The Patriots offense needed a big play to help beat the Jets, and they got it from an unlikely source.
While Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki would be the likely candidates to take one to the house, it was the Patriots third tight end who delivered in the 15-10 win over the Jets at the Meadowlands.
Pharaoh Brown, who has largely been brought in during three tight-end sets, and also saw time as a blocking fullback Sunday, snuck past the coverage on the play. He got free, took a Mac Jones pass in stride, and raced 58 yards into the end zone to put the Pats up 10-0 in the second quarter.
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With Jets defender Adrian Amos closing in and grabbing hold, Brown dove in from a few yards out, extending his arm over the goal line at the right pylon.
Basically, the Patriots set it up using play-action with Jones under center. After handing the ball off several times, the Patriots quarterback faked the handoff, drawing the safeties up, before hitting Brown with a perfectly thrown ball.
On the play, Gesicki was in motion. No one really paid attention to Brown, who caught the ball at the Jets’ 38, and took off from there. He said he wasn’t necessarily “surprised” to be so open on the play.
“We had some good running plays that we were gashing them five or six yards. It was a great freaking sell by the line with the play-action. They bit and Mac threw a great ball . . . it was a testament to how we was running the ball.”
Brown, who is 6-foot-5, 246 pounds, was signed by the Patriots after being released by the Indianapolis Colts at the end of the preseason. He had previously played for Bill O’Brien as a member of the Texas from 2020-2022.
As for playing fullback, Brown is basically learning on the fly.
“I don’t have a lot of experience, but I’m a football player. I just want to play football,” he said. “Whatever they ask, the opportunity to get on the field, I’m all for it. Fullback, tight end . . . the more you can do. You know what they say.”
Asked about being the team’s offense spark, the veteran tight end said that made him feel great.
“Definitely, we needed it,” he said. “It felt awesome. I felt like it gave us a spark and helped us win a game today.”
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