Here is who caught our eye, for better or worse, in the Patriots’ Week 17 win.
The New England Patriots stayed in the win column on Sunday with a dominant 42-10 victory over the New York Jets.
Here is who caught our eye for better or worse upon live viewing in the defeat.
Winners
QB Drake Maye: It was another near perfect outing for Drake Maye on Sunday, as the quarterback set a career-high with five touchdown passes and went over the 4,000-yard mark on the season to join Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe as the only other Patriots quarterbacks to reach that milestone.
In roughy 35 minutes of game time, Maye went 19-of-21 for 256 passing yards and those five touchdowns before Mike Vrabel went to backup QB Joshua Dobbs for closing duties. In total, Maye generated +1.24 expected points (100th percentile) while his 99.8 quarterback rating tied the single-game record dating back to the metric’s beginning in 2006.
WRs Stefon Diggs and Efton Chism III: Down both Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins, New England turned to Stefon Diggs to carry the load at wide receiver on Sunday. That’s what the veteran did, as he brought in all six of his targets for 101 yards and a score as he logged his second-straight 100-yard performance. Diggs, whose play of the day featured a scramble drill that ended with him going over a defender’s back to make a highlight reel catch, is now just 30 yards shy of the 1,000 mark with one game remaining.
Down the depth chart, the injuries elevated UDFA Efton Chism III into a larger role as he played a season-high 41 offensive snaps (25 previously) splitting time out wide and in the slot. On the second drive of the game, Chism hauled in his first career catch as he took a slant against the blitz for 30-yard. He then hauled in his first career touchdown in the second half making an impressive sliding catch through contact.
CB Christian Gonzalez: Eyes were on New England’s top corner after Jets wide receiver AD Mitchell found success back in the Week 11 matchup. But, Gonzo took Sunday’s battle as he allowed just one catch for eight yards on five targets. The lone reception came short of the sticks on 3rd-and-10, while Gonzalez was also tight in coverage on Mitchell downfield which led to Jaylinn Hawkins’ interception.
Losers
N/A
Honorable mentions
- Rookie Kyle Williams also played a season-high 56 offensive snaps due to injuries. He finished with three catches for 20 yards, while one of Maye’s two incompletions came due to a Williams’ drop.
- Both Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper hauled in touchdowns, while Henry’s three receptions earned him a $250k incentive.
- Rhamondre Stevenson continued his late season hot streak posting 102 total yards and two touchdowns. TreVeyon Henderson added 82 yards on 19 carries (4.3 YPC) as the Patriots ended with a 41 percent rushing success rate (61st percentile).
- In addition to the overall ground success, Maye only under pressure on eight of his 24 drop-backs with Vederian Lowe remaining at left tackle and Ben Brown in for an injured Jared Wilson.
- The Patriots starting defense largely held Breece Hall in check as the Jets’ top back totaled just 53 yards on 12 attempts before the regulars were pulled from game action.
- Against one of the top return units in football, New England limited the Jets kick return game to a 28.5 yard average across four returns with a long of 35.
- If we may nitpick a 42-10 victory: New England had just a 33 percent success rate on late-down runs as they struggled running in short yardage situations. … The Jets successfully converted a fake punt. … Andy Borregales’ missed 41-yard field goal (5/5 XPs).
- Credit Josh McDaniels for his usage of eight different personnel groupings in order to account for injuries. The Patriots used their jumbo package on a season-high 25.8 percent of snaps which led to two touchdowns.
Category: General Sports
