Jets' grades from their loss to the Patriots: Another poor report card

OFFENSE: D

The Jets had two really strong drives: the one that opened the game and went 72 yards in 14 plays, mostly on the ground, and the one in the third quarter that went 65 yards in nine plays, mostly through the air. Other than those, however, they had six possessions that lasted six or fewer snaps and netted 29 yards. It’s hard to get excited about a quarterback passing for 116 yards, but with Justin Fields, that amounts to a breakout game. The quarterback was hurt by several drops, including one by Jeremy Ruckert on the last fourth-down play. Breece Hall had accounted for four touchdowns in the previous five quarters of play but was held to 58 rushing yards and  two catches for 6 yards.

DEFENSE: F

Far too many breakdowns in the secondary allowed Drake Maye to keep finding open men and pick them apart. Maye converted a fourth-and-2 on the opening drive for the Patriots and in the second half overcame a second-and-20 from his 18 on a drive that ended with a field goal. There were bodies swarming around Maye in the pocket, but he eluded many of them with quick steps and he was sacked only once. The run defense did not allow many big plays — the longest rush for the Patriots went for 9 yards — but New England controlled the ball there.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C

Late in the second quarter, the Jets had the ball at the 31 on a punt return by Isaiah Williams, but a holding penalty on Dean Clark brought it all the way back to the 7. After two special-teams touchdowns last week, the Jets didn’t have any particularly impressive returns in this game, although they were steady. Nick Folk still hasn’t missed a kick this season (he was 2-for-2 on PATs). Austin McNamara had a punt bound into the end zone for a touchback.

COACHING: D

The Jets seemed to have a recipe that worked with the running game going through Fields, but Aaron Glenn said he doesn't want to use his quarterback as a “running back” to limit the hits on him. That’s kind of him, but it takes away what the team does best. Not sure where that trick play with Williams trying to throw a pass to Fields came from, but they also used their quarterback as a receiver. The penalty issue the Jets looked to have outgrown came back (seven for 62 yards, including three against Jarvis Brownlee). “Details and discipline,” Glenn said of what was lacking.

By Tom Rock

tom.rock@newsday.com@TomRock_Newsday

Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.