EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Late in the second quarter, Jets quarterback Sam Darnold confirmed into an ESPN microphone what everyone could see during the network’s Monday Night Football broadcast.
“I’m seeing ghosts,” he said.
Call it The Boogeymen Effect.
Through three quarters, the Patriots defense has spooked Darnold into five turnovers, while Tom Brady’s captained three touchdown drives to help stake a 26-0 lead at MetLife Stadium. The Pats tacked one more touchdown for a 33-0 victory and a 7-0 record.
Pats defensive backs Stephon Gilmore, Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon and Terrence Brooks all have interceptions, and linebacker Kyle Van Noy recorded a fumble recovery. Darnold knocked a high snap out of the back of the end zone for a safety, the only score of the third quarter. The Pats offense was stumped for most of the period, but still leads 283-100 in total yards.
Running back Sony Michel scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the first half, and added a third in the fourth quarter.
For the Pats’ opening series, Brady led their longest drive of the season, a 16-play march that ended in Michel’s first score. Thanks to newly signed tight end Ben Watson, the Patriots converted three third-down conversions on the drive. Minutes later, they tacked on a 34-yard field goal.
The Pats forced a punt on the ensuing series, then marched downfield until Brady lofted a perfect 26-yard pass to Phillip Dorsett for another score and a 17-0 lead. Michel’s second touchdown came with less than five minutes left in the half.
PREGAME
Patriots inactives
WR Josh Gordon
RB Rex Burkhead
TE Ryan Izzo
TE Matt LaCosse
OT Korey Cunningham
DL Michael Bennett
S Patrick Chung
Jets inactives
OL Kelechi Osemele
OL Kelvin Beachum
TE Chris Herndon
DL Henry Anderson
LB Albert McClellan
RB Trenton Cannon
NOTES
- Dorsett and Jakobi Meyers took punts in pregame with Gunner Olszewski.
- Chung is out with the chest injury he suffered on the Pats’ first defensive series against the Giants 11 days ago.
- Third-round rookie running back Damien Harris is active for the second time all season. He played a handful of special teams snaps against the Jets in Week 3.
- Fifth-round rookie Byron Cowart is active for the third time this season after seeing action in Weeks 2 and 3.
- All eight rookies on the team’s roster are active tonight for the second time this season.
- Watson and Tomlinson will make their 2019 team debuts tonight.
