Game Observations: 8 Takeaways From the Patriots Victory Over the Jets on Thursday Night Football

Foxborough, MA — The Patriots have won eight games in a row following a 27-14 victory over the Jets at Gillette Stadium on Thursday night.

Look, was it their best performance of the year? Nope. But, honestly, who cares? The Patriots have been playing regular-season football for 11 straight weeks. It was a short week late in the season, a divisional opponent, and the Pats won relatively easily. Thursday nights aren’t the time for style points. It’s a time to take care of business – we’ll take it, and what a start it’s been for Mike Vrabel as Patriots head coach.

In his first 11 games on the job, Vrabel’s squad has now ensured it will have a winning season, having won more games this season (9) than in the previous two years combined (8). That’s a helluva turnaround by Vrabel and company, who had another culture-building win on Thursday night. New England returned from Tampa Bay after 11 p.m. ET last Sunday night, and players began preparing for the next game upon arrival at Gillette Stadium just hours after beating the Bucs. According to Vrabel, QB Drake Maye and others began working on the Jets on the plane flying back from central Florida — that’s a team that has its eye on the prize.

“Testament to our players, our staff. I thanked them so many times just being able to roll in there on Monday, have stuff prepared. It’s hard to go on the road to Tampa and get your mind ready for that, but also in the back of your mind, you’ve got a whole other box about what are you going to do against the Jets,” Vrabel said following the win. “Thank the trainers, thank the staff, the strength staff, everybody involved for getting our players ready to go for the game here in a short week.”

Before we get to the takeaways, shout out to the first primetime crowd at Gillette Stadium in over two years. With the Patriots donning their “nor’easter” NFL Rivalry uniforms, the energy in the building reflected the team’s success on the field. It was great to see this place rocking at night again, and the team looked sharp in their new threads. Yes, we are back.

Here are eight takeaways as the Patriots improve to 9-2 with a win over the Jets in Week 11.

1. Player of the Game: RB TreVeyon Henderson Has Five TDs in the Last Two Games Following Thursday Night Football Trifecta

After breaking out last week, the explosive rookie running back had a hat trick, two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown, on Thursday Night Football, joining Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski as the only two rookies in franchise history to score three touchdowns in a single game.

This week, Henderson showed off his well-rounded skill set by grinding out some tough yards. In Tampa Bay, it was two breakaway runs that led to Henderson’s huge day, with 55-yard and 69-yard scores. On Thursday night, Henderson flexed some power to get those gritty yards in the red zone and to put the game away on the final possession.

“I would say the best couple of runs he had were there late in the game when it was tough sledding, and we’re in five-minute, and they know we’re going to run, and they’re blitzing and everything else. Looked like we were going to be short, and he’s able to knife through there and keep his pads down and pick up a huge first down,” Vrabel said of Henderson. “No home runs tonight, but I thought he grinded out pretty much what was there.”