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J-E-T-S Dominate P-A-T-S

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EAST RUTHERFORD –  (Staff and Wire Service Report) – NY Jets QB Aaron Rodgers threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns as the New York Jets beat the New England Patriots 24-3 on Thursday night in New Jersey. Rodgers was playing at MetLife Stadium for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in New York’s 2023 season opener. He was injured on the fourth snap in that contest before missing the rest of the campaign.
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     Jets fans had to be pleased with what they saw on Thursday, though, as the 40-year-old completed 27 of 35 passes and was constantly escaping pressure from New England’s front seven. Rodgers was sacked just twice.
     Tyler Conklin thrived in New York’s passing game, hauling in five catches for 93 yards. Breece Hall had 54 yards and a TD on 16 carries for the Jets (2-1), who outgained the Patriots 400-139 and controlled the ball for 40 minutes, four seconds. Hall added four receptions for 29 yards.
     The Patriots (1-2) struggled to get anything going offensively. Jacoby Brissett had 98 yards on 12-of-18 passing and got no help from the running game. New England did not have a rusher break the 30-yard mark.
    No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye made his NFL debut, taking over for Brissett late in the fourth quarter. Maye hit on 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards.
    New York virtually put the game away on its first possession of the second half.  After their defense forced a three-and-out to begin the half, the Jets ate 7:10 of clock during a drive that ended with a 2-yard scoring strike from Rodgers to Garrett Wilson.
    That provided the Jets with a commanding 21-3 lead and prompted the home crowd to get “Aaron Rodgers” chants going later in the third quarter.

Rodgers on Display vs Pats at Met Life

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EAST RUTHERFORD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Jets fans are hoping to get a longer look at quarterback Aaron Rodgers when New York faces the New England Patriots tonight in New Jersey.

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The last time Rodgers stepped onto the turf at MetLife Stadium, he lasted just four plays, tearing his left Achillies tendon in the Jets’ 2023 season opener against the Buffalo Bills.

That injury put Rodgers on the shelf for the entirety of the campaign. He was still credited with the win against Buffalo, but it wasn’t until Sunday that Rodgers led the Jets (1-1) to victory while playing for a full game. The 40-year-old completed 18 of 30 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns as New York beat the Tennessee Titans 24-17.

Now that the Jets have their first real taste of success with Rodgers under center, New York coach Robert Saleh is banking on the home crowd giving his team a significant advantage on Thursday.

“I hope it’s off the chain,” Saleh said, referring to the type of atmosphere he expects. “I mean, shoot, it’s our home opener coming on a Thursday. I know our fans are some of the most passionate fans in all of football. … You want to play in the spotlight.”

The Jets will need all the help they can get as they try to crack a New England defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest points per game (16.5) through the first two weeks of the season.

After picking up a clean 16-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, the Patriots (1-1) faltered late to drop a 23-20 overtime decision against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Rhamondre Stevenson found the end zone from 1 yard out to put New England up 20-17 with 12:43 left in regulation, but the Patriots let Seattle march its way to Jason Myers’ 38-yard field goal that tied the game with 55 seconds to go.

Myers nailed a game-winning 31-yarder in overtime. New England got the ball to open the extra session but went three-and-out.

It marked the first career loss for Patriots first-year coach Jerod Mayo, who is now trying to effectively navigate a short week.

“I think the first thing is to recover. That’s the first thing,” Mayo said. “So in saying that, we’re going to bring the guys in late every day this week. … I think it’s important that those guys rest up. It also gives the coaches an opportunity to get the game plan put together. That’s the first thing.

“Secondly, it comes back to executing. When you’re sore, when you’re tired, that’s what it really comes back to.”

And leaning on the defense might not be an option for New England come Thursday.

Multiple media outlets reported Monday that Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley sustained a season-ending pectoral injury against the Seahawks, and fellow linebacker Anfernee Jennings (knee), defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. (shoulder), safety Jabrill Peppers (shoulder) and cornerback Marcus Jones (knee) were all limited in practice on Tuesday.

New York turned in an estimated injury report, simply holding a walkthrough on Tuesday, but linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe) would not have participated in practice. Linebacker Jermaine Johnson announced on Monday that he has a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon.

–Field Level Media

New England Patriots: Where’s Malcolm Butler When You Need Him?

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Seattle kicker Jason Myers converted a 31-yard field goal with 4:37 remaining in overtime to give the Seahawks a 23-20 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in Massachusetts. New England (1-1) got the ball to begin the extra session but went three-and-out. The Seahawks capitalized, using eight plays to move 71 yards to Myers’ game-winner.

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Myers also came through in the clutch in regulation, putting home a 38-yard field goal that tied the game at 20-all with 55 seconds left.

The Patriots went up 20-17 with 12:43 left in the fourth quarter when Rhamondre Stevenson polished off an 11-play, 66-yard march by taking a direct snap and bursting into the end zone from 1 yard out. Stevenson finished with 81 yards and the score on 21 carries.

Seattle (2-0) mustered just one first down on the ensuing possession before punting the ball away. A 45-yard run from Antonio Gibson helped the Patriots work down to the Seahawks 21, but New England ended up having to bring the field-goal unit out.

Joey Slye had his 48-yard field-goal attempt blocked by Julian Love, allowing Seattle to take over at its own 38.

Geno Smith completed 33 of 44 passes for 327 yards and a touchdown for the Seahawks. His favorite targets were Jaxon Smith-Njigba (12 catches, 117 yards) and DK Metcalf (10 catches, 129 yards, TD).

Gibson went for 96 yards on the ground for the Patriots, who got 149 yards and a TD on 15-of-27 passing from quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Rookie Ja’Lynn Polk capped an eight-play, 60-yard drive with his first career touchdown reception, hauling in a 5-yard pass from Brissett to give New England a 7-0 lead with 4:56 left in the first quarter.

Four plays later, Smith connected with Metcalf for a 56-yard scoring strike that drew the Seahawks even.

Slye booted a 29-yard field goal early in the second quarter, but Seattle went back in front when Zach Charbonnet rushed for a 1-yard TD with 5:47 to go in the frame.

New England pulled within 14-13 when Slye made good on a 28-yard field goal with 2:31 remaining in the first half.

However, Myers drilled a 44-yarder as time expired in the half to provide the Seahawks with a 17-13 advantage at the break.

Patriots “ON” in Cincinnati

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CINCINNATI – New England avoided typical early-season mistakes and controlled the ball to upset the hometown Cincinnati Bengals, 16-10, and the Patriots earned rookie head coach Jerod Mayo’s first win in his NFL debut on Sunday afternoon.

Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries and Keion White had 2.5 sacks, leading a strong defensive effort that stunted Cincinnati’s big-pay offense.

Joey Slye converted three field goals, including two in the second half that prevented the Bengals from closing within more than six points. New England sacked Burrow three times and capitalized on two turnovers.

Joe Burrow was held to 164 yards on 21-of-29 passing and no touchdowns. Ja’Marr Chase had six catches on six targets for 62 yards.

Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 15 of 14 passes for 121 yards.

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Following a team-record 80-yard punt from rookie Ryan Rehkow, the Patriots marched down the field for the first points of the game, a 3-yard Stevenson run into the end zone untouched for a 7-0 Patriots lead on the first play of the second quarter.

Tanner Hudson caught a Burrow pass and was running toward the goal line when Patriots safety Kyle Dugger stripped the ball at the Patriots 2. Marcus Jones returned it to the New England 18. The Patriots pushed the ball to the Cincinnati 14 over the final five minutes of the half and added to their lead with a 32-yard Slye field goal to grab a 10-0 advantage.

Slye added another field goal and gave the Patriots a 13-0 lead after recovering a fumble by Patriots return man Charlie Jones.

The Bengals finally broke through with a nine-play, 90-yard drive in the third quarter. Running back Zack Moss plunged in for a 5-yard score up the middle after Burrow had last a fumble at the 10, recovered by the Patriots. But Burrow was ruled down before the ball came out.

Burrow dropped to 1-4 in season openers.

–Field Level Media

Patriots: Jacoby Brissett to Start

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Quarterback Jacoby Brissett will start the Patriots’ preseason finale against the Washington Commanders on Sunday before being replaced by rookie Drake Maye, New England first-year head coach Jerod Mayo announced.

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Mayo also noted on Friday that quarterbacks Joe Milton III and Bailey Zappe will draw into the game as well.

“Jacoby is going to start the game off,” Mayo told reporters. “Drake will play as well. Joe will play as well. Now, you guys can sleep. Bailey will play. We do have some players dealing with small things that probably won’t play and get ready for the regular season — some of our proven players.”

Mayo has yet to announce which quarterback will start the Patriots’ season opener against the host Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 8.

Brissett, 31, is in his ninth NFL season and second go-round with the Patriots after stops in Indianapolis, Miami, Cleveland and Washington. He has appeared in 79 games and is 18-30 as a starter, completing 61.3 percent of his passes for 10,574 yards with 51 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

Maye, who turns 22 next week, was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft in April. He was a two-year starter at North Carolina.

–Field Level Media

Patriots Release Mike Purcell

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The New England Patriots released veteran defensive tackle Mike Purcell after signing him on Aug. 1 for depth on the line.

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Purcell, 33, started 10 of his 16 games played with the Denver Broncos last season and recorded 25 tackles, five quarterback hits and one fumble recovery. In eight seasons for the San Francisco 49ers (2014-16) and Broncos, he has 208 tackles, including 3.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss, as well as three fumble recoveries in 90 games (45 starts).

Undrafted out of Wyoming, Purcell also spent time on several teams’ practice squads from 2013-18, including two separate stints with the Patriots in 2017.

–Field Level Media

Jacoby and Drake: Going At It

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye isn’t out of the QB competition in New England, said head coach Jerod Mayo.

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“We have three more days of training camp practices and it’s our job as coaches to evaluate. The competition isn’t over,” Mayo said on a video conference call. “It’s definitely still a competition.”

Veteran Jacoby Brissett was declared the leader at the position by Mayo when training camp began. The journeyman in his second stint with the Patriots has started 48 career games bouncing from New England to the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders.

“They have to show not only themselves and their coaches, but also their teammates. So, it’s definitely still a competition,” Mayo said.

Brissett’s end-zone interception against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night was described by Mayo as a “poor play,” and he pointed to earlier comments he made about Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 draft, having an opportunity to win the job.

“If Drake beats out Jacoby, he earned that role … if he’s better than Jacoby, then he’ll play, he’ll start,” Mayo said.

Brissett, 31, is 18-30 as a starter in his NFL career. He started 11 games for the Browns in 2022 while Deshaun Watson served his NFL-levied suspension.

Maye, 21, would need to show more consistency before the Week 1 opener at Cincinnati to overtake Brissett for the No. 1 spot.

–Field Level Media

Late TD Sends Eagles Soaring

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) –  Kendall Milton ran for a 1-yard touchdown with 4:23 to play and the Philadelphia Eagles added a go-ahead two-point conversion to edge the New England Patriots 14-13 on Thursday in the suburbs of Boston.

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Ainias Smith caught the decisive two-point pass from Tanner McKee.

The Patriots (1-1) had two more possessions with a chance to retake the lead, but the first ended in a punt and the second was thwarted by a lost fumble near midfield.

McKee completed 15 of 19 passes for 140 yards, the most effective of three Eagles quarterbacks who played while regular starter Jalen Hurts sat out.

Wide receiver Joseph Ngata caught five passes for 88 yards for Philadelphia (2-0), both game-high totals.

Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett played three series and connected on 3 of 7 passes for 17 yards with an interception. Three other QBs followed him into action, but New England wound up completing just 14 of 29 passes for 113 yards.

Rookie first-round pick Drake Maye ran for the Patriots’ lone touchdown, a 4-yard score late in the first half. Maye threw for 47 yards on 6-of-11 passing.

–Field Level Media

Patriots Trading Judon to ATL

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The New England Patriots are trading linebacker Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round draft pick, multiple media outlets reported Wednesday night.

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NFL Network reported that the pick will be for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Judon was entering the final season of a four-year, $54.5 million contract that was to pay him $6.5 million in base salary, and he was seeking a new deal with New England. He was spotted having an animated conversation with Patriots first-year coach Jerod Mayo during a practice session last month, one that Judon did not participate in.

Of the 14 training camp practices New England has had this offseason, Judon had kept himself out of two.

A bicep tear limited Judon to just four games (two starts) last season. He still managed to record four sacks along with 13 tackles.

The 31-year-old Judon has played eight NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2016-20) and Patriots (2021-23), amassing 66.5 sacks, 369 tackles, nine forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 114 games (82 starts).

Judon is a four-time Pro Bowl selection.

–Field Level Media

Judon to Honor Contract for ’24

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New England Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon said he will play this season on his current contract.

The four-time Pro Bowler was on the practice field Monday, a week after a heated exchange with head coach Jerod Mayo and members of the team’s front office, reportedly over his contract status.

“I gotta play,” Judon told reporters after Monday’s session. “This ain’t nothing about practice. I gotta do what I’m contracted and obligated to do so I don’t lose money.”

Judon has been an on-again, off-again participant in camp while seeking a raise from the $6.5 million base salary he is set to earn this season in the final year of a four-year, $56 million deal. He is due to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.

“I want to stay here for the remainder of my career,” he said. “I only have one year left. It’s not up to me.”

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For the first time, Judon talked to reporters about his exchange last week with Mayo.

“We had a conversation,” Judon said. “I didn’t want to be a distraction to the team, and I wasn’t participating that day so I went inside.”

Judon, who turns 32 on Aug. 15, is a ninth-year veteran who missed 13 games last season after suffering a torn biceps against the Dallas Cowboys in a Week 4 loss.

In eight seasons, Judon has 369 tackles, 66.5 sacks, 165 quarterback hits, nine forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 114 games (82 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens (2016-20) and Patriots.

–Field Level Media