HERO
It couldn’t have been a happier homecoming for Brooklyn native Steve Gregory. The Patriots safety intercepted Mark Sanchez, forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles and returned one of them 32 yards for a touchdown— all in the first half. He also had five tackles (all solos), broke up a pass and generally made himself a pest all night.
KEY NUMBER
52 Seconds of the second quarter was all the Patriots needed to score 21 points and turn what had been a tight game into a comical blowout.
ZERO
The Jets as a whole were a laughingstock, but Sanchez’s personal shame will live in NFL infamy after he ran into teammate Brandon Moore’s butt in the second quarter and lost a fumble that was returned for a Patriots TD. After looking so good four days earlier against the Rams, Sanchez was hopeless while falling behind 35-0.
UNSUNG HERO
Vince Wilfork didn’t really show up in the stat sheet, but don’t be fooled — the Patriots’ Pro Bowl defensive lineman was an unstoppable force and a constant headache for the Jets. New England’s two fourth-down stops wouldn’t have been possible without Wilfork blowing up the interior, and he also pushed Moore into Sanchez on the infamous butt fumble.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We’re about as wounded as you can possibly be, but we’re not dead yet.” — Rex Ryan on the 4-7 Jets