FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (Interstat) — Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes and the New England Patriots withstood a late N.Y. Jets rally for a 26-19 NFL victory Sunday at Gillette Stadium. New England improved to 4-2, while the Jets dropped to 2-4. The Patriots never trailed after the first quarter, but New York remained within one score for most of the second half and pulled within seven points on Jason Sanders’ fourth field goal with 32 seconds left. New England recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock. An announced attendance of 64,628 watched Maye complete 18 of 32 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran four times for 24 yards. Maye, a Huntersville, N.C., native, found three different receivers for scores and kept New England’s offense moving throughout the afternoon.

Geno Smith finished 20 of 30 passing for 252 yards and one touchdown for the Jets. Omar Cooper Jr. led New York’s receivers with six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. Garrett Wilson caught four passes for 44 yards, Mason Taylor had four receptions for 33 yards, and Tim Patrick added one catch for 15 yards. Jelani Woods had one reception for 9 yards, and Kenyon Sadiq had one catch for 12 yards. Braelon Allen carried 17 times for 78 yards and caught two passes for 26 yards. Isaiah Davis ran seven times for 16 yards and added one reception for 10 yards, while Isaiah Williams had a 4-yard run. Kene Nwangwu returned six kickoffs for 128 yards. Sanders made all four of his field goals, and Austin McNamara punted twice for 94 yards.

The Jets opened with a promising drive, but a 14-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Cooper was nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty on Patrick. New York settled for Sanders’ 42-yard field goal with 8:17 remaining in the first quarter. New England answered when Maye hit Romeo Doubs for a 42-yard touchdown, and Andy Borregales added the extra point. The Patriots stretched their lead in the second quarter on Borregales’ 32-yard field goal and Maye’s 9-yard touchdown pass to DeMario Douglas. New England took a 17-3 lead into halftime.

New York climbed back into the game in the third quarter when Smith connected with Cooper for a 48-yard touchdown, and Sanders’ extra point made it 17-10. Sanders added a 36-yard field goal with 4:46 left in the quarter to cut New England’s lead to 17-13. The Jets’ defense kept the game within reach, but New England created separation early in the fourth when Maye found Hunter Henry for a 7-yard touchdown. Borregales missed the extra point wide left, leaving the Patriots ahead 23-13. Sanders answered with a 40-yard field goal with 7:20 remaining. New England then moved into position for Borregales’ 27-yard field goal with 1:12 left. The Jets answered with Sanders’ 36-yard field goal at the 32-second mark, but New England recovered the onside kick.

Maye’s top target was Douglas, who caught seven passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. Henry had four receptions for 48 yards and a score, Doubs turned his only catch into a 42-yard touchdown, A.J. Brown caught three passes for 27 yards, and Kyle Williams had one reception for 12 yards. Eli Raridon added one catch for 11 yards, and TreVeyon Henderson had one reception for 9 yards. On the ground, Corey Kiner led New England with 11 carries for 57 yards and returned three kickoffs for 88 yards. Rhamondre Stevenson ran 14 times for 36 yards, Henderson had seven carries for 31 yards, and Maye added 24 rushing yards on four attempts. Borregales made both of his field goals, including the fourth-quarter kick from 27 yards, and Mitch Wishnowsky punted twice for 100 yards.

Among the Jets’ defensive leaders, Demario Davis recorded seven tackles, Kingsley Enagbare had six, Dane Belton made nine and Jamien Sherwood added 11. Minkah Fitzpatrick made five tackles, Jowon Briggs had six and Azareye’h Thomas finished with six. David Bailey had five tackles, while Andre Cisco, T’Vondre Sweat and Darrell Jackson Jr. each recorded three. Brandon Stephens and Malachi Moore added two tackles apiece, and Will McDonald IV, Qwan’tez Stiggers, Harrison Phillips and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. each had one. For New England, Marcus Jones made eight tackles and returned a punt 10 yards, Kevin Byard had seven tackles, and Christian Gonzalez and Christian Elliss each recorded six. Robert Spillane added five tackles, Craig Woodson made five, and Mike Brown had one.

New England had won its previous game 45-17 over Las Vegas, while the Jets had beaten Cleveland 17-12 in their most recent outing. The Patriots’ offense leaned on Maye’s three scoring passes and Borregales’ two field goals, while the Jets stayed close behind Smith’s passing, Cooper’s big day and Sanders’ four field goals. New York’s comeback attempt ended after the late field goal when New England recovered the onside kick and took a knee to close out the victory.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of New England 41, N.Y. Jets 13. Interstat’s ELO system had projected New England with a 96.1 percent probability to win. New England had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -7.5. The total score of 45 went under the over/under line of 44.