With a 35-3 deficit after two quarters, on their home field against the Patriots, there’s no doubt the Jets were more than a little testy on Sunday afternoon by the time halftime came around. New England had put a whopping 344 yards of offense on them in the first 30 minutes, the most of any team this season, and if there were any Jets fans at MetLife Stadium, they barely made a peep by the time the 42-10 drubbing was finished.
But in the moments before halftime, especially after the jets put a stiff hit on quarterback Drake Maye, tensions between the sides began to boil. The Jets clearly did not like the manner in which they were losing, but the Patriots did not let up until after the break.
Going into the locker room, cameras followed Patriots coach Mike Vrabel–as they usually do–but it was at that time that Vrabel sought out Patriots star defensive lineman Christian Barmore. Vrabel appeared to have to stern words for Barmore, who shot back just as intensely. Vrabel and Barmore kept the heated discussion going until Vrabel patted Barmore on the chest and ran off.
Barmore was guided in by two staff members with a hand on each shoulder, trying to keep him calm.
Patriots’ Vrabel to Christian Barmore: ‘Keep Composure’
It was, perhaps, refreshing to see some intensity in a game that attracted so little passion from the Jets’ side, but it was an eye-opening moment between Vrabel and Barmore, who had their differences before–Vrabel benched Barmore to start the Patriots’ Week 8 win over the Browns for an undisclosed reason, about which Vrabel would only say he had to, “protect the team.”
Vrabel was similarly vague this time around.
He said of the Barmore confrontation: “Just reminding everybody to keep their composure. We have an identity that we’ve shown and that we put out there on the football field, make great decisions for the football team. We don’t want to give people free yards.
“That was it, just a reminder, you know, Christian—he did a great job. Referee came over there and told me that both he Cory Durden and everybody else were doing a good job of trying not to get into anything after the whistle, after the play. I appreciate that. It was just a reminder.”
GettyChristian Barmore #90 of the New England Patriots
Perfect Road Record for Patriots
With the win over the Jets, the Patriots have wrapped up their road slate at 8-0, which could be useful as they begin to gear up for the postseason. The Patriots are hopeful that they could yet win the AFC’s No. 1 seed, which would require a win over Miami next week and a loss by the Broncos to the Chargers in Denver. If that happens, the Patriots won’t leave Foxboro until they either lose of go to the Super Bowl.
It is a remarkable turnaround for a team that won nine total road games in the past three years combined.
“We talked about all those things that helped us along the way, and the unfinished business on the road and being able to, when we needed to, handle the environment and make critical plays and get off to a good start like we did today,” Vrabel said. “Really proud of this football team and what they’ve been able to do.”
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