It was suppose to be the game of the year. It still was for me. The Pats completely dominated and humiliated the loud-mouth, trash-talking, haven't-done-a-single-thing-yet Jets to a 45-3 beat-down. No one hates Rex Ryan and the Jets more than I do so it was so satisfying watching them lay an egg in front of a national audience. After the game, I stayed up and watched all of the postgame press conferences just to revel in this victory.
What does this game mean? The Pats have a game lead over the Jets and share the top record in the league. The Pats have the inside track to the #1 seed in the AFC which means if they win their remaining games, they would have a bye week followed by two home games to reach the Super Bowl.
Offense
As well as Brady played last week against the Lions where he amassed a perfect passer rating, he played even better this week against one of the best defenses in the league. Brady threw for 326 yards, 4 TDs to 4 different receivers (Branch, Welker, Tate, and Hernandez), and most importantly, no INTs again.
The running game did a good enough job to make play-action work. After a pass interference against the Jets on a pass intended for Gronkowski which set the Pats up at the 1 yard line, I loved that the Pats decided to punch it in with BJGE instead of passing the ball in that situation.
Woodhead was explosive coming out of the backfield. The Jets didn't have any answers for him because he would sometimes stay in the block. Sometimes he would chip on a block and release out to catch a pass. At other times, he would line up outside and force the Jets to try to match up.
The Pats play-calling was great in this game. It felt like everything worked because they put up 45 points! They did a great job of mixing up formations and personnel and the Jets were guessing all night long. It was hilarious watching Revis and Cromartie try to figure where their assignments were going on any given play.
Defense
The defense simply played great allowing only 3 points! They seemed to have a good week of preparation and were ready for plays that Sanchez likes to run such as bootleg throws to the right side. Once the Pats got up big and the Jets had to throw to catch up, the Pats dropped more guys into coverage and came away with 3 INTs.
McCourty made another great play staying along Braylon Edwards' hip and then turning at the right moment to grab the first INT. You can't get more textbook than that.
Spikes came up with the 2nd INT just in front of the goal-line. That was a poor decision by Sanchez to force that throw. That kind of decision-making highlights the difference between just an average QB like Sanchez and a great one like Brady.
And Sanders came away with the last INT on an underthrown ball. I'm not sure what the Jets were thinking keeping Sanchez in that late in the game but it doesn't bode well for them if they get down early in games and are forced to throw to try to catch up.
The only negative things I noticed was that the defense did not do a great job defending the run. However, the pass defense played well enough to make the Jets one-dimensional.
Special Teams
It seemed like everything went wrong for the Jets and that included their special teams. Folk missed an early FG which would have tied the game. Conversely, Graham was successful on his lone attempt of the game.
The Jets' punter shanked a couple of punts which gave the Pats great field position.
The Pats did a great job containing the dangerous kickoff returner Brad Smith.
Other Thoughts
Ryan was clearly outcoached by Belichick in this game. He had a panic moment challenging the spot of a QB rush early on their first drive. It cost him because he couldn't afford to challenge a questionable TD reception by Tate along the sideline.
As for Belichick, how much more genius-like does he look now? He trades away Randy Moss and the offense actually gets better! He trots out the youngest defense in the league and somehow coaches them up to an opportunistic, play-making unit. Then in the midst of a blowout, he huddles the team together along the sideline and delivers a speech about playing hard for 60 minutes and that he doesn't give an [expletive] what the score is!
Regarding LT, how did one of the most likeable and marketable guys in the NFL become one of the most hated? Go ahead and ask him; he'll tell you how much of a classy guy he is. He is clearly embracing his new role as a villain. I haven't seen this kind of 180 degree turnaround since Hulk Hogan became a bad guy and joined the nWo. Anyways, I started to hate LT as his time ran out in SD. I hate him more now that he's a member of the Jets. And I hate him even more because every single time he rushes for a decent gain, we have to watch him pop up bobbing his head, yapping his mouth, and pounding his chest. Yeah, real class act...
NY Jets coach Rex Ryan said in a speech shown on Hard Knocks that he wanted to eat a [GD] snack. How did that slice of humble pie taste?
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