5 Keys from Patriots first win of the 2023 season
1. Pats Get First Lead of '23
After going two games without a lead, the Patriots finally got their first lead of the season on the Jets, primarily aided by an 18-yard third-down conversion to Mike Gesicki, a play that matched New England's longest against the Dolphins. The drive came to a stop when the Pats couldn't convert a 3rd-and-4 with Mac Jones targeting a deep shot to DeVante Parker, but Chad Ryland was true from 48 yards out to make it 3-0 in the first quarter.
Defensively the Patriots showed that stopping the run was a priority, stacking their early base defense with stout defenders like Keion White and Anfernee Jennings on the edges and second-year defensive lineman Sam Roberts seeing his first action of the season. Those players were subbed off for the pass rush group led by Matthew Judon and Josh Uche on third downs, as New England had success early on forcing the Jets into four-straight punts to start the game with just one first down picked up.
While the defense had an excellent start, the offense did enough to get some points on the scoreboard on their first possession but still had to fight through some mistakes including a third-down drop by Rhamondre Stevenson that forced their first punt, a holding call on Cole Strange, and a screen pass on 3rd-and-long that was almost picked off and returned for a touchdown.
Ryland missed his second attempt from 48 yards as the offense failed to put up points on a second-straight drive.
