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A22 sports
Wednesday 23 OctOber 2019

Patriots blitz Darnold, Jets 33-0 to remain undefeated

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. came on the Jets' next
AP Pro Football Writer possession when his throw
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) to the end zone was inter-
— Tom Brady set the tone cepted by Harmon. Gilm-
and the New England Pa- ore picked off Darnold on
triots' blitz-happy defense New York's opening drive
took over from there. of the second half.
Bill Belichick's bunch is still It only went downhill from
undefeated after another there on the Jets' next pos-
absolutely dominant per- session when Ryan Kalil's
formance. snap sailed over Darnold's
Brady threw a TD pass to head and he knocked it
Phillip Dorsett, Sony Michel out of the back of the end
ran for three scores and zone for a safety.
New England forced Sam Michel added a 1-yard TD
Darnold into five turnovers run with 12:32 left to cap
while cruising to a 33-0 vic- the scoring.
tory over the New York Jets "Obviously, that was brutal,"
on Monday night. Jets coach Adam Gase
"We were able to make said. "We couldn't do any-
some plays early in the New England Patriots' Sony Michel (26) rushes for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL thing right. All three phases,
game," Belichick said, "and football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. we were bad. It was just a
play pretty solid for 60 min- Associated Press bad performance."
utes." obviously, I've got to be the beginning. Ben Watson for 7 yards to CENTER OF ATTENTION
The Patriots improved to better and learn from the Michel's 3-yard touchdown extend the drive. After a Kalil injured his right elbow
7-0 for the third time in fran- mistakes, but we will get run capped an efficient 2-yard run by Michel, Brady late in the second quar-
chise history, and first since better." drive by Brady to open the threw a perfectly placed ter and was replaced by
2015. Belichick blitzed Darnold of- game. The Patriots went 16 ball to Dorsett, who caught Jonotthan Harrison. Kalil re-
They also swept the two- ten, giving the second-year plays and 78 yards while the pass over Trumaine turned to open the second
game season series against quarterback little time and eating up 8:47, and con- Johnson in the end zone for half with a sleeve over his
their AFC East rivals for the forcing him into bad — and verted four third downs a 26-yard touchdown. elbow, but again left after
fourth straight year, out- often ugly — throws. Devin along the way. The last "We had good balance," his wayward snap.
scoring the Jets (1-5) 63-14 McCourty, Duron Harmon, came on third-and-2 when Brady said. STATS
in the two meetings this Stephon Gilmore and Ter- Brady pitched it to Michel, New England took advan- It was New England's sec-
year. rence Brooks all had inter- who easily zipped into the tage of another turnover ond shutout this season af-
And, the top-ranked Patri- ceptions. Darnold also lost end zone. by Darnold on the Jets' ter winning 43-0 at Miami
ots defense was a big rea- a fumble on a sack, and "Our guys were ready to go next drive when John Si- in Week 2. ... The Patriots
son in this one. later knocked an errant today," Belichick said. "We mon popped the ball out dominated the opening
"They're just playing great snap out of the back of the got off to a good start. That of the quarterback's hand quarter, outgaining the Jets
football," Brady said. "They end zone for a safety. was a great opening drive. for a strip-sack and Kyle 141 yards to 14 while hold-
cover the rush. They stop "I don't know, man," a smil- It took up most of the first Van Noy recovered. ing the ball for 12:34 com-
the run. Make critical plays. ing McCourty said when quarter." The Patriots linebacker ran pared to just 2:26 for New
It's awesome to watch." asked if there were "ghosts" New England made it 10-0 39 yards for what was ini- York. ... Brady's 29 regular-
Darnold was the AFC of- on the field. "We were just a few minutes later after tially called a touchdown, season wins vs. the Jets are
fensive player of the week locked in tonight as a de- McCourty intercepted Dar- but officials then ruled he his second-most against
after leading New York to fensive unit. When you get nold's first pass of the game, was down. any opponent, with only his
a 24-22 win over Dallas last a lot of time to prepare coming on the Jets' second Four plays later, it ap- 31 against Buffalo more.
Sunday in his return from for a game, you start go- play from scrimmage. New peared James White had MAWAE HONORED
missing three games with ing over everything over England turned the turn- a 4-yard touchdown run, Former Jets center Kevin
mononucleosis. and over again. I think it over into a 34-yard field but it was wiped out by an Mawae received his key
He was miserable against showed for us tonight as a goal by Mike Nugent. illegal block in the back from the Pro Football Hall
New England, finishing 11 defensive unit." After the Jets went three- penalty on Julian Edelman. of Fame during a halftime
of 32 for 86 yards and a 3.6 Brady was 31 of 45 for 249 and-out, Brady went back Brady's pass to Jakobi Mey- ceremony.
quarterback rating. ESPN yards with a TD and an in- to work. On fourth-and-6 ers fell incomplete on third- Mawae, who played for
had Darnold wear a micro- terception before leaving from the 35, Belichick opt- and-goal from the 3, but New York from 1998-2005,
phone during the game, with 2:55 left to chants of ed to leave the offense on Brian Poole was called for was inducted in August.
and he was caught on the "Brady! Brady!" from the Pa- the field instead of having defensive holding. Michel UP NEXT
sideline saying, "I'm seeing triots fans who stayed until Nugent try for a 53-yard ran it in from the 1 three Patriots: host Cleveland
ghosts" at one point. the end at MetLife Stadium. field goal. plays later to make it 24-0 next Sunday.
"It was a rough night out They watched New Eng- And, it paid off. with 9:18 left in the first half. Jets: at Jacksonville next
there," Darnold said. "And land take total control from Brady connected with Darnold's third turnover Sunday.q