The Todd Bowles era potentially died with thunderous applause from New England fans, as the New York Jets lost a one-sided finale.
Tom Brady threw for 250 yards and four touchdown passes, and the New England Patriots locked up yet another first-round bye crushing the New York Jets 38-3.
The Patriots would open the scoring with a sight all too familiar to the New York faithful: a Brady touchdown pass. The 17-yard strike to James White commenced three consecutive scoring drives for New England, who jumped out to an early big lead.
17 yards.
6 points.TB12 to James White for the @Patriots TD.
?: CBS #NYJvsNE pic.twitter.com/UI8Bu3GAjX
— NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2018
The Jets slightly closed the gap on a Jason Myers field goal, his last of the season coming from 40 yards out. Brady reestablished the two-possession score by getting the ball to one of his other rushers, scoring on an 18-yard throw to Red Burkhead. After Trey Flowers forced a fumble from Elijah McGuire, the Patriots capped things off with one more Brady score, this one a nine-yard tally to Phillip Dorsett.
It's TB12 to Rex Burkhead for an 18-yard @Patriots TD.
?: CBS #NYJvsNE pic.twitter.com/kTkEYrypWw
— NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2018
A play worthy of six points.
TB12 to PD13.@dorsett_4 | #NYJvsNE | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/DohRCmCLeo
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 30, 2018
Missing his top pair of receivers, Sam Darnold struggled in his first season finale. Those struggles materialized in a costly fumble in the third quarter, which was taken back by Kyle Van Noy for a 46-yard score.
A play worthy of six points.
TB12 to PD13.@dorsett_4 | #NYJvsNE | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/DohRCmCLeo
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 30, 2018
The Patriots would wrap up their mastery with 10 more points, including a Stephen Gostkowski field goal and a Julian Edelman touchdown pass. Brady managed to make some history in the process of returning to the elite form expected from him. His four touchdowns were a season-high, and the first time he reached that precipice since November 2017. In the second half, Brady also completed his 6000th career pass, becoming the fourth quarterback in NFL history to do so.
California connection heats up on a cold New England day.
TB12 finds JE11 for TD6@edelman11 | #NYJvsNE | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/iVMn9MR7MU
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 30, 2018
The Jets, meanwhile, finish their 2018 season with a 4-12 mark. It will be their third consecutive losing season, and fifth over the past seven.
Stay tuned to ESNY for all the Jets’ offseason updates.