road season against the Jets going 8-0 on the road this season, dubbing themselves "road warriors." Next week, New England returns home to face the Dolphins to cap off the regular season.