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NFL: New York Jets at New England Patriots

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Patriots vs. Jets: New England wins 10-3 on Marcus Jones last-second punt return touchdown

New England improves to 6-4 on the season.

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

In what was a brutal day for both the New England Patriots (6-4) and the New York Jets (6-4) offenses, it was rookie Marcus Jones who was the difference maker. With just under 30 seconds left in the game, Jones took a punt 52 yards to the house for the lone touchdown of the day, giving the Patriots a 10-3 victory over their division rival.

Here’s everything that went down in a cold and windy Foxboro.

Final Score: Patriots (6-4) 10 : 3 Jets (6-4)

Sunday, November 20, 1 p.m. ET | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA | Broadcast Information | Inactives

First quarter

After a 10-minute technical delay, the Patriots offense took the field first - with Isaiah Wynn manning Mac Jones’ blindside and Yodney Cajuste at right tackle. The Jets attacked the new-look offensive line early, recording a sack off the right side on the first play from scrimmage. A four-yard run by Damien Harris and seven-yard completion to Nelson Agholor forced a punt by Michael Palardy.

New York’s offense got off to a slow start as well. Zach Wilson scrambled for a six-yard gain on first down while under pressure, but Michael Carter was stuffed on second-down and New England forced a throwaway on third-down. Wilson scrambling and throwing the football away while under pressure was a notable change from the Week 8 matchup, where he threw three poor interceptions.

It was a second quick three-and-out for Patriots’ offense on their next possession. Jones found Jonnu Smith on a quick-hitter for seven yards on second down, but his third-down pass intended to Tyquan Thornton was broken up.

Facing a second-and-14 after a false start penalty, Wilson again made a play with his legs, scrambling for a first-down. After the first first-down of the day, Wilson’s next pass downfield was dropped by an open Denzel Mims. After a three-yard rush by Michael Carter, Wilson’s third-down pass was incomplete. After a pair of penalties on both teams - including a poor one on Raekwon McMillan who almost blocked a punt - Braden Mann punted back to New England.

The Patriots’ offense finally found some life courtesy of Damien Harris. After a five-yard carry on first down, Harris broke a 22-yarder the next play. Two plays after, Jones found Meyers on a screen who used a nice block from Yodney Cajuste to pick up 11 more yards. On the following second-down, Jones hit Parker on a quick slant and then converted a third-down sneak himself. Facing another third-and-one, Jones handed off to Jonnu Smith on a reverse. Smith found the edge and appeared destined to score, but fumbled trying to switch hands - which he did recover. The Patriots faced a then fourth-and-one, but settled for a 24-yard field goal. [Patriots 3 : 0 Jets]

Injury Report: OL David Andrews (thigh) is questionable to return.

Second quarter

Deatrich Wise started off the Jets’ next possession with a batted pass, but a Matthew Judon neutral zone infraction on third-down moved the sticks for New York. On a following third-down, Wilson found Denzel Mims downfield - on a slightly under thrown ball that Jack Jones was late to react too - for 34 yards. After a Michael Carter one-yard run and six-yard scramble from Wilson, a third-down run was blown up by the Patriots’ defensive front. Greg Zuerlein connected on a 45-yard field goal on fourth-down. [Patriots 3 : 3 Jets]

Injury Report: OL Isaiah Wynn (foot) is questionable to return.

After a quick hit completion to Jonnu Smith and an incompletion downfield to Nelson Agholor, Jones fired a strike on third-down to Meyers for a conversion. On the next play, New England went play-action out of their full house formation and Jones threw a strong ball to Smith for 26 yards. On the following third-and-16, Jones dumped it off to Stevenson who made several people miss to miraculously pick up a first down. Stevenson then tallied a pair runs as Jones was then sacked on third-down. The sack proved costly, as Folk’s 44-yard field goal was short off the crossbar - a similar issue occurred in warmups kicking to the construction-end of the stadium in windy conditions.

The Jets started their next drive with a pair of James Robinson runs which totaled a combined two yards. On third-and-eight, Wilson found Elijah Moore for a 13-yard conversion. After a second ball to Moore and a Ty Johnson rush both for four yards, Wilson fired high on third-down and right into the hands of Devin McCourty - who was not able to corral the gift. New York punted back to New England,

Backed up at their own 14-yard line with 40 seconds remaining in the half, New England went conservative with a pair of handoffs and a screen to Rhamondre Stevenson. They then punted.

After using their time outs and getting the ball back with 19 seconds left, Wilson found Tyler Conklin for eight yards which ended the first half.

Third quarter

Injury Update: OL David Andrews (thigh) and Isaiah Wynn (foot) are downgraded to out.

The Patriots defense got to work to start the second half after a first-down misfire from Wilson looking for Braxton Berrios in the flat. Michael Carter recorded a three-yard carry before Matthew Judon got home on third-down for a sack.

After a short completion to Tyquan Thornton on first-down, the Patriots hit another big play out of their full-house formation. This time, Damien Harris took a handoff and bounced it outside for a 30-yard gain. Jones then found Harris in the air on the next play for an additional 15 yards. New England then went backwards after a sack by Michael Clemons and holding penalty on James Ferentz. Two completions to Stevenson and DeVante Parker set Nick Folk up for a 43-yard field goal which he pushed wide left (again towards the construction-end of the stadium).

The Jets’ second drive of the half came with the same results as their first. A pair of runs for two combined yards set them up in a third-and-eight situation, where Wilson misfired looking for Mims.

New England struck big plays on their first two plays from scrimmage, both off of under center play-action. On first-down, Jones found Jakobi Meyers down field for 20 yards. On the next play, Jones boot-legged out to his right and hit Hunter Henry for another 20-yard gain. Things then stalled, as Stevenson ran twice for no combined yards before Jones was sacked on third-down.

New York’s offensive struggles continued after a strong punt from Palardy to pin them back inside the five-yard line. Wilson’s third-down pass to Tyler Conklin went for seven yards and came up short of the sticks, resulting in a punt.

Damien Harris began the Patriots’ next drive with a 13-yard catch and run and then a six-yard carry. New England stalled yet again, however, as Stevenson came up short on a fourth-and-three carry.

Searching for their first first-down of the half, Wilson again missed Mims high in the flat before James Robinson’s second-down run was blown up for a two-yard loss. On third-and-12, who but Matthew Judon got to Wilson to bring him down for a sack.

Fourth quarter

New England’s next possession was the Rhamondre Stevenson show. Backed up after a first-down flag, Stevenson broke off a 17-yard catch-and-run before tallying three straight carries. On a third-and-seven, Jones was flushed from the pocket and tried to hit Jakobi Meyers, but the pass fell incomplete. New England then punted.

Injury Report: CB Marcus Jones (ankle) is questionable to return.

Backed up at their own 18-yard line, Kyle Dugger flew off the edge unblocked and sacked Zach Wilson to start the next drive. After just a one-yard completion to Mims, Ty Johnson recorded a seven-yard carry on third-and-17. New York punted back to New England yet again.

New England went backwards to start their next possession, as Jones was sacked on first-down for an 11-yard loss. Jones then completed two passes to Jonnu Smith and Nelson Agholor, but it was not enough for a first-down leading to a punt.

The Jets turned to James Robinson on their next drive as the back picked up seven yards on his first two carries. On third-and-three, New York picked up their first first down of the half as Wilson found Garrett Wilson for six yards. With a fresh set of downs, Ty Johnson lost three yards on a carry which was followed by a pass breakup by Kyle Dugger downfield. On third-and-13, the Patriots pass rush again got home - this time courtesy of Deatrich Wise. New York punted back to New England with just over three minutes remaining in the game.

Jones hit Meyers for an eight-yard drive starter, but that was all the progress for New England. Jones’ second-down sneak came up short of the sticks and Stevenson’s third-down carry was blown up by New York.

With 1:52 remaining and starting at their 20-yard line, Wilson’s second down pass was nearly intercepted by Jonathan Jones who broke on Mims’ route near the sideline. On third-and-10, Mack Wilson Sr. brought down Wilson for a sack, but a holding penalty on Jonathan Jones gave the Jets a first-down. After two Michael Carter carries for nine total yards, the Patriots defense came up with a third-down stop. On the punt, Marcus Jones took it 84 yards to the house for a touchdown. [Patriots 10 : 3 Jets]

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