Martin Carries Patriots Past Struggling Jets, 20-7

In a matchup of two abysmal offenses, the New England Patriots rode the running of rookie Curtis Martin to defeat the punchless New York Jets, 20-7, on Sunday.

Martin, a third-round draft choice from Pittsburgh, carried 34 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns, his third game with at least 100 yards on the ground. Martin got 112 in the first half.

“A lot of games, I started out good and didn’t end up with a lot,” Martin said. “There were others where I did not start so good and have had my best days.

“They knew what plays we were going to run and our line still got the holes open. It’s more yards than I’ve ever rushed for in the pros.”

Of course, he has only been in the NFL for nine games.

“Our back is more experienced and he understands the plays better,” New England Coach Bill Parcells said of Martin, who also had a 22-yard reception. “They were bringing a lot of guys at us.”

New England (3-6) took a 3-0 lead on Matt Bahr’s 41-yard field goal on the first series. Drew Bledsoe, who completed 13 of 27 for 173 yards, led the Patriots to a second quarter score with a 59-yard drive that was capped by a two-yard dive by Martin.

“I watched last week’s films over and over,” Martin said of seeing the Jets hold Indianapolis’ Marshall Faulk to 30 yards rushing. “I said I did not want to let that happen to me.”

Martin broke a 49-yard run near the end of the half, the longest rushing play for New England this year. That set up Bahr’s 29-yard field goal for a 13-0 halftime lead. Martin’s nine-yard touchdown run capped a 63-yard drive in the third quarter, making it 20-0.

“I didn’t see the intensity that we’ve had the last couple of weeks,” New York Coach Rich Kotite said. “We didn’t do a good job defensively. A lot of it is my fault. Offensively, we can’t maintain any consistency in protecting the quarterback and we’re not making plays.”

New York (2-8) never was a threat. By midway in the second quarter, quarterback Bubby Brister was benched for Glenn Foley.

In his first extended duty, Foley led the Jets on a 99-yard drive that was capped with Brad Baxter’s one-yard run for New York’s only score. Foley, however, suffered a dislocated right shoulder on the Jets’ final offensive play.

Foley, who finished 16 of 29 for 128 yards, is out for the season.