FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (Interstat) — The New England Patriots used a dominant second quarter and a stout defensive effort to pull away from the New York Jets for a 27-14 victory on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium.

A crowd of 64,628 watched as the Patriots improved to 9-2, solidifying their position atop the AFC East, while the Jets fell to 2-8.

The game began promisingly for the visiting Jets, who engineered a methodical 16-play, 80-yard touchdown drive on the game’s opening possession. The drive was defined by the mobility of quarterback Justin Fields, who scrambled for key gains of 14 and 6 yards before capping the march with a 5-yard touchdown run around the right end.

New England’s offense, sluggish in the first quarter, found its rhythm in the second. The Patriots tied the game on a 7-yard touchdown run by TreVeyon Henderson, culminating a 15-play, 69-yard drive. After forcing a Jets punt, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye went to work, connecting with receiver Mack Hollins for gains of 19 and 20 yards to set up Henderson’s second touchdown run, another 7-yard effort, to give New England a 14-7 lead it would not relinquish.

The Patriots had a chance to extend their lead before halftime, but kicker Andy Borregales’ 45-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright as time expired.

New England received the second-half kickoff and immediately resumed its offensive pressure. Maye led a crisp 69-yard drive, completing passes of 21 and 18 yards to Stefon Diggs before finding Henderson on a 6-yard scoring pass to push the lead to 21-7.

The Jets responded with their only other scoring drive of the night. Fields, who struggled through the air, found John Metchie III on a 22-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 21-14 late in the third quarter.

Any momentum for the Jets was short-lived. The Patriots added a 44-yard field goal from Borregales early in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing Jets possession, a botched snap resulted in a fumble recovered by Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings at the New York 11-yard line. The Patriots’ offense stalled, but Borregales converted a 26-yard field goal to seal the game at 27-14.

The Jets’ final drive deep into Patriots territory in the closing minutes ended without points as the New England defense held firm.

Maye was efficient for the Patriots, completing 25 of 34 passes for 281 yards and one touchdown. Diggs was his primary target, hauling in nine catches for 105 yards. Henderson was a dual threat, rushing for 62 yards and two touchdowns while adding five receptions for 31 yards and another score.

For the Jets, Fields was limited to 116 passing yards and one touchdown, completing 15 of 26 attempts. His biggest impact came on the ground, where he rushed for 67 yards and a score. The Jets’ defense was led by a quartet of players—Quincy Williams, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Brandon Stephens and Jamien Sherwood—who each recorded eight tackles.

The Patriots’ defense consistently pressured Fields and stifled the Jets’ offense for the majority of the game, with Robert Spillane leading the unit with nine tackles.