Foxborough, Mass. ? Tom Brady turned this anticipated classic into a classic rout.

Brady doesn’t lose many big games, certainly not at home and definitely not with so much on the line. He threw for four touchdowns and 326 yards Monday night in New England’s 45-3 romp past the New York Jets for his NFL-record 26th straight regular-season home victory.

In surpassing Brett Favre’s mark for consecutive wins in the comforts of his own stadium, Brady also lifted the Patriots (10-2) to the best record in the AFC. If this was for bragging rights in the conference, Rex Ryan and the Jets (9-3) will have to be silent for a while.

‘Dandy Don’ Meredith dies at 72

Albuquerque, N.M. — Don Meredith, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback who served as a folksy foil for Howard Cosell on ABC’s “Monday Night Football” and helped carve out the niche for colorful ex-athlete broadcasters, has died. “Dandy Don,” as he was known, was 72.

Meredith’s wife, Susan, told the Associated Press her husband died Sunday in Santa Fe after suffering a brain hemorrhage and lapsing into a coma. She and her daughter were at Meredith’s side when he died.

Meredith played for the Cowboys from 1960-1968, becoming the starting quarterback in 1965.

Over his nine-year career, Meredith threw for 17,199 yards and 111 touchdowns.

Bucs put Talib, center on IR

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have placed cornerback Aqib Talib and center Jeff Faine on injured reserve. Both players were injured during Sunday’s 28-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Talib suffered a hip injury in the first half, while Faine departed in the second half with a triceps injury. Talib, a Kansas University product, is tied for second in the NFL with six interceptions.

In other NFL news:

• St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Na’il Diggs is out for the rest of the season because of a torn pectoral muscle.

• Dallas’ Dez Bryant broke his right ankle returning a kickoff during a victory Sunday in Indianapolis. He had surgery Monday to repair broken bones and ligament damage and will need up to four months of rehabilitation.

• Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has undergone surgery to repair his broken nose. He is expected to play Sunday against Cincinnati.

• The Denver Broncos have placed linebacker Joe Mays and tight end Dan Gronkowski on injured reserve.