<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Patriots-Jets through a stats-based lens

          • Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff WriterDec 18, 2014, 10:15 AM ET
            Close
              Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.
            Follow on X

          FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Looking at Sunday's New England Patriots-New York Jets matchup through a stats-based lens (via ESPN's Stats & Information):

          1. Shining in the second half: Since their bye in Week 10, the Patriots have played five games and allowed 16 second-half points (six in the past four games). That is the best mark in the NFL over that span, with the Seahawks (20), Lions (20) and Cardinals (22) next in line.

          2. Need a first down against New England? A penalty could help: The Patriots have had 110 penalties enforced against them this season, the fourth-most in the NFL. Opponents have gained a first down via a Patriots penalty 43 times, the most in the NFL, with the Bills (39), Chargers (37) and Lions (36) behind them.

          3. Keeping turnovers down: The Patriots have committed 12 turnovers this season, tied for the second-fewest in the NFL. For context, the Jets have totaled just 11 takeaways on the season, tied for a league low.

          4. Gronkowski's high target percentage: Tight end Rob Gronkowski has been targeted on 30.3 percent of the routes that he has run this season, the fourth-highest percentage in the NFL. Only Bengals receiver A.J. Green (34.1), Texans receiver Andre Johnson (31.3) and Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas (30.5) are higher. The next tight end on the list is Carolina's Greg Olsen, at 25.0 percent (31st in the NFL).

          5. No one tops Gronkowski after contact: Gronkowski has 248 receiving yards after contact this season, the most in the NFL.

          6. Brady's multiple-TD game streak at stake: Tom Brady has thrown multiple touchdown passes in 10 straight games, which is easily the longest active streak in the league. Atlanta's Matt Ryan, with four, is next in line.

          7. Patriots domination in division: Since the NFL went to an eight-division format in 2002, the Patriots have had the best winning percentage in divisional play in the following categories:

          • Overall: .789

          • Road: .711

          • December/January: .786

          8. Belichick eyes Landry's mark: Bill Belichick's next win will be his 230th including playoffs, passing Curly Lambeau for the fourth-most wins by a head coach in NFL history. Don Shula (347), George Halas (324) and Tom Landry (270) are the all-time leaders.

          9. Jets' future in focus: The Jets are guaranteed a top-6 pick in the 2015 NFL draft.

          10. Rex took his best shot: During the Rex Ryan era (since 2009), the Jets have three wins against the Patriots, tied with the Dolphins for most wins against the Patriots by any team.

          11. Close games: Since 2012, four of the five games between the Jets and Patriots have been decided by three or fewer points.

          12. Smith's struggles: Quarterback Geno Smith has been intercepted on 4.4 percent of his pass attempts, the highest rate in the NFL since he joined the league. Eli Manning (3.7), Jay Cutler (3.4), and Andy Dalton (3.4) round out the top of the list in terms of worst interception percentage since 2013.

          13. Still seeking a division win: The Jets are 0-4 against AFC East opponents this season. Their last winless season against the AFC East was 1996.