Patriots Streak to Second Victory : AFC: Vaughn gains 110 yards as New England improves to 2-9 with 24-3 victory over Jets.

The New England Patriots have recently received outstanding performances by their young players and the result has been consecutive victories.

The previous week, it was second-year quarterback Scott Zolak. Sunday, it was rookie running back Jon Vaughn.

Vaughn rushed for a career-high 110 yards Sunday as Patriots beat the New York Jets, 24-3.

It was second consecutive win for the Patriots after nine losses in a row.

“It’s the whole team,” Vaughn said. “We never got down on each other. You could feel it in the locker room.”

The crowd of 27,642 on the drizzly, foggy day was the smallest in the NFL this season. The previous low was 27,735 when New Orleans visited Phoenix on Oct. 18.

“I think we’re like the ugly baby,” said Dante Scarnecchia, interim coach of the Patriots. “You gotta hold it. It ain’t much to look at. Maybe in the first nine games we were ugly to look at.

“I think we’re getting better looking. We may be a pretty damn handsome person when it’s all over.”

The Jets (3-8) gained 166 yards and allowed the Patriots 24 points in the first half on a rain-soaked field.

“It was disappointing,” Jet Coach Bruce Coslet said. “We didn’t look good. We warned the players all week that they were going into an ambush situation. I thought we were prepared (tactically), but I didn’t think we were ready to play.”

Vaughn, a fifth-round draft choice last year, carried the offensive load. John Stephens added 51 yards and two touchdowns.

Stephens, who rushed for 1,168 yards as a rookie in 1988, helped the Patriots to their 24-3 halftime lead and their 164-77 rushing advantage in the game.

Zolak, who starred in a 37-34 overtime victory over Indianapolis, completed seven of 16 passes for 102 yards with no interceptions against the Jets.

“Let’s not kid ourselves,” Patriot tight end Marv Cook said. “Not to take anything away from Scott, but I knew we had a chance to win these next four games.”

The Patriots’ next two games are against Atlanta and Indianapolis.

The Patriots got four sacks, intercepted two passes and recovered a fumbled punt.