Game Preview: Patriots vs. Jets

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The Patriots and Jets will square off at Gillette Stadium in a crucial AFC East matchup. Both teams are coming off their bye week and are well-rested. Before their bye week, the Jets beat Buffalo at home 20-17 as 11-point underdogs. New England finished the first half of their season with a 26-3 home win against the Colts. Both teams need a win to improve their playoff chances. The game will air on CBS with Kevin Harlan handling play-by-play duties and Trent Green as the color analyst. First, let’s look at interesting facts, matchup winners, player connections, and more.

Quick hits

* New England leads the series, 72-54-1 overall, and are 18-14 at Gillette Stadium and 10-3 playing at MetLife.

* The Patriots have 22 series sweeps against the Jets, with 13 coming under Bill Belichick.

* The Patriots are looking for their 14th straight win over the New York Jets and their seventh consecutive sweep dating back to 2016. If the Patriots win against the Jets, they will hold the NFL record for the most consecutive wins against an opponent.

* For the first time since 2002, all four teams in the AFC have a winning record through the first ten weeks of the season. The Dolphins are (7-3), the New York Jets are (6-3), the Buffalo Bills are (6-3), and the Patriots are (5-4).

* Jets wide receivers are tied for second in the NFL, committing five fumbles after a catch.

* CB Sauce Garner has only allowed seven yards in man coverage this season, which leads all cornerbacks.

* The Jets have the best point differential in the NFL (+58).

* The Jets are the highest-rated defense, per PFF, with an 85.1 grade.

* If Matthew Judon sacks Zach Wilson this Sunday, he will tie his personal best with 12.5 sacks in a season.

* Matthew Judon is first in the NFL in sacks with 11.5, and he is on pace for 22 sacks this season which would be one sack short of claiming the NFL record. Judon would also clear the franchise record, which Andre Tippett holds with 18.5 sacks.

* Nick Folk currently has 95 field goals with the Patriots; with five other field goals, he would become the fifth Patriot player to reach 100 field goals.

* If Tyquan Thornton has a rushing touchdown this week, he will become the first rookie wide receiver with two rushing touchdowns.

* CB Jalen Mills needs one interception this week to match his career-high (3).

Connections

Former Patriots

WR Braxton Berrios (Patriots player: 2018, Jets player: 2019-present)

DL Greg Scruggs (Patriots player: 2016, Jets Asst. DL Coach: 2022-present)

RB Leon Washington (Patriots player: 2013, Jets Asst. ST Coach: 2021-present)

Former Jets

K Nick Folk (Jets player: 2010-2016, Patriots Player: 2019-present)

HC Bill Belichick (Jets Asst. HC/DC: 1997-1999, Patriots HC: 2000-present)

Who has the advantage?

When the Patriots run: Winner: Patriots

The Patriots running game started hot this season with the one-two punch in Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson; however, as of late, it’s not producing nearly as much. Harris exited Week 5 with a hamstring injury and hasn’t been the same since. Meanwhile, the offensive line has also been struggling, partly due to injuries in key players. Veteran David Andrews and Marcus Cannon have been hurt, shifting around players on the line. Regarding numbers, the Patriots run for 117.2 yards per game (17th) but only average 4.07 yards per carry (26th). The Jets defensive line dominated the last matchup, often applying pressure and making the run game hard. In the previous matchup, Rhamondre Stevenson ran for 71 yards on 16 carries, averaging 3.7 yards a carry. The Jets’ defensive line is led by Quinnen Williams and Sheldon Rankins, who have combined nine sacks on the season. Bill Belichick complimented linebacker C.J. Moseley in his press conference. The linebacker has 88 tackles on the season. The Jets only allow 4.2 yards per carry, which is good for the fifth in the league.

When the Jets run: Winner: New England Patriots

One week before the Patriots and Jets play each other in Week 9, star rookie running back Breece Hall exited with a torn ACL. The Jets acquired James Robinson in a trade with the Jaguars to help lighten the load for veteran Michael Carter. Against the Patriots, the two combined for 43 yards and 12 carries. On the season, Michael Carter has 330 rushing yards, and James Robinson has tailed up 65 yards on the ground. For the Patriots, the run defense has been a rollercoaster this season. Overall the Patriots are allowing 4.66 yards a carry, 22nd in the league. Led by Deatrich Wise, Davon Godchuax, and Lawrence Guy, the Patriots’ run defense will need to continue on an upward slope and try to make the Jets one-dimensional, putting the game in Zach Wilson’s hands. The Patriots should expect one running back to emerge in this matchup, but New England should have no problem shutting them down.

When the Patriots pass: Winner: New York Jets

Many hoped Mac Jones would take a second-year jump after a successful rookie campaign. Unfortunately, the Patriots’ passing attack has been sporadic this season and falls the entire offense. The quarterback play, the receivers, the offensive line, and everything in between has been poor for the Patriots. In the last two weeks, Mac Jones has been sacked ten times, TEN! All of last season, he was brought down 28 times. Against the Jets, in Week 9, Jones was taken down a career-high six times. On his one interception against the Jets, he was hit as he was throwing the ball and the Jets committed a strip sack on Jones, which would have turned the game around if the Patriots hadn’t recovered. Jakobi Meyers leads the Patriots with 40 receptions and 457 yards. DeVante Parker is questionable with a knee injury he suffered against the Jets, but when Jones and Parker are on the same page, it proves deadly to defenses. Rhamondre Stevenson also contributes 14 receptions for 257 yards in the passing game. It should be another slow day for the Patriots offense as they have to face the number one corner in the NFL, Sauce Garnder. Furthermore, cornerbacks D.J. Redd and Michael Carter and safeties Jordan Whitehead and Lamarcus Joyner will make life hard. The Jets are only allowing 201 passing yards, 9th in the NFL. New York will try and make the Patriots throw the ball, and Mac Jones will have to play a clean football game spreading the ball to everyone.

When the Jets pass: Winner: New England Patriots

Similar to the Patriot’s passing game, the Jets have been all over the place with sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson. In their last meeting, Wilson threw three interceptions, two of which were trying to throw the ball out of bounds. Veteran safety Devin McCourty caught two of the interceptions, tying him for first place in most interceptions among all active players (33). Wilson would complete 20 of 41 for 355 passes and two touchdowns. Tight end Tyler Conklin dominated the Patriots’ defense as he caught a touchdown and ran all over New England, picking up 79 yards. Along with Conklin, rookie wideout Garrett Wilson took over the game tallying six receptions for 115 yards. The Patriots’ defense has been inconsistent this season, leading the NFL in expected points per play. During the offseason, there was worry about New England’s cornerback room, but there is plenty of depth with Jonathan Jones, Jalen Mills, and Jack Jones leading the pack. The Patriots currently have 32 sacks which ranks behind Dallas with 35, at first in the league. They are on pace to finish with 60 sacks which would set a franchise record. The highest single-season sack total was in 1977, with 58 sacks. If the Patriots can get pressure on the Jets, it should help force them to make mistakes.

Special teams: Winner: New England Patriots

The biggest bright spot for the Patriots this season has been kicker Nick Folk. Folk has now connected on 19/21 field goals and is perfect on all 20 PATs attempts, which is crucial to an offense with constant struggles in the red zone. The Jets have veteran Greg Zuerlein, who has made 16 of 19 field goals and 20/21 PATs. However, in Week 9, Zuerlein gave a spark to the Patriots, missing a 45-yard field goal. Regarding the punting game, Jake Bailey has certainly been struggling. Bailey is averaging 42.1 yards a punt and has five touchbacks but two weeks ago had two punts below 35 yards. The Jets roll with Braden Mann, averaging 42.5 a punt against four touchbacks. Both returners are exceptionally good, with Marcus Jones and Baxton Berrios. Jones is third in the league averaging 13.4 yards per punt return. The Patriots have the slight edge in this matchup, partly because of their dominance against the Colts in Week 10, including a blocked punt.

Senior coaching staff:

New England:

Head Coach: Bill Belichick

Senior football advisor/offensive line: Matt Patricia

Offensive assistant/quarterbacks: Joe Judge

Running backs: Vinnie Sunseri

Wide receivers: Troy Brown

Offensive line: Billy Yates

Linebackers: Steve Belichick

Linebackers:Jerod Mayo

Cornerbacks: Mike Pellegrino

Special teams coordinator: Cam Achord

New York:

Head Coach: Robert Salah

Offensive Coordinator: Mike LaFleur

Quarterbacks: Rob Calabrese

Running Backs: Taylor Embree

Wide Receivers: Miles Austin

Tight Ends: Ron Middleton

Offensive line & Run game coordinator: John Benton

Injury Report

Key:

DNP: Did not participate in practice

LP: Limited participation in practice

FP: Full participation in practice

NL: Not listed

Patriots:

OUT

DL Christian Barmore – Knee (DNP)

P Jake Bailey – Back (DNP)

QUESTIONABLE

LB Anfernee Jennings – Back (LP)

WR DeVante Parker – Knee (LP)

LB Josh Uche – Hamstring (LP)

Jets:

OUT

WR Corey Davis – Knee (DNP)

DT Sheldon Rankins – Elbow (DNP)

Doubtful

TE Kenny Yeboah – Calf (DNP)

QUESTIONABLE

G Nate Herbig – Shin (LP)

Latest Patriots transactions

11/15 WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey released from the practice squad

11/17 Patriots signed OL Hunter Thedford to the practice squad

11/18 Patriots signed OL Kody Russey to 53-Man Roster

11/18 Patriots placed DL Christian Barmore on Injured Reserve

11/19 Patriots placed P Jake Bailey on Injured Reserve

Game Officials

Head Referee – Carl Cheffers (22nd season in the NFL and 14th as head official)

Weather Forecast

Wind increasing. A few clouds from time to time. High 38F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. 1% sleet.

Noteworthy quotes from the opponent

On facing the Patriots

“They force you into mistakes. They force you into shooting yourself in the foot. They’ve got a saying over there – ‘do your job.’ If a player is there long enough, they probably hear it a thousand times in a week. Just do your job, do it to the best of your ability, and whatever happens, happens. They do their job as good as anybody.”

– Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh

“This is a great challenge for us. Tough to know what to expect sometimes but great challenge, great opponent. We’re excited for this one.”

Jets Quarterback Zach Wilson

“They’ve got a phenomenal team, they’ve got a phenomenal quarterback, a great O-line and a Hall of Fame coach. Those guys are very physical, very techniqued, very disciplined. We’ve got a challenge ahead of us. We have to come ready to play and come ready to do things that the Jets do.”

Jets Defensive Lineman Quinnen Williams

“We know we can play with anybody just based off of our confidence, based off of our skill level, and really based off our ability to understand the game. I feel like we’re a young group, but we’re very wise in a lot of areas and it makes up for a lot of things. A lot of players have seen a lot of ball on this team and on this defense, and I think that shows a lot when we’re on the field — being able to handle situations, being able to get out the field on sudden changes, things like that. All around we got pieces to the puzzle and every piece is in the right spot, so when we can do that week in and week out, we give ourselves a fighting chance every day.”

Jets Linebacker C.J. Mosley

Broadcast information

From Patriots.com

TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by CBS and seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4. Kevin Harlan will handle play-by-play duties with Trent Green as the color analyst. Melanie Collins will work from the sidelines. The game will be produced by Ken Mack and directed by Jim Cornell.

NATIONAL RADIO: Sunday’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Sports USA. Larry Kahn will call the game with Dave McGinnis providing analysis.

LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. Marc Cappello produces the games.

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