EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tom Brady and the New England Patriots put this game — and the New York Jets’ ugly season — away early.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tom Brady and the New England Patriots put this game — and the New York Jets’ ugly season — away early.
At least it was competitive for a quarter. By halftime, it was a big-time laugher.
Brady threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score as the Patriots thoroughly embarrassed the Jets with a 35-point second quarter in a 49-19 victory Thursday night.
After a scoreless opening quarter, the Patriots (8-3) went on a touchdown spree despite holding the ball for only 2:14 as they took advantage of several mistakes by Rex Ryan’s hapless Jets (4-7). Their 35 second-quarter points tied for the fourth-most in a quarter in NFL history.
Fans were chanting for Tim Tebow to play before the second quarter of this Thanksgiving showdown was over, and booing as the team left the MetLife Stadium field at halftime.
New England, which beat Indianapolis 59-24 on Sunday, scored four touchdowns in just over 6 minutes — including three in a jaw-dropping 52-second span — helping Bill Belichick become the eighth coach in NFL history with 200 career victories, including the playoffs.
Julian Edelman returned a fumble for a touchdown and caught a 56-yard pass for a score before leaving with a head injury. Wes Welker and Shane Vereen had touchdown catches, Steve Gregory returned a fumble for a score, and Stevan Ridley ran for a touchdown.
The Patriots improved to 19-0 in the second half of the season since 2010. They were 8-0 that year and last year, and are 3-0 this season after the midway point.
Meanwhile, the Jets allowed their most points since giving up 52 to Miami in the 1995 season opener, and will likely have to win all of their remaining five games to even have an outside chance at the postseason.
New England was without star tight end Rob Gronkowski, out a few weeks after breaking his left forearm in the win Sunday against Indianapolis. They didn’t need him — not with the Jets fumbling and bumbling around.
Brady finished 18-of-28 for 323 yards before leaving with 2 minutes left in the game. He reached 3,000 yards passing for the 10th time, becoming one of six players to accomplish the feat. He also passed Dan Fouts for 10th place on the career passing list.
Tight end Aaron Hernandez returned after missing three games with a sprained ankle and had two catches for 36 yards.
New York’s Mark Sanchez was 26-of-36 for 301 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Tebow didn’t play at all — nursing sore ribs that made him questionable for the game — and stood on the sideline with a cap on throughout despite the occasional chants for him to get some snaps.
Patriots 49, Jets 19
New England 0 35 0 14—49
N.Y. Jets 0 3 9 7 — 19
Second quarter
NE—Welker 3 pass from Brady (Gostkowski kick), 14:54.
NE—Vereen 83 pass from Brady (Gostkowski kick), 9:43.
NE—Gregory 32 fumble return (Gostkowski kick), 9:00.
NE—Edelman fumble recovery in end zone (Gostkowski kick), 8:51.
NE—Edelman 56 pass from Brady (Gostkowski kick), 3:08.
NYJ—FG Folk 32, :02.
Third quarter
NYJ—Team safety, 6:47.
NYJ—Powell 4 run (Folk kick), 4:41.
Fourth quarter
NE—Brady 1 run (Gostkowski kick), 12:02.
NE—Ridley 9 run (Gostkowski kick), 11:07.
NYJ—Keller 1 pass from Sanchez (Folk kick), 2:21.
A—79,088.
NE NYJ
First downs 25 25
Total Net Yards 475 405
Rushes-yards 39-152 29-119
Passing 323 286
Punt Returns 3-32 1-1
Kickoff Returns 4-38 8-177
Interceptions Ret. 1-1 0-0
Comp-Att-Int 18-28-0 26-36-1
Sacked-Yards Lost 0-0 2-15
Punts 3-41.7 4-49.5
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 5-4
Penalties-Yards 8-36 5-35
Time of Possession 29:34 30:26
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—New England, Ridley 21-97, Vereen 10-42, Woodhead 2-8, Brady 3-5, Edelman 1-3, Mallett 2-(minus 3). N.Y. Jets, Greene 14-71, Powell 12-40, McKnight 1-6, Sanchez 2-2.
PASSING—New England, Brady 18-28-0-323. N.Y. Jets, Sanchez 26-36-1-301.
RECEIVING—New England, Welker 7-71, Lloyd 3-26, Vereen 2-91, Edelman 2-64, Hernandez 2-36, Fells 1-24, Woodhead 1-11. N.Y. Jets, Kerley 7-86, Keller 5-64, Cumberland 4-58, Schilens 2-28, Gates 2-20, Hill 2-16, Powell 2-13, Greene 1-9, Reuland 1-7.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—New England, Gostkowski 39 (WL).