The Jets hit a new low against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium

“We talk about doing our best when our best is needed, and that wasn't it,” said interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, who took over from the fired Robert Salah after Week 5. Secondly, you have to do something, and we have that in not done at critical moments. We say we're not like that, but we are like that until we prove otherwise.

“I’m mad, they’re mad, I’m hurt, they’re hurt. … We don't execute at critical moments. Especially down there on the track. We had a chance to win that game, should have won it and didn't. So you have to give the Patriots credit: They took advantage of a team that wasn’t performing to the best of their ability.”

Sunday was the latest in a string of disappointing losses for the Jets, who have lost five straight since beating the Patriots in Week 3.

A visibly disheartened Aaron Rodgers, his face partially hidden under a baseball cap at the postgame podium, was a man of few words after another loss.

“Definitely frustration,” Rodgers said of his emotions after the game. When asked about his message to his team, Rodgers replied: “I'll tell them.”

The four-time MVP had a solid performance in his first stint as a Jet in Gillette, throwing for 233 yards and two touchdowns, but New York's offense left several points on the field. Kicker Greg Zuerlein missed an early extra point and a 44-yard field goal, and the Jets settled for a 29-yard kick in the second half rather than attempting it on 4th-and-1 from the New England 11. After their final touchdown, Rodgers and the offense failed to score a 2-point conversion after incurring a delay-of-game penalty for moving the attempt back to the 7-yard line.

“We don’t play complementary football,” Rodgers said. “Since the last time we won a game where all three phases played really well, we haven't really gotten it right. Same today.

“On offense, our goal simply has to be to score 30 points. It doesn't matter what the other two teams do. We have confidence in our defense and our teams, but if we don't score 30 points we are underperforming. This offense can do that every week.”

Instead, the Jets have yet to score more than 24 points in a game this season, ranking 24th in the NFL with 18.3 points per game this season.

While New England celebrated a victory from Brissett, Kayshon Boutte and a banged up defense, the star-studded Jets and their MVP quarterback, All-Pro defender and big expectations are with the same 2-6 record as the Patriots.

“This is a moment of darkness,” Ulbrich said. “And we understand that the outside world is going to be really loud now. But the only thing I know in life is that you work when things get dark and hard. You point the finger at yourself and look within and figure out what I can do better. If we do this together, which I believe we will, this is your only chance to get out of this situation.

“We all need to take a hard look at ourselves, starting with me.”

For his part, Rodgers seemed comfortable in that environment.

“Yeah, I was in the dark,” he said. “You have to go in there. Make peace with it.”

Amin Touri can be reached at [email protected].