Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo caused a stir when he called his team “soft” after last Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars, but he likely won’t offer the same characterization this week.

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson scored a one-yard touchdown to cap a 12-play, 70-yard drive with 22 seconds to play, and the Patriots defeated the Jets 25-22 at Gillette Stadium. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett, out because of a head injury to Drake Maye, completed passes to convert two long third downs, including a 34-yard strike to Kayshon Boutte that made up for earlier drops by the wideout.

The Jets got the ball back and Aaron Rodgers appeared to complete a 21-yard pass to Garrett Wilson on first down, but the officials ruled it incomplete and did not review the play. On the next snap, they completed a pass to Davante Adams, but time ran out before they could attempt another play.

The Jets had prevailed 22-17 on a Braelon Allen touchdown run before the two-minute warning, but their defense wasn’t up to the task of stopping a Patriots offense that has struggled all season.

Their attempt to win for the first time since Week 3 was also hampered by two misses from Greg Zuerlein, who now has seven misses this season. That meant any signs of performance from Wilson, running back Breece Hall and tight end Tyler Conklin were for naught.

It’s now five straight losses for a 2-6 Jets team that’s more likely to be eliminated from the playoffs in December than put together the kind of consistent play that would get them into the playoffs. They’ll be hosting the Texans on Halloween and there’ll be a spooky crowd waiting for them after Sunday’s collapse.

The Patriots will be in Tennessee and this is another winnable game for them regardless of whether Maye is allowed back into action or not.