Game balls
The Patriots offensive line was stellar in pass protection, preventing the Jets from getting any pressure at all on QB Tom Brady. Though they struggled to open up running lanes, the offenisve line gave Brady plenty of time to spread the ball around to his new toys, Randy Moss (nine receptions, 183 yards, one TD), Donte Stallworth (one reception, 19 yards) and Wes Welker (six receptions, 61 yards, one TD). The Patriots opened with a 91-yard, 12-play drive that ended with the 11-yard Welker touchdown.
Key stat
The Jets acquired Thomas Jones in the offseason to upgrade their rushing attack, but the former Chicago Bears running back managed only 42 yards on 14 carries and didn't get into the end zone.
Noteworthy
The Patriots' Ellis Hobbs opened the second half with a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the longest kick return in NFL history, beating the previous record of 106 yards. ... Patriots linebackers Junior Seau and Mike Vrabel both lined up on offense, Seau acting as a fullback on a 1-yard Heath Evans touchdown. ... Pennington was replaced by Kellen Clemems in the third quarter after injuring his ankle on a sack by DE Jarvis Green. Clemens completed one pass for six-yards before Pennington returned the following series, then came in again later for mop-up duty, finishing 5-of-10 for 35 yards.
