New England scored on all nine possessions in a record setting 51-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday.
Monday Jaguars’ head coach Gus Bradley assessed the loss.
“It was a tough game on us. A lot of challenges took place and we’ll grow from it. There’s some frustration, I would say. I told the team that’s a good thing and shows that they’re invested. Attitude is great, but just want to get it right. That’s what we’ll work on and we’ll respond correctly,” he said.
Jacksonville (1-2) came to within seven points in the second quarter. But that was it. QB Blake Bortles finished 17 of 33 for 242 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
“I think we have a good group of guys that respond well to adversity. I think there is no doubt in anybody’s mind that we didn’t show our best stuff today. We didn’t play good, I don’t think, at any position,” said Bortles said after the game.
Jaguars’ wide receiver Allen Hurns caught a 59-yard TD catch and tight end Clay Harbor caught a 6-yard score in the game’s closing minutes. Allen Robinson had nine catches for 68 yards.
Jacksonville running back T.J. Yeldon ran for 33 yards on 11 carries. Through the first three games, he has 154 yards on 48 carries.
“Obviously, we are playing against an elite football team and the best quarterback in the league,” Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny said. “But we also made a ton of mistakes on our own.”
Tom Brady tied a Patriots’ record by appearing in his 212th game and became the fourth NFL QB to throw 400 touchdown passes.
New England’s Stephen Gostkowski kicked three field goals breaking Matt Stover’s NFL record when he kicked his 423rd consecutive PAT.
“Durability, longevity and obviously consistent production that both of them have had,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “I feel very fortunate to have coached, had guys like that on our team, and those two guys in particular... They had a good day, as they’ve had for many, many, many days in their career. Really fortunate to have those guys on our team.”
NEW ENGLAND GAME NOTES - The Jaguars gained 57 yards on 20 running plays... The Jaguars were penalized seven times for 114 yards, including back-to-back pass interference penalties in the third period... Tight end Julius Thomas missed his third straight game because of a finger injury... Wide receiver Marqise Lee left in the second quarter, as did safety Josh Evans -- and corner back Sergio Brown was lost in the third... The Patriots (3-0) tied a franchise record with 35 first downs while piling up 471 yards of offense.
INJURIES MOUNT - The Jaguars had two injured defensive backs inactive for the game and lost three more during it. The Jaguars were already without cornerback Dwayne Gratz and safety Jonathan Cyprien entering the contest.
By the end of the day, cornerback Peyton Thompson was playing safety. Nick Marshall, an undrafted rookie who played quarterback at Auburn, was at cornerback.
“I don’t want to put it on injuries. Guys have to be able to step up. They know the game plan and they have to be able to go in there and execute. We did it the week before, so I don’t want to use that,” Bradley said.
JAGS ADD WASHINGTON - The Jaguars announced the promotion of first-year wide receiver Tony Washington from the club’s practice squad to the 53-man active roster. To make room on the roster, the club released third-year linebacker LaRoy Reynolds. Washington spent the 2015 offseason and preseason with the Jaguars before being waived during final cuts. Washington was signed by Jacksonville back to the practice squad on Sept. 7.
