Week 17 Recap: Pats Finish Season on High Note with 28-14 Win over Jets
The New England Patriots wrapped up their 2020 season yesterday against the New York Jets, at Gillette. This is the first time in quite awhile that a regular season finale hasn’t meant anything for playoff implications. There are some fans that wanted the Patriots to lose for a better draft pick. Do I get the logic? Of course! Me personally? I appreciate when my teams win. So I was happy the Patriots ended on a good note with a 28-14 win over the Jets to finish the season at 7-9.
Finished strong.#NYJvsNE | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/iEzUUw2DLv
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 3, 2021
Before we say goodbye to 2020 for good, let’s recap the finale quickly.
Cam Newton Doing It All
Out there throwing 𝗔𝗡𝗗 catching TDs. pic.twitter.com/m6YXFspLus
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 4, 2021
In what could be his final game with the Patriots, Cam Newton definitely saved his best for last. He finished the day 21/20 for 242 passing yards, 79 rushing yards, a 19 yard touchdown reception, and four total touchdowns.
First Patriots QB to catch a TD pass in team history.⁰⁰@CameronNewton | #GoPats
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/lJwoSjM7KT
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 3, 2021
This was definitely an impressive way to go out for Newton. He caught a 19 yard trick play pass from Jakobi Meyers. He did his thing on the ground. There were even some good touchdown passes to Sony Michel and Devin Asiasi. Cam did it all in this game.
Sony Michel
With Damien Harris out, Sony Michel got a majority of the carries out of the backfield. Michel has a solid say with 16 rushes for 76 yards. The former Georgia running back made a case for himself late in the season. Could the Patriots roll with Michel and Harris next year with James White and Rex Burkhead heading to free agency? It’s very possible! I think Michel earned some looks for the 2021 season and this game definitely solidified that thought.
The Defense
J.C. Jackson's ninth INT of the season marks his 11th takeaway of the year, the most in a single season under Bill Belichick, and the second most in team history.
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/o5RHRIJyWG
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 3, 2021
.@Jonathan_Jones2 takes it away in the end zone.
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/6lyfSC8Zgw
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 3, 2021
Second of the day for @Wino 💯#NYJvsNE | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/PZOtkF4Veq
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 3, 2021
The defense showed up in this one. JC Jackson had his ninth interception of the season. Jonathan Jones got into the action as well with an interception to stall a Jets drive, in the endzone. Chase Winovich is making a case to be a three down defensive player. He had two sacks and four total tackles on the day. Winovich creates a pass rush you desperately need, so it’d be nice to see him involved more in the defense in 2021. I know it was the Jets, but hopefully this can foreshadow to big things coming next season.
In Conclusion
It’s always nice to end a season on a win. Now the real questions come into play. Will the Cam Newton era be officially over? If so, who takes over as QB? Will it be a veteran or a draft pick? What will happen with all of the money they have in cap space in the off-season? This team has a lot of questions to answer this off-season, but you cant say it won’t be fun! The playoffs will be fun with no pressure this year. Get me to 2021 to get back in the conversation for a seventh Super Bowl victory.
–Al Nahigian (@BigAl2793)
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Feat. Image courtesy of patriotswire.usatoday.com/