Perry's Report Card: Patriots survive challenge from pesky Jets

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It wasn't pretty, but Cam Newton and the Pats will gladly enjoy their Week 9 win over the Jets. Who were the key contributors to the outcome? Phil Perry hands out his grades.

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1/9
<p>Cam Newton said after the game he was "getting tired of sucking." Well, he didn't suck on Monday night against the Jets. Neither did his receivers. And for the first time since Week 3 the Patriots could celebrate a victory.</p>

<p>Let's get right into the grades for Week 9.</p>

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Cam Newton said after the game he was "getting tired of sucking." Well, he didn't suck on Monday night against the Jets. Neither did his receivers. And for the first time since Week 3 the Patriots could celebrate a victory.

Let's get right into the grades for Week 9.

 

2/9
<p>The Jets ranked no higher than 27th in the NFL in the following categories coming into the game: points allowed, pass yards allowed per game, pass yards allowed per attempt and quarterback rating. So this had all the makings of a "get right" game for Cam Newton.</p>

<p>And it was. Was he perfect? Nope. He helped ruin a second-quarter drive with an inaccurate pass to Jakobi Meyers. He overthrew Damiere Byrd on a slant and had Meyers for a touchdown deep down the middle of the field but overthrew him. He blew a tire and fell on third down by the goal line.</p>

<p>But overall he was efficient. He averaged 7.8 yards per attempt. He ran for two scores -- both of which required him to play through contact -- and he made a game-winning throw to an open Meyers with seconds remaining to set-up Nick Folk's game-winner.</p>

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<h5><a data-timestamp="1605018061" href="https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/lebron-james-gives-cam-newton-shoutout-after-patriots-comeback-win-over-jets?int">LeBron James shouts out Cam Newton after win vs. Jets</a></h5>

The Jets ranked no higher than 27th in the NFL in the following categories coming into the game: points allowed, pass yards allowed per game, pass yards allowed per attempt and quarterback rating. So this had all the makings of a "get right" game for Cam Newton.

And it was. Was he perfect? Nope. He helped ruin a second-quarter drive with an inaccurate pass to Jakobi Meyers. He overthrew Damiere Byrd on a slant and had Meyers for a touchdown deep down the middle of the field but overthrew him. He blew a tire and fell on third down by the goal line.

But overall he was efficient. He averaged 7.8 yards per attempt. He ran for two scores -- both of which required him to play through contact -- and he made a game-winning throw to an open Meyers with seconds remaining to set-up Nick Folk's game-winner.

 

LeBron James shouts out Cam Newton after win vs. Jets
3/9
<p>The one way in which the Jets were built to beat the Patriots -- the one way in which they're really built to beat anyone, I suppose -- is with their run defense. Unfortunately for them, they were forced to play without injured up-and-coming star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.</p>

<p>Patriots backs ran for 4.5 yards per carry (127 yards on 28 attempts), and both Damien Harris and Rex Burkhead created yards all on their own. They do it in different ways -- Harris (5.1 yards per carry) ran over people while Burkhead  (4.7) cut around them -- but were similarly effective. </p>

The one way in which the Jets were built to beat the Patriots -- the one way in which they're really built to beat anyone, I suppose -- is with their run defense. Unfortunately for them, they were forced to play without injured up-and-coming star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

Patriots backs ran for 4.5 yards per carry (127 yards on 28 attempts), and both Damien Harris and Rex Burkhead created yards all on their own. They do it in different ways -- Harris (5.1 yards per carry) ran over people while Burkhead  (4.7) cut around them -- but were similarly effective. 

4/9
<p>Remind me again why Jakobi Meyers had one catch through the first six weeks of the season?</p>

<p>Meyers turned 24 on Monday night, and to celebrate he popped off with 12 catches for 169 yards on 14 targets and a 20-yard gain with just seconds remaining that set up the game-winning field goal by Nick Folk. Meyers ran crossing routes. He attacked man coverage. He sat in soft spots in Jets zone coverages. He drew penalties at the tops of his routes. And he won deep down the field catching Newton's longest pass since Week 2. He also had eight first-down catches in the game and he joined Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski as the only Patriots with 150 yards or more receiving in a game in the last five seasons.</p>

<p>Extra credit here for Damiere Byrd's 31-yard catch-and-run play (and Meyers' down-the-field block). A couple of penalties on Meyers -- including one illegal shift that helped snuff out a Patriots drive -- kept this from being a straight "A." </p>

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<h5><a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/video/cam-newton-jakobi-meyers-it-shows-hard-work-pays?int">Newton on Meyers: 'It shows hard work pays off'</a></h5>

Remind me again why Jakobi Meyers had one catch through the first six weeks of the season?

Meyers turned 24 on Monday night, and to celebrate he popped off with 12 catches for 169 yards on 14 targets and a 20-yard gain with just seconds remaining that set up the game-winning field goal by Nick Folk. Meyers ran crossing routes. He attacked man coverage. He sat in soft spots in Jets zone coverages. He drew penalties at the tops of his routes. And he won deep down the field catching Newton's longest pass since Week 2. He also had eight first-down catches in the game and he joined Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski as the only Patriots with 150 yards or more receiving in a game in the last five seasons.

Extra credit here for Damiere Byrd's 31-yard catch-and-run play (and Meyers' down-the-field block). A couple of penalties on Meyers -- including one illegal shift that helped snuff out a Patriots drive -- kept this from being a straight "A." 

 

Newton on Meyers: 'It shows hard work pays off'
5/9
<p>You could've made the argument before this game that the Patriots should keep their tight end position group on ice. It consisted of just one person -- Ryan Izzo -- while rookies Dalton Keene and Devin Asiasi sat out injured. And because Izzo was dealing with a hamstring injury, It made sense to rest him in favor of more four-receiver sets or two-back sets.</p>

<p>That's not what happened. Izzo played a significant role yet again, though he didn't factor into the box score as a receiver. The Patriots did use fullback Jakob Johnson as a wing back at times -- a role typically played by tight ends in the Patriots offense. And Josh McDaniels inserted a wrinkle to have tackle Korey Cunningham play as a jumbo tight end early on. It paid off as he helped protect Newton on his longest completion of the night to Meyers. </p>

You could've made the argument before this game that the Patriots should keep their tight end position group on ice. It consisted of just one person -- Ryan Izzo -- while rookies Dalton Keene and Devin Asiasi sat out injured. And because Izzo was dealing with a hamstring injury, It made sense to rest him in favor of more four-receiver sets or two-back sets.

That's not what happened. Izzo played a significant role yet again, though he didn't factor into the box score as a receiver. The Patriots did use fullback Jakob Johnson as a wing back at times -- a role typically played by tight ends in the Patriots offense. And Josh McDaniels inserted a wrinkle to have tackle Korey Cunningham play as a jumbo tight end early on. It paid off as he helped protect Newton on his longest completion of the night to Meyers. 

6/9
<p>Tough one to peg. On the one hand this unit helped Patriots backs to a fine day with 4.5 yards per attempt. They didn't allow a sack. They helped Rex Burkhead dive into the end zone by pulling Shaq Mason as Shaq Mason so often does. They converted on a fourth-and-one attempt by having Newton sneak behind his interior blockers. On third-and-goal later in that same drive, Newton snuck in for a score. And on the game-winning drive, Newton snuck for a key first down and spiked the football with eight seconds left.</p>

<p>But Mason and Mike Onwenu were flagged for holds. David Andrews was bowled over twice in critical situations -- once on the play where James White fumbled on fourth down, and once on third and goal after the Jets gave the Patriots a free set of downs thanks to a 12-men-on-the-field call.</p>

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<h5><a data-timestamp="1605018202" href="https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/2020-nfl-power-rankings-week-10-tom-bradys-buccaneers-drop-after-bad-loss-vs-saints?int">NFL Power Rankings: Where Pats stand after win vs. NYJ</a></h5>

Tough one to peg. On the one hand this unit helped Patriots backs to a fine day with 4.5 yards per attempt. They didn't allow a sack. They helped Rex Burkhead dive into the end zone by pulling Shaq Mason as Shaq Mason so often does. They converted on a fourth-and-one attempt by having Newton sneak behind his interior blockers. On third-and-goal later in that same drive, Newton snuck in for a score. And on the game-winning drive, Newton snuck for a key first down and spiked the football with eight seconds left.

But Mason and Mike Onwenu were flagged for holds. David Andrews was bowled over twice in critical situations -- once on the play where James White fumbled on fourth down, and once on third and goal after the Jets gave the Patriots a free set of downs thanks to a 12-men-on-the-field call.

 

NFL Power Rankings: Where Pats stand after win vs. NYJ
7/9
<p>When you kick a game-winning field goal from 51 yards away while dealing with a back injury, you're going to carry your group into honors territory. Nick Folk drilled his walk-off 51-yarder straight down the middle. He also hit a 45-yarder to go along with a chip-shot and three extra points to make him 6-for-6 on a night when Jake Bailey warmed up as the backup kicker.</p>

<p>Bailey made the most of his one boot, a 59-yarder that landed inside the Jets' 20-yard line. The Patriots are still waiting for a big performance in the return game. Gunner Olszewski returned four kicks and averaged an even 25.0 yards per return. </p>

When you kick a game-winning field goal from 51 yards away while dealing with a back injury, you're going to carry your group into honors territory. Nick Folk drilled his walk-off 51-yarder straight down the middle. He also hit a 45-yarder to go along with a chip-shot and three extra points to make him 6-for-6 on a night when Jake Bailey warmed up as the backup kicker.

Bailey made the most of his one boot, a 59-yarder that landed inside the Jets' 20-yard line. The Patriots are still waiting for a big performance in the return game. Gunner Olszewski returned four kicks and averaged an even 25.0 yards per return. 

8/9
<p>Without Lawrence Guy, this unit featured a number of cast-offs. Adam Butler was undrafted. Byron Cowart was a fifth-round pick after entering the college ranks as one of the most highly-regarded high school recruits in America. Nick Thurman has spent most of the last two seasons on the practice squad. Carl Davis was recently released by one of the worst teams in the NFL in Jacksonville. Deatrich Wise was a role player last season.</p>

<p>It was Wise, though, who came up with the play of the day from this group, sacking Joe Flacco on second down on the final Jets drive. This unit also helped keep the Jets running game in check as Frank Gore and La'Mical Perine combined for 65 yards on 18 carries (3.6 yards per attempt).</p>

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<h5><a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/tom-e-currans-takeaways-patriots-win-over-jets-tank-you-very-little?int">Curran's Patriots Takeaways: Tank you very little</a></h5>

Without Lawrence Guy, this unit featured a number of cast-offs. Adam Butler was undrafted. Byron Cowart was a fifth-round pick after entering the college ranks as one of the most highly-regarded high school recruits in America. Nick Thurman has spent most of the last two seasons on the practice squad. Carl Davis was recently released by one of the worst teams in the NFL in Jacksonville. Deatrich Wise was a role player last season.

It was Wise, though, who came up with the play of the day from this group, sacking Joe Flacco on second down on the final Jets drive. This unit also helped keep the Jets running game in check as Frank Gore and La'Mical Perine combined for 65 yards on 18 carries (3.6 yards per attempt).

 

Curran's Patriots Takeaways: Tank you very little
9/9
<p>It was safe to assume it'd be a big night for a pair of Patriots rookies. Third-round pick Anfernee Jennings and second-rounder Josh Uche, after a nice debut in Buffalo, were set up to see plenty of time with Ja'Whaun Bentley out. Jennings ended up with one tackle and Uche didn't leave a mark on the stat sheet.</p>

<p>Called-up practice-squadder Terez Hall, meanwhile, ended up second on the team in tackles with six. Hall's experience in the system -- he spent last year on the practice squad -- might help explain why he got the starting nod over either rookie 'backer.</p>

<p>On the edge, though Tashawn Bower got the start, Chase Winovich was more a part of the game plan and had a pair of nice run-stuffs on back-to-back snaps in the third quarter. Derek Rivers notched a pressure that helped force a third-down incompletion and a punt in the first quarter.</p>

It was safe to assume it'd be a big night for a pair of Patriots rookies. Third-round pick Anfernee Jennings and second-rounder Josh Uche, after a nice debut in Buffalo, were set up to see plenty of time with Ja'Whaun Bentley out. Jennings ended up with one tackle and Uche didn't leave a mark on the stat sheet.

Called-up practice-squadder Terez Hall, meanwhile, ended up second on the team in tackles with six. Hall's experience in the system -- he spent last year on the practice squad -- might help explain why he got the starting nod over either rookie 'backer.

On the edge, though Tashawn Bower got the start, Chase Winovich was more a part of the game plan and had a pair of nice run-stuffs on back-to-back snaps in the third quarter. Derek Rivers notched a pressure that helped force a third-down incompletion and a punt in the first quarter.

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