The New England Patriots delivered a commanding performance against the New York Jets, winning 42-10 on December 24, 2023. Quarterback Drake Maye threw a career-high five touchdown passes, leading the Patriots to an undefeated road season, finishing at 8-0 away from home. This victory also positioned New England closer to clinching the AFC East title for the first time since 2019, contingent on the outcome of the Buffalo Bills versus Philadelphia Eagles game later that day.
Maye completed 19 of 21 passes for 256 yards, achieving a quarterback rating of 157.0. His touchdown passes were distributed among Rhamondre Stevenson, Stefon Diggs, Austin Hooper, Hunter Henry, and Efton Chism III. Coach Mike Vrabel substituted Maye with Joshua Dobbs midway through the third quarter, as the Patriots had already established a dominant lead.
New England scored a touchdown on each of its first six drives, establishing a commanding 42-3 advantage by the time Maye exited the game. The Patriots’ seventh possession resulted in a missed field goal attempt, but it hardly affected their momentum. With this victory, the Patriots secured their eighth 13-win season in franchise history, while only the San Francisco 49ers have more, with 11.
The game took place at MetLife Stadium, which was filled with a significant number of Patriots supporters, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a home game for New England. This marked the third time in franchise history that the Patriots completed a regular season without a loss on the road, joining the 49ers as one of the few teams to achieve this feat since 1970.
For the struggling Jets, this game was another low point. With a record of 3-13, they have now lost four consecutive games and experienced multiple losing streaks of at least four games over the past two seasons. New York became the fifth team in NFL history to lose four straight games by 23 points or more in a single season, a record last matched by the 1972 Patriots.
Undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook made his third consecutive start for the Jets, completing 19 of 33 passes for 152 yards with one interception. Jets running back Breece Hall managed to achieve his first 1,000-yard season, rushing for 111 yards and scoring a 59-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
The Patriots wasted no time establishing their dominance. On their opening drive, Maye connected with Austin Hooper for a 2-yard touchdown. The Jets quickly faltered, going three-and-out, allowing New England to score again shortly after, this time with Stevenson rushing in from a yard out.
The Patriots capitalized on an interception thrown by Cook to increase their lead. Maye threw his second touchdown pass to Stevenson for 22 yards, making the score 21-0. Nick Folk finally put the Jets on the board with a 39-yard field goal, but the Patriots responded quickly, with Maye finding Stefon Diggs for a 3-yard touchdown on a fourth-down conversion.
Maye’s fourth touchdown pass of the first half came with a 13-yard connection to Hunter Henry, extending the lead to 35-3 before halftime. The Patriots continued their scoring streak at the start of the second half when Maye found Efton Chism III for a diving 10-yard touchdown.
In an effort to regain momentum, the Jets attempted some trick plays on special teams, including two fake punts on the same drive. However, both attempts failed, resulting in a turnover on downs and further illustrating New York’s struggles throughout the game.
In terms of injuries, the Patriots saw Jack Westover leave the game with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter. The Jets suffered multiple injuries as well, with Hall leaving due to a knee injury, while cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers and guard John Simpson were also evaluated for injuries in the second half.
Looking ahead, the Patriots will host the Miami Dolphins next weekend, while the Jets will finish their season on the road against the Buffalo Bills. The contrasting fortunes of both teams highlight the Patriots’ resurgence under Maye and the ongoing challenges faced by the Jets as they look to rebuild for the future.
