NFL · Oct 18, 2026
NE beats NYJ 26–19 as D. Maye throws three touchdown passes
By Row Seventeen ·
New England Patriots beat New York Jets 26–19 (NFL) on October 18, 2026.
NE defeated NYJ 26–19 in NFL play on October 18, 2026, with D. Maye’s third touchdown pass extending the lead to 10 points early in the fourth quarter.
19–26FINAL
Key moments
Sources ↓- Opening
NYJ scored first on a 42-yard field goal with 8:21 remaining in the first quarter. Maye responded with a 42-yard touchdown pass to R. Doubs at 4:18, putting NE ahead.
Read in context ↘ - Middle stages
A 32-yard field goal with 1:49 left extended the margin to seven points. Maye then threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to D. Douglas with 20 seconds remaining.
Read in context ↘ - Closing stages
NYJ cut the margin to seven with a 40-yard field goal at 7:24. NE answered with a 27-yard field goal with 1:14 left, restoring a 10-point advantage.
Read in context ↘
Maye’s 42-yard touchdown puts NE ahead
NE answered an opening NYJ field goal with three scoring possessions before halftime at Gillette Stadium. D. Maye threw two touchdown passes before the break, then added a third early in the fourth quarter as NE went on to win in regulation.
NYJ scored first on a 42-yard field goal with 8:21 remaining in the first quarter. Maye responded with a 42-yard touchdown pass to R. Doubs at 4:18, putting NE ahead. The successful extra point made it 7–3, the score at the end of the quarter.
Two late scores extend the halftime lead
NE added to its lead twice inside the final two minutes of the second quarter. A 32-yard field goal with 1:49 left extended the margin to seven points. Maye then threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to D. Douglas with 20 seconds remaining.
The extra point sent NE into halftime ahead 17–3. After conceding the opening field goal, NE had scored 17 unanswered points, with touchdown passes accounting for both of its first-half trips to the end zone.
Cooper touchdown starts NYJ’s response
G. Smith brought NYJ closer with a 48-yard touchdown pass to O. Cooper with 10:32 remaining in the third quarter. The extra point cut NE’s lead to seven. At 8:17, J. Sherwood recovered a T. Henderson fumble for NYJ.
NYJ followed with a 36-yard field goal at 4:50, completing a 10-point third quarter and narrowing the deficit to 17–13. That remained the score entering the fourth quarter, before Maye’s next touchdown pass widened the gap again.
Henry touchdown and late field goal secure the result
Maye found H. Henry for a seven-yard touchdown with 14:13 remaining. NE missed the extra point, leaving its lead at 23–13. Smith was intercepted at 12:31, but NYJ regained possession when M. Fitzpatrick recovered a fumble on a 39-yard completion from Maye to Douglas at 11:16.
NYJ cut the margin to seven with a 40-yard field goal at 7:24. NE answered with a 27-yard field goal with 1:14 left, restoring a 10-point advantage. NYJ made a 36-yard field goal with 36 seconds remaining, and NE had possession as regulation ended with the final score 26–19.
Based on nflverse schedule and play-by-play data (CC BY 4.0). Source endpoints are cross-checked within the same source family, not independent reporting. This is an original, AI-assisted recap.
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Published 2026-10-18. Game date shown above.
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