Gordon steps up to help Pats crush New York Sunday 30-14

FOXBORO — Josh Gordon was in pain.

The Patriots receiver had left the field midway through the first half of Sunday's game — a 30-14 stomping of the New York Jets — and had the team doctors check out his back. You could tell he was hurting as the half ended. Then, in the third quarter, Gordon injured his fingers while blocking. Immediately, he asked for medical attention and, for the second time, disappeared into the blue medical tent on the Patriots sideline. [...]

FOXBORO — Josh Gordon was in pain.

The Patriots receiver had left the field midway through the first half of Sunday's game — a 30-14 stomping of the New York Jets — and had the team doctors check out his back. You could tell he was hurting as the half ended. Then, in the third quarter, Gordon injured his fingers while blocking. Immediately, he asked for medical attention and, for the second time, disappeared into the blue medical tent on the Patriots sideline.

He missed two offensive snaps but was back on the field on the next drive. His pinky and ring finger on his left hand were taped together. After a making a catch for three yards, he again grabbed his fingers. You could tell he was hurting.

But after the release of Antonio Brown on Friday, and with Julian Edelman out of the game late in the first half because of a chest injury, New England needed a playmaker. That’s when Gordon stepped up.

With his back hurting and fingers taped together, Gordon jumped over Jets cornerback Darryl Roberts for a highlight-reel 28-yard reception. Somehow he not only held on to the ball, he stayed in bounds. That set up New England's fourth and final touchdown — a two-yard scamper by Rex Burkhead to cap a 10-play, 60-yard drive.

“Some weeks are more painful than others. It’s not always that bad. But it’s part of the game,” Gordon said. “I don’t think anybody likes to get banged up or have to come out of the game, but it’s just the reality of it. The more important part is how many times can you get knocked down and come back? That’s my mindset. That’s my attitude. … Medically, if I’m approved to do so, I’m going to go back out no matter what’s hurt me.”

There’s no denying that Gordon’s track record is not one of reliability, but he has become a vital piece of the Patriots offense. On Sunday, Gordon (six catches for a game-high 83 yards) showed he could be counted on.

The Patriots saw Gordon’s potential last season. In 11 games, he had 40 catches for 720 yards. The Pats also saw the other side. Gordon has long battled substance-abuse problems and left the team in December before being suspended, again, by the NFL. In August, he was reinstated and now must stay clean in order to stay on the field.

The Patriots need both Gordon and Edelman to pick up an offense without Rob Gronkowski, who retired after last season, and the controversial Brown.

In the first half, the Patriots scored touchdowns on their first three drives, thanks to Sony Michel (5-yard run), Phillip Dorsett (25-yard catch) and Edelman (3-yard pass). But the Pats' final three drives of the first half ended with punts.

To make matters worse, the Patriots saw their top two receivers leave the field. First, Gordon exited after landing awkwardly on his back after a jump ball. Two plays later, Edelman headed to the locker room with a chest injury. When the second half started, Gordon was back on the field, but Edelman never returned. (An MRI reportedly came back negative.)

The Patriots extended their lead to 23-0 when Stephen Gostkowski, who had missed a first-quarter point-after kick, hit a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter. On that drive, Gordon injured his left hand trying to block New York's Nate Hairston. The Pats turned to Dorsett, Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski at wide receiver for the rest of the drive.

Gordon returned for the next series with his fingers taped. Faced with a third-and-22, he made that fabulous 28-yard reception.

“Josh made a huge play. Made a bunch all day,” quarterback Tom Brady said. “He went wire-to-wire; he’s going to be pretty tired tomorrow. Proud of him and what he accomplished today. That was a huge play in the game.”

“Josh has worked really hard since he's come back. He's shown a lot of toughness,” Bill Belichick added. "He's a big, strong kid but he's resilient.”

While Edelman was still on the field, the Patriots built a 20-0 lead. After the team’s leading receiver exited, the Pats were outscored, 14-10, due to a muffed punt by Olszewski and a Jarrett Stidham pick-6. After the interception, Brady returned and completed the game, finishing with 28 completions on 42 attempts for 306 yards and two touchdowns.

After the game, Gordon explained why he is so resilient.

“I think my life of perseverance is something that can show through, through my play, in my mindset with how I attack the game,” Gordon said. “I think I’ve always been that way. … Physically, I think I’ve always been a fighter in some kind of way. Just have to fight back.”