With 7:24 left in the fourth quarter, the Jets narrowed the Patriots’ lead to 23-16 with a Jason Sanders field goal.
But then, the Patriots, with three backup offensive linemen, proceeded to go on a clock-killing drive, holding the ball for 6:08, driving the ball 51 yards on 13 plays, on a possession that ended with an Andy Borregales 27-yard field goal.
The Patriots were using two journeyman guards, Matt Pryor (who is 6-7 and more of a tackle) and Walter Rouse, who was acquired from Minnesota for a seventh-round pick right before the season. The fill-in right tackle was 2026 first-round pick Caleb Lomu.
The biggest issue on this drive was how the Patriots were able to run the ball so effectively up the middle with two backup guards and a running back, on his fourth team, Corey Kiner, who had key runs of 12, 8, and a pair of 5-yarders, with the Jets’ defensive tackles having issues getting off blocks.
How did this happen? Why such domination by an offensive line featuring three backups at such a crucial time of the game?
The Jets’ defensive coaches will need to get to the bottom of this.
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