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One thing that is a little hard to understand is why the Jets could not get more done in the passing game, considering how effectively they were running the ball.
In the first half, Braelon Allen ran 12 times for 65 yards, Isaiah Davis added 16 yards, and the Jets entered halftime with three points and 93 passing yards.
Not sure what is going on here?
When you can run the ball like that, and you have weapons like Garrett Wilson, Omar Cooper, Mason Taylor and Kenyon Sadiq in the passing game, what gives?
You look at some of the most effective offenses in the NFL, like San Francisco’s under Kyle Shanahan and Chicago’s under Ben Johnson; they have run-first approaches that set up wonderful opportunities in the pass game.
For whatever reason, even though the Jets are a good running team, it’s not leading to more explosive plays in the passing game.
Honestly, you could argue the Jets’ passing game has been underwhelming for three straight games – Chicago, Cleveland and New England.
Perhaps one part of this, as we have mentioned before, is the QB’s ultra-conservative nature.
You are not seeing many anticipatory throws. He seems to want to see a guy open to throw to him, and there isn’t too much “throwing guys open” (50-50 balls).
But when you run the ball as the Jets do, there is no doubt there should be more play-action created windows to take advantage of . . .
The Patriots’ first TD pass of the game was way too easy, and took advantage of a curious defensive configuration.
The Jets rushed three people – Harrison Phillips, T’Vondre Sweat and Jamien Sherwood.
Phillips was over left tackle Will Campbell. Why would Phillips ever be rushing over a left tackle? How is that ever going to lead to any pressure? Sweat is a run-stuffing nose tackle, and Sherwood’s best work is as an in-space linebacker (and he had a very solid game in New England).
So Maye had all day to throw. It was like a 7-on-7 drill in training camp, and WR Romeo Doubs had time to cross all the way from the left side of the field to the right side of the field, an impossible coverage situation for CB Brandon Stephens, who had no help, resulting in a 42-yard TD catch by Doubs.
“You can’t give Drake Maye that much time,” said CBS game analyst Adam Archuleta
“All Day Maye,” said Patriots radio analyst Scott Zolak.
Stuff like this contributes to losses a lot more than how much Garrett Wilson gets the ball.
This TD was a gift, as easy a throw for an NFL QB as you are doing to get . . .
Late in the first half, the Jets had the ball third-and-10 on their own 24, with 1:35 left in the half, and Smith threw a six-yard pass to Cooper. The Jets punt, and New England drives down the field and makes it 17-3.
Why would you throw a six-yard pass on third-and-10?
It would be hard to believe that is what Frank Reich called.
From a Football 101 standpoint, that made no sense . . .
Looking back over the game, David Bailey had a rough one. Aside from two penalties, he was dominated by rookie right tackle Caleb Lomu (who took over for the injured Morgan Moses in the second quarter). There are two examples:
On the Patriots TE drive at the end of the first half to give them a 17-3 lead, Maye threw an easy 9-yard TD to WR Pop Douglas on the right side of the end zone. What helped Maye step up in the pocket on the right side, and make this easy throw was Lomu pancaking Bailey on that side.
Then early third, on a second and 13, Bailey ran too far upfield and got handled by Lomu, and Maye escaped through the gap and ran for 21 yards.
The hyperbolic praise of Bailey last week was short-sighted and devoid of context. He has some natural ability, but he is a major work-in-progress…
The Jets had an impressive opening drive that stalled in the red zone.
On second-and-10, on the New England 14, there was a play where Smith had all day to throw. It might have been the best pass protection on a play all day, and ended up forcing a pass to Wilson into double coverage that was incomplete.
“He had seven seconds to throw the ball; he was able to reset his feet three times,” Zolak said after the play.
While we all get throwing in the red zone, a condensed area, can be challenging, with that much time to throw, was a throw to Wilson in double coverage the best option?
And this goes back to something we talked about in Sunday’s Whispers and last week. With all the weapons the Jets have, don’t worry about forcing the ball to Wilson, as some on the outside are lobbying the Jets to do.
Throw to the open guy, and it’s hard to believe, with that much time to throw, a throw to Wilson into double coverage was the best option.
October 19, 2026
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