Student assistant Mike Rodak takes a look at the television copy of Monday night’s game against the Jets and offers some of his second-half observations:

1. Despite being down 21 points, the Jets utilized the ground game for much of their opening second-half drive. This included a number of outside runs by RB LaDainian Tomlinson which were contained well and not allowed to break into bigger gains. This is an area in which the Patriots have done well this season. All three first downs gained by the Jets on the drive came through the air, including a quick slant pattern to WR Santonio Holmes against RCB Kyle Arrington on fourth-and-1 in the red zone.

2. In many play-action passes this season run by opponents, ILB Brandon Spikes has taken the bait, sometimes allowing the opposing quarterback to find an open receiver behind him. On Monday night, the progress made by Spikes was apparent when he didn’t fall for the Jets’ play-action near the goal line early in the third quarter, and instead drifted into the passing lane of Sanchez and turned a potential touchdown for the Jets into a turnover.

3. The Jets continued to stack the line of scrimmage and bring multiple blitzers into the third quarter, but the Patriots' offensive line also continued to hold up to the pressure. On WR Wes Welker’s 18-yard touchdown pass, the Jets brought an eight-man pass rush that was easily handled by the Patriots’ seven-man protection. That left man coverage on the three Patriots wide receivers, with no safety help. As a result, CB Drew Coleman played soft coverage on Welker in the slot, and then was carried eight yards into the end zone by Welker after the catch.

4. The Jets’ blitzes were ineffective again on RB Danny Woodhead’s 50-yard catch late in the third quarter. On the play, CB Kyle Wilson blitzed on the play side, while S Eric Smith and OLB Calvin Pace came in on the back side. LG Logan Mankins was able to leverage DE Shaun Ellis out of the running lane and to the ground, while C Dan Koppen delivered the key block on ILB David Harris that allowed Woodhead to break into open field.

5. The Patriots’ final touchdown drive of the night featured exclusively BenJarvus Green-Ellis runs and a Patriots offensive line that had little trouble with a worn-down Jets defense. The Patriots went for it on fourth-and-1, and the Jets defenders, including Harris and DE Mike DeVito, collapsed towards the inside of the line. That left only S Eric Smith for TE Rob Gronkowski to block and for Green-Ellis to follow from behind for the first down.