The Jets defense carried a strong week of practice into its Week 8 matchup with the Patriots, limiting New England's leading rusher Rhamondre Stevenson and pressuring rookie QB Drake Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett early on.
The Jets defense, however, stumbled down the stretch allowing a game-winning TD drive in a 25-22 loss to the New England. It left Quinnen Williams and the D-line stunned for their failure to close out the game.
"Just feel like we had a great week of preparation, great mindset, great execution this week," Williams said. "And to come out and to fall short on the execution in the last drive, especially on the defense, it was super disappointing because we did have a great preparation, a great mindset and great energy this week. We just need to execute late and we have failed to that the last couple of weeks."
The Jets D-line came out swinging, recording 3 QB hits and a sack in the first half against AFC East rival New England. The defense won its one-on-ones upfront and held the Patriots to 26 yards passing and Stevenson to 33 yards rushing on 11 carries in taking a leading to 13-7 halftime lead.
Williams, early in the second quarter with the Jets trailing by 7-6, navigated through the interior of the Patriots O-line and wrapped up Maye for his third sack of the season.
Pass rusher Haason Reddick, who was traded from the Eagles in the offseason and missed the first 7 games holding out, made his Jets debut, but did not appear on the stat sheet.
With the Jets leading by 16-14 midway through the third quarter, Williams got the quarterback again. Williams used a push by DT Javon Kinlaw to get through the interior and shared the sack of Brissett, who came in in relief of Maye, who sustained a concussion in the second quarter.
"We came out with a lot of energy," Williams said. "But that urgency needs to go up when its winning time. That is all that matters. Not matter how many wins you have or how many losses, winning the football game is the goal."
The Jets defense finished the game with 2 sacks, 4 QB hits and 5 tackles for loss. Pass rusher Will McDonald, despite not registering any tackles or sacks, and rookie DL Leonard Taylor, who has 3 tackles, found ways to be disruptive.
New England, however, ended its six-game losing streak when Stevenson scored with less than 30 seconds remaining to cap a 12-play, 70-yard drive that gave New England the final 3-point lead.
"I can feel there is a level of urgency with this team that the winning needs to start right now," Williams said. "We got to execute right now. We got to do the things we want to do right now to get to where we want to go to. We have to hammer down right now, on the plane, on the way to the plane, leaving the locker room, right now man, so get the things corrected and to move forward."
Reddick said: "We are literally a play or two away. It is just about making sure we are on the opposite side next week. We have to be making sure the opposite team in a play or two away and that is the truth."
