Patriots Dismantle Jets and Claim AFC Supremacy

Former President Theodore Roosevelt once said "Walk tall and carry a big stick."

After a full week of being goaded by Rex Ryan and the Jets, silent New England Patriot coach Bill Belichick never took the bait. Then on Monday night, he beat down the Jets with his big stick.

Neither coach Belichick nor the Patriots players allowed themselves to be pulled into the trash talking by Rex Ryan, who earlier in the week proclaimed the Jets to be the best team in the NFL. They didn't get into a war of words when Ryan hinted that he was a better coach than "The Hoodie." Rather, Tom Brady and the Patriots simply took the field and completely dismantled the Jets offensively and defensively, winning the pivotal game 45-3. Their play alone sent the message it needed to the Jets and the rest of the NFL; the Patriots are the team to beat for the Super Bowl.

Tom Brady threw for 326 yards and 4 touchdowns, without throwing an interception, on the way to his 26^th straight regular season win at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots quarterback spread the ball around to eight different receivers, four of which catching touchdown passes. BenJarvis Green-Ellis added 72 yards and 2 touchdown on the ground for the completely in sync Patriots offense.

The Patriot defense, which has been maligned in the week leading to the game, picked off Sanchez three times in the game and kept pressure on the 2^nd-year Jets quarterback for most of the game.

The game was really won in the red zone, where the Patriots were 5 for 5 with four touchdowns and a field goal, while the Jets managed just two trips inside the Patriots 20, one of which resulted in a disastrous interception by Brandon Spikes with sealed the game early in the 3^rd quarter.

The win for New England ties them with Atlanta for the best record in the NFL at 10-2 and gives them the inside track for home field advantage in the playoffs. The Patriots still have a tough match-up against Chicago next week, followed by a visit by Green Bay. They then finish their season against division opponents in Buffalo and home against Miami. Meanwhile, the Jets try to recuperate at home against Miami on Sunday, and then travel to both Pittsburgh and Chicago before finishing up at home against Buffalo.

Sources:

- New England Patriots v/s New York Jets, NFL.com

- New York Jets Schedule, NFL.com

- New England Patriots Schedule, NFL.com