The New England Patriots have dominated the New York Jets over the first half of play. The Patriots lead the Jets 27-0 and get the ball after the half.
The Jets received the opening kickoff and went three-and-out after a nice sack by Patriots DE Chris Long. The Patriots started their drive around midfield and walked down to the Jets 11-yard line. QB Tom Brady missed a wide open WR Julian Edelman and the Patriots settled for a field goal and a 3-0 lead.
QB Bryce Petty and the Jets offense were even worse on the second drive. DT Alan Branch and DE Jabaal Sheard shared a sack on Petty before CB Malcolm Butler intercepted Petty on 3rd down.
The Patriots started their second drive around midfield and had no problem marching down the field, with Brady connecting with TE Martellus Bennett on a gorgeous 5-yard toe-touching score.
RB Bilal Powell is the only Jets player to show up as he picked up 21 yards on four plays, before the Jets tried to pass the ball and stalled their next drive. The Patriots started on the 13-yard line, but were unable to move the ball. The Patriots punted for the first time all day, setting the Jets up on the 34-yard line.
The Jets promptly fumbled the football after a monster hit by LB Elandon Roberts and recovery by Butler. Petty injured his shoulder on the play. The Patriots called some questionable plays from the 4-yard line and had to settle for a field goal and a 13-0 lead.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick took over for the Jets as New York responded with their first good drive of the game, thanks to some strong running by Powell. Patriots S Patrick Chung broke up a touchdown pass to Jets TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins and the Jets lined up for a field goal...and they missed as the Patriots retained a 13-0 lead.
The Patriots were unable to take advantage of the miss and punted the ball back to the Jets. Fitzpatrick threw an interception to CB Eric Rowe on the first play of the Jets drive. Brady hit WR Julian Edelman for 35 yards and found TE Matt Lengel for an 18-yard score and a 20-0 lead.
The Jets stalled again and the Patriots got the ball with 90 second left in the half. Brady found Edelman for a first down and the Patriots decided to try and score instead of run out the clock. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels dialed up a deep shot to WR Malcolm Mitchell and the Jets committed a 47-yard defensive pass interference penalty. Brady hit RB James White on a 25-yard touchdown pass and a 27-0 lead.
Brady has been fairly efficient in the first half, although a few drops and questionable playcalls (a fade to Edelman? Really?) have hurt his red zone production. Eight different players have recorded a reception and Lengel is the 64th different player to receive a regular season touchdown pass from Brady.
On defense, the Patriots have also been efficient without LB Dont’a Hightower. DT Malcom Brown has not been a part of the Patriots game plan and remained sidelined, with Alan Branch and Vincent Valentine getting all the time on the field. So long as the Jets only offense is Bilal Powell, I’m sure head coach Bill Belichick will be happy.
Teams are 343-1 all time when leading by 27+ points at the half. The one loss was by the Saints in 1980. The Patriots get the ball after the half.