A pair of receiving touchdowns by tailback Shane Vereen have allowed the Patriots take a 17-12 halftime lead over the Jets at Gillette Stadium on Thursday night in Foxborough.
Vereen’s three-yard TD catch with 4:22 left in the half allowed the Pats to retake the lead from the 1-5 Jets, whose points have come on four Nick Folk field goals.
Vereen began the scoring with a 49-yard TD reception 1:31 into the game. On the play, Vereen ran free up the sideline, and no one picked him up. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12-of-22, 174 yards) threw deep, and Vereen made a diving catch for the score.
The Patriots added a 39-yard field goal from Stephen Gostkowski at the end of the half. A 32-yard pass interference penalty of the Jets’ Antonio Allen pushed New England into scoring range.
The Jets have dominated time of possession, holding the ball for more than 22 minutes. A strong ground game led by Chris Ivory (14 carries, 69 yards) has helped New York control the clock.
However, the Jets’ inability to score touchdowns has been the difference in the game. New York’s two marches into the red zone ended in just field goals, which have been enough to keep the underdog Jets close.
But at some point, the Jets could use a touchdown or two against the powerful Pats.