When the Patriots lost to the Seahawks in Week Six, they were 3-3 and hearing questions about whether they would be able to mount a challenge for the AFC crown once again this season.
They’ve played five games since then and won them all. With Thursday’s 49-19 humiliation of the Jets in the books, the Patriots have now scored 219 points in those five games. That’s a shade under 44 points per game, a total that’s going to win you a lot more games than it loses in any season. They are also 8-3 and they at least maintain a three game lead in the AFC East when Week 12 comes to an end.
We covered the essential moments of this game in the first half, but in case you missed it: The Patriots scored 21 points in 52 seconds of the second quarter, part of a 35- point scoring binge that came thanks to four Jets turnovers and three Tom Brady touchdown passes. New England only had possession of the ball for 2:14 of that quarter, making it all the more clear just how much the Jets’ inability to hold onto the ball wound up costing them in this game.
Brady added a rushing touchdown in the second half and threw for 323 yards on 18-of-28 passing for the evening. Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen combined for 137 rushing yards and Vereen also had an 83 yard touchdown catch as part of a Thanksgiving evening that was much easier than trying to keep Aunt Susan away from the third glass of wine that opens up the vault of family secrets.
On the other side of the ball are the Jets, whose season has resumed the tailspin that was briefly halted in St. Louis last Sunday. The 10 days before their next game are going to be filled with the quarterback questions (Tim Tebow didn’t play at all on Thursday), circus allusions and speculation about the futures of coaches and executives that have practically become sport in New York this year. With five losses by at least 17 points this season, they deserve each and every one of them.