Image courtesy of Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – We knew it wasn’t going to pretty, and boy, it wasn’t.

The Patriots held the Jets to less than 100 yards of total offense through much of the game (171 total) and made Zach Wilson look as bad as he ever has en route to a desperately needed 15-10 victory on a miserable afternoon in New Jersey.

The Patriots offense wasn’t much better, but did just enough to get to 1-2 on the year and most importantly, 1-1 in the division.

With the crowd alive for the first time all day following New York’s first touchdown, the Patriots were forced to punt with 2:51 remaining, giving the Jets the ball back at the New York nine with New England up 13-10. Thankfully, with Wilson just completely unaware of pressure basically at any point, Matt Judon came up with a sack in the end zone for a safety to make it 15-10. The Pats still punted two more times in the final 1:43, but a turnover on downs and failed Hail Mary as time expired locked up the ugly, yet much-needed win.

“When we had to make plays, we did,” said Mac Jones, who threw for 201 yards and a touchdown on just 15 completions. “Definitely inconsistent, but we came away with a win. That’s all we came here for.”

“It felt good to get a win and just come out ahead on the scoreboard, for real, man,” Judon said. “It’s a long camp, it’s a long season, but your first one, you kind of got to get that one under your belt and then go from there.”

The Pats won the toss, deferred and immediately forced a three-and-out after a putrid series for the Jets offense. New England took over at its own 42, got a big third down conversion from Mike Gesicki for 18 yards, but as been the case far too often to start the year, the offense stalled. Chad Ryland gave the Pats a 3-0 lead with a bomb from 48-yards out that would’ve been good from at least 55.

The Jets managed one first down on their second possession, but a combo sack from Josh Uche and Deatrich Wise – which was more like Wilson just falling down and sacking himself – forced another punt midway through the first quarter. After a good return from Jabrill Peppers, Mac and the offense had good field position again at the New England 37, but a drop by Rhamondre Stevenson on third down forced another punt as the skies opened up.

Bryce Baringer pinned the Jets at the New York six and a three-and-out quickly ensued. Another good return from Peppers once again set the Pats up in good position at their own 43. Another strong drive led the Pats down to the Jets’ 24 thanks to a dart from Mac to Kendrick Bourne for 18 on third down. But, something got in the way as it often has so far. That something this time was a Cole Strange hold. Rhamondre Stevenson had no gain and at the start of the second, a screen pass from Jones was nearly picked off. Ryland came out to attempt another 48-yarder, but pushed it wide right.

Fortunately for the Pats, Wilson is arguably the worst QB in NFL history and another putrid three-and-out followed and the Pats took over at the New England 22 this time. Just four plays later, Pharaoh Brown – yes, that’s correct – had a 58-yard catch and run for a TD after Mac found him wide open down the seam. Ryland’s PAT made it 10-0 with 11:38 left in the half. That play came after a huge 15-yard redeeming grab for Demario Douglas on third down.

As Jets fans continued to suffer through watching another Wilson three-and-out almost immediately, the boos and pure berating of the young QB grew more and more comical. Pinned at their own seven, the Pats worked it out to the 24 before having to punt it back with just under eight minutes left in the half.

The Jets took 6:08 off the clock, but needed 10 plays to move just 33 yards, Greg Zeurlein booted a 57-yard field goal to get the Jets on the board with 1:21 to go, setting the Pats up for the ol’ double score. Mac moved the offense out just across midfield and after a missed DPI call on a deep ball to Demario Douglas, settled for a 57-yard field goal attempt that never had a chance. Somehow, despite holding the Jets to just 39 yards of offense in the first 30 minutes (216-39), it was a one-score game at the break.

“I thought we battled hard,” said David Andrews. “Did some good things, did some things we need to clean up. Obviously, weather game, taking care of the football was a big emphasis and I thought we did a really good job of that today.”

New England opened the second half with a 4:34 drive that lasted 10 plays, but once again things stalled and Ryland was called upon. The rookie buried a 51-yarder to make it 13-3. After that, an ugly, penalty-filled rest of the quarter ensued as both teams punted two times each with the Pats clinging to the 10-point lead.

A Josh Uche sack – thanks to Wilson’s mind blowing decision making and hatred for throwing the ball away – forced another Jets punt to open the fourth. New England killed just under five minutes of clock before pinning the Jets at their own 13 in a clear decision to simply play the field position game the rest of the way instead of pushing the issue in the elements. But, the Jets finally strung something together, a 13-play, 87-yard drive that included a PI call in the end zone on Myles Bryant on 3rd-&-goal from the nine.

One play later fullback Nick Bawden punched it in from a yard out. Somehow, some way, despite eclipsing the 100-yards of offense mark on that drive, the Jets were still in it at 13-10 with 5:24 to go, setting up the interesting final few possessions.

At the end of the year, they won’t ask how, just how many. Sunday may not have been pretty, but it could be a major confidence boost for the team going forward with another difficult road trip to Dallas on tap in just a few days.

“It’s the Jets. Since I’ve been here, every time we play them, it comes down to the wire, every game” added  Peppers. “Last year, the first game, it came down to an onside kick. The second game, it Marcus (Jones) took one to the house. This one, you know, we were doing our thing, gave up some plays late and it came down to a Hail Mary.

“We know what kind of game it’s going to be, especially against the Jets. Divisional game. They know us, we know them. Good matchup. We did enough to win today.”