The Patriots and Jets will square off Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET for a critical AFC East game. The Patriots are 3-4 and will look to get back to 500 if they want any chance to play football in January. The game will air on CBS with Ian Eagle and Charles Davis on call. Mac Jones should be healthy and able to play the full game for the first time since Week 3. Let’s look at interesting facts, matchup winners, player connections, and more.
Quick hits
*The Patriots will be looking for their 13th straight win against the Jets. The Patriots have 22 series sweeps over the Jets, with 13 under Bill Belichick. New England leads the series, 71-54-1 overall, and they are 18-14 at Gillette Stadium and 9-3 playing at MetLife Stadium.
*New England’s 71 overall victories over the Jets (including two playoff wins) are the second-most over any single opponent, trailing only the 77 all-time wins over Buffalo.
*The Patriot’s longest winning streak against a single team was 15 games beating the Bills, ranging from 2003 to 2010.
*With a win against the Jets, the Patriots will be tied for first and have the longest winning streak against an opponent. The Chiefs are currently first with 13 straight wins against the Broncos.
*Head Coach Bill Belichick was hired by the Jets on two separate occasions.
*One of the more famous trades came when Robert Kraft and the Patriots agreed to send the Jets a first-round pick in exchange for Bill Belichick.
*With a win this week, Bill Belichick will take sole possession of the second-place slot in most wins of all time (347). Furthermore, if the Patriots win, Belichick will be in sole possession of the second place for most regular season wins with one team.
*CB Jalen Mills needs one interception this week to match his career-high (3).
*If Tyquan Thornton has a rushing touchdown this week, he will become the first rookie wide receiver with two rushing touchdowns.
*With one sack, Detrich Wise Jr. will set a career-high with six sacks in a single season.
What to look for
Mac Jones’s clock is ticking.
Mac Jones suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3, and everything has been downhill since. At first, it was Brian Hoyer at quarterback, but when he exited with a concussion, it was the rookie out of Western Kentucky, Bailey Zappe, at the center. Zappe went 2-0 as a starter beating the Lions and the Browns. Last week Belichick started Mac Jones, but he went 3/6 for 13 yards and an interception and was benched. It was unclear if Belichick benched Jones for health reasons. Zappe finished the game but didn’t do well either, going 14/22 and 185 yards. If Mac Jones continues to struggle, it may be time to give Bailey the starter job. Jones’s leash is getting shorter each week.
Is Damien Harris nearing the end of his Patriot career?
The second-year back Rhamondre Stevenson is slowly starting to take the starter job. Last season it was all Damien Harris, but the Patriots are splitting their snaps 50/50, and with Harris dealing with a hamstring injury, it’s been mostly, Stevenson. The sophomore has run well; on 98 attempts, he had 487 yards, averaging 5 yards a carry, and has four scores. It will be interesting if he maintains that pace this week. Harris is playing the final year of his rookie contract, and he may be a trade option in the offseason.
Run Defense will get tested.
Robert Saleh wants the Jets to be a run-first team, and that’s understandable, as Zach Wilson isn’t playing well right now. However, New York recently lost star rooking running back Brecce Hall due to a torn ACL. They traded with the Jaguars for running back James Robinson and also have second-year back Micheal Carter on their roster. Both running backs are capable of doing damage. New England let up 224 yards on the ground last week, and a staple for a win on Sunday will be stopping the run.
Kendrick Bourne or Tyquan Thornton?
Receiver Kendrick Bourne was inactive last week due to a toe injury which limited him to 10 snaps in Week 6. In the absence of Bourne, rookie Tyquan Thornton has seen plenty of action in the last two weeks. In the previous two weeks, the Baylor product has two touchdowns with seven receptions for 63 yards, averaging 9 yards a catch. With both receivers healthy tomorrow, it will be interesting to see who gets more playing time.
Who has the advantage?
When the Patriots run: Winner: Patriots
The Patriots are running the ball at a high rate; during the first six weeks of the season, they were first in many metrics, but in back-to-back weeks they have struggled. The one-two attack led by Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris has combined for 787 rushing yards and averaged 4.7 yards per rush. Stevenson has recently emerged as the starter, as Harris has been dealing with a hamstring injury. The Jets pride themselves in stopping the run and will make life difficult for the Patriots. Led by Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, and Solomon Thomas, the Jets only allow 3.7 yards per rush, ranking third in the NFL. They allow 105.7 yards on average, which is 11th in the league. Linebacker C.J. Mosley has 69 tackles thus far (6th in the league). Meanwhile, New England averages 120.3 yards on the ground (12th) and seventh in attempts (197). Both running backs are expected to be healthy, so the Patriots should run the ball often as they ease Mac Jones back into the offense.
When the Jets run: Winner: Jets
New York’s secondary has been elite all season long, led by rookie Sauce Gardner and veteran D.J. Reed. The Jets are giving up six yards per play (7th in the league) and 209 yards passing per game (11th). First-round pick Sauce Gardner has been nothing short of impressive. Gardner leads the NFL with 12 pass breakups. Last week in Denver, he was targeted ten times and allowed two receptions for 16 yards. Gardner is now PFF’s highest-rated rookie defender overtaking Patriots’ fourth-round pick Jack Jones. However, it’s the safety of Lamarcus Joyner, who leads the team in three interceptions. Bill Belichick announced Thursday that Mac Jones “got the full workload” and is in line to start Sunday. From the outside, it looks like this is Mac Jone’s job to lose. Jakboi Meyers leads the Patriots with 355 receiving yards and 35 targets, even with missing two games. Meanwhile, Rhamondre Stevenson is starting to get involved in the passing game, as he has 29 receptions for 145 yards this season. Receiver Kendrick Bourne will return this week after missing last week with a toe injury, although Nelson Agholor is still questionable with a hamstring injury. Captain David Andrews will also be inactive as he is in concussion protocol after getting hit on a blind-side block Monday night. Protecting the quarterback will be a must, as the Jets have racked up 15 sacks in seven games this season.
When the Patriots pass: Winner: Jets
The Jets suffered a huge loss last week as emerging star rookie running back Breece Hall tore his ACL and will be out for the remainder of the season. Hall was impressing many as he had 463 yards and averaged six yards an attempt. However, the Jets traded with the Jaguars for third-year back James Robinson. Robinson has 340 yards on 81 attempts and three touchdowns. Another injury loss the Jets suffered was in guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, who is out for the season with a torn tricep he suffered in Week 7. Vera-Tucker was seen as the most versatile offensive lineman, and with an offensive line that has already dealt with injuries this season, Vera-Tucker helped fill their needs. Backup Michael Carter is also an option, as he has 228 and two touchdowns thus far but is at the bottom of the league averaging only 3.5 yards a carry. Meanwhile, New England had a tough time Monday defending the run, although Chicago is the best run team in the NFL. The Bears ran for 242 yards, led by quarterback Justin Fields with 82 yards. The Patriots will need to keep sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson in the pocket and hold the edge. Matthew Judon leads the league with 8.5 sacks and has a sack in every game but one. The defensive line will get a chance to redeem themselves after a brutal beating in Primetime.
When the Jets pass: Winner: Patriots
Since sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson returned from his knee injury, he is 4-0 as a starter. He hasn’t played particularly well, but he isn’t careless with the football. Wilson’s stats don’t shine as he only completed 57% of his passes on 101 attempts, and he’s only thrown one touchdown in four games against two interceptions. The leading receiver is rookie Garret Wilson at 28 catches for 314 yards. Veteran receiver Corey Davis was announced OUT on Friday and won’t play, which will be a huge blow to the passing game. The Jets will return Elijah Moore after reiterating he was unhappy with his target share. On the flip side, the Patriots’ secondary has been above par this season, allowing 208.6 yards through the air (12th) and giving up 20.8 points a game (14th). The Patriots’ seven interceptions are tied for fourth in the league.
Special teams: Winner: Patriots
The Patriots’ special teams haven’t delivered recently. Punter Jake Bailey has struggled with a 35.4-yard net average, which ranks at the bottom of the league. Bailey is also tied for first with four touchbacks. In addition, opposing teams have had significant returns, including a 27-yarder on Monday night. For the Jets, punter Braden Mann hasn’t been great either. Mann has a 43.4 net average and three touchbacks. Both kickers have been effective, as New York’s Greg Zuerlein is 13 for 15 on FGs, and Nick Folk is 10 for 12 on FGs. For the Patriots, rookie Marcus Jones returns kicks and punts, averaging 13.5 yards on punt returns and 23.7 yards on kickoffs. Meanwhile, former Patriot Braxton Berrios handles the returns for the Jets. He averaged 13 yards per punt return and 26 yards per kick return. Special teams will be essential, especially if it’s a low-scoring game. However, New England has just a slight edge.
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)
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
Offesnive cordinator: Mike LaFleur
Quarterbacks: Rob Calabrese
Running backs: Taylor Embree
Wide receivers: Miles Austin
Tight ends: Ron Middleton
Offensive line & run game coordinator: John Benton
Defesnive line: Aaron Whitecotton
Linebackers: Mike Rutenberg
Senior defensive assistant & cornerbacks: Tony Oden
Special teams coordinator: Brant Boyer
Injury Report
Key:
DNP: Did not participate in practice
LP: Limited participation in practice
FP: Full participation in practice
NL: Not listed
Jets:
OUT
WR Corey Davis – Knee (DNP)
QUESTIONABLE
OT Duane Brown – Shoulder (FP)
DE Jermaine Johnson – Ankle (FP)
Patriots:
OUT
C David Andrews – Concussion (DNP)
DL Christian Barmore – Knee (DNP)
QUESTIONABLE
WR Nelson Agholor – Hamstring (LP)
S Kyle Dugger – Ankle (LP)
LB Anfernee Jennings – Calf (LP)
CB Jonathan Jones – Ankle (LP)
S Adrian Phillips – Shoulder (LP)
LB Josh Uche – Hamstring (LP)
T Isaiah Wynn – Shoulder (LP)
Latest Patriots transactions
10/25 LB Jamie Collins Sr. reverted back to the practice squad.
10/25 OL Bill Murray reverted back to the practice squad.
10/26 Re-signed K Tristan Vizcaino to the practice squad
Placed DL LaBryan Ray on the practice squad injured reserve.
Game Officials
Head Referee – Shawn Smith (7th season in the NFL and 5th as head official)
Weather Forcast
Partly cloudy. High 64F. Winds light and variable. 4% rain.
Noteworthy quotes
Jets:
On facing the Patriots
“It’s another division opponent. They’ve been the gold standard of the AFC East for a very, very long time and they’re not going anywhere as long as Coach Belichick is there. They’re not going to disappear. People were trying to write them off before the season and you forget they’ve been coaching these schemes so long that is very easy for them to coach all the details on it and get the players to understand it, so they can play at very, very efficient level. Credit to them and the conviction they have. But it’s another championship opportunity versus a championship team and we just have to find ways to get better every day and when Sunday rolls around, we’ll see what happens.”
– Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh
“Every game is big … but division games are really big and to have them back-to-back-to-back, that really is going to affect how division plays out when it comes to the postseason. I think this is the biggest three-game stretch we have. Nobody is taking them lightly. Everyone is really excited.” – Jets Center Connor McGovern
On the Patriots defense
“New England has forever been a team that just feasts on your mistakes,” Saleh said. “The reason why they’re such a good ball-hawking defense is they’ve been coaching that system for what seems like 100 years. They know every single detail and the players are so well coached because of all the detail that goes into what they coach. They can anticipate and they know how teams are going to attack them. They can just be opportunistic. You have to be very ball conscious as an offense to make sure that you’re not giving them freebies. That’s always going to the challenge when you play New England.”
– Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh
On the Patriots offense
“I think a lot of people question whether or not [Matt] Patricia and Joe [Judge] can do what they’re doing and they’re doing a really good job. They’re moving the ball, they’re doing a good job handling the different things with the quarterback. I know Mac isn’t fully healthy. Bailey has come in and do a really nice job. They’ve come close to knocking off some really good football teams. They’ve strung together a couple of games where they’ve played dominant football. They’re doing a great job. Their schemes are sound, their players are playing with great techniques, so hats off to them.” – Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh
New England Patriots:
On his game status
“Yeah, I think it’s a big week for the entire team. We had a good practice today, or walkthrough, whatever you want to call it. Making good progress. So we want to just come together as a unit, as an offense really, and just do what we can do to become better, whether that’s extra film or speaking together as a unit. I think we’re doing really good stuff there. So that’s kind of what we’re focused on. When Sunday comes, we’ll be ready. But this is a really good defense that we’re going against. Probably the top defense in the league right now. So we have to be ready to go. A lot of the stuff we want to focus on are things that we’re doing and try and get better at that.”
– Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones
On if he plans on starting
“I plan to start every game that I’ve ever played in. So whether that was in peewee football or third string at Alabama, I always try to prepare as a starter. Like I always say, if it’s one snap or 70, I’ll be ready to go. That’s all you can do, right? You can’t really control anything else. I work really hard and put myself in position to do that. Yes, I think I deserve that.”
– Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones
On throwing the ball downfield more
“I think the good offenses, they have all three types of passes: short, medium, and long. We want to be to able to do that. We have a great offensive line. Obviously, you want to have all different types of plays that you can run. We’ve worked on different things. It’s all about finding what we’re comfortable with, what works, gets yards and ultimately scores points. So just trying to work through that and get there. They’ve done a great job of explaining things, showing clips and things like that. So they’ve been very fun to learn from Coach Patricia, obviously Joe Judge and Coach Belichick. So they provide great insight. I’ve learned a lot, and I’m going to continue to learn from them and the guys on our team who may have run those plays in the past or have familiarity with stuff like that.”
– Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones
On the Jets defense
“Yeah, I think that’s the basis of it. Sure, they play hard. They’re very aggressive. They play a lot of people. Up front they don’t give them any big plays. They pursue well. They play physical. [C.J.] Mosley’s really good. [John] Franklin-Meyers’ really good. [Quinnen] William’s having a good year. [Sauce] Gardner’s giving them a good player on the corner. The whole secondary, there’s a lot of new players in the secondary. They play well. They’ve had good field position from their special teams and played well defensively.”
– Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick
On the growth of Zach Wilson
“He’s played well. I don’t know you’d have to talk to them about it. I couldn’t give you a percentage or anything. He’s good. He’s got better players around him. He’s playing well. The team’s playing well. Great running back. [Breece] Hall’s had tremendous production coming into after six games or whatever it was. I know he got hurt last week but had a big play in that game that helped them to win the game. So, they’ve got a lot of good players. Wilson’s played good. They use everybody. They get the ball to everybody. A lot of receivers’ production. A lot of running backs, you know [Michael] Carter and Hall. Multiple guys carrying the ball. Multiple players catching the ball. So, it’s a balanced offense.”
– Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick
Broadcast information
From Patriots.com
TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by CBS and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4. Ian Eagle will handle play-by-play duties with Charles Davis as the color analyst. Evan Washburn will work from the sidelines. The game will be produced by Mark Wolff and directed by Suzanne Smith.
NATIONAL RADIO: Sunday’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Sports USA. Josh Appel will call the game with Brandon Noble 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. The games are produced by Marc Cappello.
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
The Patriots and Jets will square off Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET for a critical AFC East game. The Patriots are 3-4 and will look to get back to 500 if they want any chance to play football in January. The game will air on CBS with Ian Eagle and Charles Davis on call. Mac Jones should be healthy and able to play the full game for the first time since Week 3. Let’s look at interesting facts, matchup winners, player connections, and more.
Quick hits
*The Patriots will be looking for their 13th straight win against the Jets. The Patriots have 22 series sweeps over the Jets, with 13 under Bill Belichick. New England leads the series, 71-54-1 overall, and they are 18-14 at Gillette Stadium and 9-3 playing at MetLife Stadium.
*New England’s 71 overall victories over the Jets (including two playoff wins) are the second-most over any single opponent, trailing only the 77 all-time wins over Buffalo.
*The Patriot’s longest winning streak against a single team was 15 games beating the Bills, ranging from 2003 to 2010.
*With a win against the Jets, the Patriots will be tied for first and have the longest winning streak against an opponent. The Chiefs are currently first with 13 straight wins against the Broncos.
*Head Coach Bill Belichick was hired by the Jets on two separate occasions.
*One of the more famous trades came when Robert Kraft and the Patriots agreed to send the Jets a first-round pick in exchange for Bill Belichick.
*With a win this week, Bill Belichick will take sole possession of the second-place slot in most wins of all time (347). Furthermore, if the Patriots win, Belichick will be in sole possession of the second place for most regular season wins with one team.
*CB Jalen Mills needs one interception this week to match his career-high (3).
*If Tyquan Thornton has a rushing touchdown this week, he will become the first rookie wide receiver with two rushing touchdowns.
*With one sack, Detrich Wise Jr. will set a career-high with six sacks in a single season.
What to look for
Mac Jones’s clock is ticking.
Mac Jones suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3, and everything has been downhill since. At first, it was Brian Hoyer at quarterback, but when he exited with a concussion, it was the rookie out of Western Kentucky, Bailey Zappe, at the center. Zappe went 2-0 as a starter beating the Lions and the Browns. Last week Belichick started Mac Jones, but he went 3/6 for 13 yards and an interception and was benched. It was unclear if Belichick benched Jones for health reasons. Zappe finished the game but didn’t do well either, going 14/22 and 185 yards. If Mac Jones continues to struggle, it may be time to give Bailey the starter job. Jones’s leash is getting shorter each week.
Is Damien Harris nearing the end of his Patriot career?
The second-year back Rhamondre Stevenson is slowly starting to take the starter job. Last season it was all Damien Harris, but the Patriots are splitting their snaps 50/50, and with Harris dealing with a hamstring injury, it’s been mostly, Stevenson. The sophomore has run well; on 98 attempts, he had 487 yards, averaging 5 yards a carry, and has four scores. It will be interesting if he maintains that pace this week. Harris is playing the final year of his rookie contract, and he may be a trade option in the offseason.
Run Defense will get tested.
Robert Saleh wants the Jets to be a run-first team, and that’s understandable, as Zach Wilson isn’t playing well right now. However, New York recently lost star rooking running back Brecce Hall due to a torn ACL. They traded with the Jaguars for running back James Robinson and also have second-year back Micheal Carter on their roster. Both running backs are capable of doing damage. New England let up 224 yards on the ground last week, and a staple for a win on Sunday will be stopping the run.
Kendrick Bourne or Tyquan Thornton?
Receiver Kendrick Bourne was inactive last week due to a toe injury which limited him to 10 snaps in Week 6. In the absence of Bourne, rookie Tyquan Thornton has seen plenty of action in the last two weeks. In the previous two weeks, the Baylor product has two touchdowns with seven receptions for 63 yards, averaging 9 yards a catch. With both receivers healthy tomorrow, it will be interesting to see who gets more playing time.
Who has the advantage?
When the Patriots run: Winner: Patriots
The Patriots are running the ball at a high rate; during the first six weeks of the season, they were first in many metrics, but in back-to-back weeks they have struggled. The one-two attack led by Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris has combined for 787 rushing yards and averaged 4.7 yards per rush. Stevenson has recently emerged as the starter, as Harris has been dealing with a hamstring injury. The Jets pride themselves in stopping the run and will make life difficult for the Patriots. Led by Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, and Solomon Thomas, the Jets only allow 3.7 yards per rush, ranking third in the NFL. They allow 105.7 yards on average, which is 11th in the league. Linebacker C.J. Mosley has 69 tackles thus far (6th in the league). Meanwhile, New England averages 120.3 yards on the ground (12th) and seventh in attempts (197). Both running backs are expected to be healthy, so the Patriots should run the ball often as they ease Mac Jones back into the offense.
When the Jets run: Winner: Jets
New York’s secondary has been elite all season long, led by rookie Sauce Gardner and veteran D.J. Reed. The Jets are giving up six yards per play (7th in the league) and 209 yards passing per game (11th). First-round pick Sauce Gardner has been nothing short of impressive. Gardner leads the NFL with 12 pass breakups. Last week in Denver, he was targeted ten times and allowed two receptions for 16 yards. Gardner is now PFF’s highest-rated rookie defender overtaking Patriots’ fourth-round pick Jack Jones. However, it’s the safety of Lamarcus Joyner, who leads the team in three interceptions. Bill Belichick announced Thursday that Mac Jones “got the full workload” and is in line to start Sunday. From the outside, it looks like this is Mac Jone’s job to lose. Jakboi Meyers leads the Patriots with 355 receiving yards and 35 targets, even with missing two games. Meanwhile, Rhamondre Stevenson is starting to get involved in the passing game, as he has 29 receptions for 145 yards this season. Receiver Kendrick Bourne will return this week after missing last week with a toe injury, although Nelson Agholor is still questionable with a hamstring injury. Captain David Andrews will also be inactive as he is in concussion protocol after getting hit on a blind-side block Monday night. Protecting the quarterback will be a must, as the Jets have racked up 15 sacks in seven games this season.
When the Patriots pass: Winner: Jets
The Jets suffered a huge loss last week as emerging star rookie running back Breece Hall tore his ACL and will be out for the remainder of the season. Hall was impressing many as he had 463 yards and averaged six yards an attempt. However, the Jets traded with the Jaguars for third-year back James Robinson. Robinson has 340 yards on 81 attempts and three touchdowns. Another injury loss the Jets suffered was in guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, who is out for the season with a torn tricep he suffered in Week 7. Vera-Tucker was seen as the most versatile offensive lineman, and with an offensive line that has already dealt with injuries this season, Vera-Tucker helped fill their needs. Backup Michael Carter is also an option, as he has 228 and two touchdowns thus far but is at the bottom of the league averaging only 3.5 yards a carry. Meanwhile, New England had a tough time Monday defending the run, although Chicago is the best run team in the NFL. The Bears ran for 242 yards, led by quarterback Justin Fields with 82 yards. The Patriots will need to keep sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson in the pocket and hold the edge. Matthew Judon leads the league with 8.5 sacks and has a sack in every game but one. The defensive line will get a chance to redeem themselves after a brutal beating in Primetime.
When the Jets pass: Winner: Patriots
Since sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson returned from his knee injury, he is 4-0 as a starter. He hasn’t played particularly well, but he isn’t careless with the football. Wilson’s stats don’t shine as he only completed 57% of his passes on 101 attempts, and he’s only thrown one touchdown in four games against two interceptions. The leading receiver is rookie Garret Wilson at 28 catches for 314 yards. Veteran receiver Corey Davis was announced OUT on Friday and won’t play, which will be a huge blow to the passing game. The Jets will return Elijah Moore after reiterating he was unhappy with his target share. On the flip side, the Patriots’ secondary has been above par this season, allowing 208.6 yards through the air (12th) and giving up 20.8 points a game (14th). The Patriots’ seven interceptions are tied for fourth in the league.
Special teams: Winner: Patriots
The Patriots’ special teams haven’t delivered recently. Punter Jake Bailey has struggled with a 35.4-yard net average, which ranks at the bottom of the league. Bailey is also tied for first with four touchbacks. In addition, opposing teams have had significant returns, including a 27-yarder on Monday night. For the Jets, punter Braden Mann hasn’t been great either. Mann has a 43.4 net average and three touchbacks. Both kickers have been effective, as New York’s Greg Zuerlein is 13 for 15 on FGs, and Nick Folk is 10 for 12 on FGs. For the Patriots, rookie Marcus Jones returns kicks and punts, averaging 13.5 yards on punt returns and 23.7 yards on kickoffs. Meanwhile, former Patriot Braxton Berrios handles the returns for the Jets. He averaged 13 yards per punt return and 26 yards per kick return. Special teams will be essential, especially if it’s a low-scoring game. However, New England has just a slight edge.
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)
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
Offesnive cordinator: Mike LaFleur
Quarterbacks: Rob Calabrese
Running backs: Taylor Embree
Wide receivers: Miles Austin
Tight ends: Ron Middleton
Offensive line & run game coordinator: John Benton
Defesnive line: Aaron Whitecotton
Linebackers: Mike Rutenberg
Senior defensive assistant & cornerbacks: Tony Oden
Special teams coordinator: Brant Boyer
Injury Report
Key:
DNP: Did not participate in practice
LP: Limited participation in practice
FP: Full participation in practice
NL: Not listed
Jets:
OUT
WR Corey Davis – Knee (DNP)
QUESTIONABLE
OT Duane Brown – Shoulder (FP)
DE Jermaine Johnson – Ankle (FP)
Patriots:
OUT
C David Andrews – Concussion (DNP)
DL Christian Barmore – Knee (DNP)
QUESTIONABLE
WR Nelson Agholor – Hamstring (LP)
S Kyle Dugger – Ankle (LP)
LB Anfernee Jennings – Calf (LP)
CB Jonathan Jones – Ankle (LP)
S Adrian Phillips – Shoulder (LP)
LB Josh Uche – Hamstring (LP)
T Isaiah Wynn – Shoulder (LP)
Latest Patriots transactions
10/25 LB Jamie Collins Sr. reverted back to the practice squad.
10/25 OL Bill Murray reverted back to the practice squad.
10/26 Re-signed K Tristan Vizcaino to the practice squad
Placed DL LaBryan Ray on the practice squad injured reserve.
Game Officials
Head Referee – Shawn Smith (7th season in the NFL and 5th as head official)
Weather Forcast
Partly cloudy. High 64F. Winds light and variable. 4% rain.
Noteworthy quotes
Jets:
On facing the Patriots
“It’s another division opponent. They’ve been the gold standard of the AFC East for a very, very long time and they’re not going anywhere as long as Coach Belichick is there. They’re not going to disappear. People were trying to write them off before the season and you forget they’ve been coaching these schemes so long that is very easy for them to coach all the details on it and get the players to understand it, so they can play at very, very efficient level. Credit to them and the conviction they have. But it’s another championship opportunity versus a championship team and we just have to find ways to get better every day and when Sunday rolls around, we’ll see what happens.”
– Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh
“Every game is big … but division games are really big and to have them back-to-back-to-back, that really is going to affect how division plays out when it comes to the postseason. I think this is the biggest three-game stretch we have. Nobody is taking them lightly. Everyone is really excited.” – Jets Center Connor McGovern
On the Patriots defense
“New England has forever been a team that just feasts on your mistakes,” Saleh said. “The reason why they’re such a good ball-hawking defense is they’ve been coaching that system for what seems like 100 years. They know every single detail and the players are so well coached because of all the detail that goes into what they coach. They can anticipate and they know how teams are going to attack them. They can just be opportunistic. You have to be very ball conscious as an offense to make sure that you’re not giving them freebies. That’s always going to the challenge when you play New England.”
– Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh
On the Patriots offense
“I think a lot of people question whether or not [Matt] Patricia and Joe [Judge] can do what they’re doing and they’re doing a really good job. They’re moving the ball, they’re doing a good job handling the different things with the quarterback. I know Mac isn’t fully healthy. Bailey has come in and do a really nice job. They’ve come close to knocking off some really good football teams. They’ve strung together a couple of games where they’ve played dominant football. They’re doing a great job. Their schemes are sound, their players are playing with great techniques, so hats off to them.” – Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh
New England Patriots:
On his game status
“Yeah, I think it’s a big week for the entire team. We had a good practice today, or walkthrough, whatever you want to call it. Making good progress. So we want to just come together as a unit, as an offense really, and just do what we can do to become better, whether that’s extra film or speaking together as a unit. I think we’re doing really good stuff there. So that’s kind of what we’re focused on. When Sunday comes, we’ll be ready. But this is a really good defense that we’re going against. Probably the top defense in the league right now. So we have to be ready to go. A lot of the stuff we want to focus on are things that we’re doing and try and get better at that.”
– Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones
On if he plans on starting
“I plan to start every game that I’ve ever played in. So whether that was in peewee football or third string at Alabama, I always try to prepare as a starter. Like I always say, if it’s one snap or 70, I’ll be ready to go. That’s all you can do, right? You can’t really control anything else. I work really hard and put myself in position to do that. Yes, I think I deserve that.”
– Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones
On throwing the ball downfield more
“I think the good offenses, they have all three types of passes: short, medium, and long. We want to be to able to do that. We have a great offensive line. Obviously, you want to have all different types of plays that you can run. We’ve worked on different things. It’s all about finding what we’re comfortable with, what works, gets yards and ultimately scores points. So just trying to work through that and get there. They’ve done a great job of explaining things, showing clips and things like that. So they’ve been very fun to learn from Coach Patricia, obviously Joe Judge and Coach Belichick. So they provide great insight. I’ve learned a lot, and I’m going to continue to learn from them and the guys on our team who may have run those plays in the past or have familiarity with stuff like that.”
– Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones
On the Jets defense
“Yeah, I think that’s the basis of it. Sure, they play hard. They’re very aggressive. They play a lot of people. Up front they don’t give them any big plays. They pursue well. They play physical. [C.J.] Mosley’s really good. [John] Franklin-Meyers’ really good. [Quinnen] William’s having a good year. [Sauce] Gardner’s giving them a good player on the corner. The whole secondary, there’s a lot of new players in the secondary. They play well. They’ve had good field position from their special teams and played well defensively.”
– Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick
On the growth of Zach Wilson
“He’s played well. I don’t know you’d have to talk to them about it. I couldn’t give you a percentage or anything. He’s good. He’s got better players around him. He’s playing well. The team’s playing well. Great running back. [Breece] Hall’s had tremendous production coming into after six games or whatever it was. I know he got hurt last week but had a big play in that game that helped them to win the game. So, they’ve got a lot of good players. Wilson’s played good. They use everybody. They get the ball to everybody. A lot of receivers’ production. A lot of running backs, you know [Michael] Carter and Hall. Multiple guys carrying the ball. Multiple players catching the ball. So, it’s a balanced offense.”
– Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick
Broadcast information
From Patriots.com
TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by CBS and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4. Ian Eagle will handle play-by-play duties with Charles Davis as the color analyst. Evan Washburn will work from the sidelines. The game will be produced by Mark Wolff and directed by Suzanne Smith.
NATIONAL RADIO: Sunday’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Sports USA. Josh Appel will call the game with Brandon Noble 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. The games are produced by Marc Cappello.
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
The Patriots and Jets will square off Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET for a critical AFC East game. The Patriots are 3-4 and will look to get back to 500 if they want any chance to play football in January. The game will air on CBS with Ian Eagle and Charles Davis on call. Mac Jones should be healthy and able to play the full game for the first time since Week 3. Let’s look at interesting facts, matchup winners, player connections, and more.
Quick hits
*The Patriots will be looking for their 13th straight win against the Jets. The Patriots have 22 series sweeps over the Jets, with 13 under Bill Belichick. New England leads the series, 71-54-1 overall, and they are 18-14 at Gillette Stadium and 9-3 playing at MetLife Stadium.
*New England’s 71 overall victories over the Jets (including two playoff wins) are the second-most over any single opponent, trailing only the 77 all-time wins over Buffalo.
*The Patriot’s longest winning streak against a single team was 15 games beating the Bills, ranging from 2003 to 2010.
*With a win against the Jets, the Patriots will be tied for first and have the longest winning streak against an opponent. The Chiefs are currently first with 13 straight wins against the Broncos.
*Head Coach Bill Belichick was hired by the Jets on two separate occasions.
*One of the more famous trades came when Robert Kraft and the Patriots agreed to send the Jets a first-round pick in exchange for Bill Belichick.
*With a win this week, Bill Belichick will take sole possession of the second-place slot in most wins of all time (347). Furthermore, if the Patriots win, Belichick will be in sole possession of the second place for most regular season wins with one team.
*CB Jalen Mills needs one interception this week to match his career-high (3).
*If Tyquan Thornton has a rushing touchdown this week, he will become the first rookie wide receiver with two rushing touchdowns.
*With one sack, Detrich Wise Jr. will set a career-high with six sacks in a single season.
What to look for
Mac Jones’s clock is ticking.
Mac Jones suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3, and everything has been downhill since. At first, it was Brian Hoyer at quarterback, but when he exited with a concussion, it was the rookie out of Western Kentucky, Bailey Zappe, at the center. Zappe went 2-0 as a starter beating the Lions and the Browns. Last week Belichick started Mac Jones, but he went 3/6 for 13 yards and an interception and was benched. It was unclear if Belichick benched Jones for health reasons. Zappe finished the game but didn’t do well either, going 14/22 and 185 yards. If Mac Jones continues to struggle, it may be time to give Bailey the starter job. Jones’s leash is getting shorter each week.
Is Damien Harris nearing the end of his Patriot career?
The second-year back Rhamondre Stevenson is slowly starting to take the starter job. Last season it was all Damien Harris, but the Patriots are splitting their snaps 50/50, and with Harris dealing with a hamstring injury, it’s been mostly, Stevenson. The sophomore has run well; on 98 attempts, he had 487 yards, averaging 5 yards a carry, and has four scores. It will be interesting if he maintains that pace this week. Harris is playing the final year of his rookie contract, and he may be a trade option in the offseason.
Run Defense will get tested.
Robert Saleh wants the Jets to be a run-first team, and that’s understandable, as Zach Wilson isn’t playing well right now. However, New York recently lost star rooking running back Brecce Hall due to a torn ACL. They traded with the Jaguars for running back James Robinson and also have second-year back Micheal Carter on their roster. Both running backs are capable of doing damage. New England let up 224 yards on the ground last week, and a staple for a win on Sunday will be stopping the run.
Kendrick Bourne or Tyquan Thornton?
Receiver Kendrick Bourne was inactive last week due to a toe injury which limited him to 10 snaps in Week 6. In the absence of Bourne, rookie Tyquan Thornton has seen plenty of action in the last two weeks. In the previous two weeks, the Baylor product has two touchdowns with seven receptions for 63 yards, averaging 9 yards a catch. With both receivers healthy tomorrow, it will be interesting to see who gets more playing time.
Who has the advantage?
When the Patriots run: Winner: Patriots
The Patriots are running the ball at a high rate; during the first six weeks of the season, they were first in many metrics, but in back-to-back weeks they have struggled. The one-two attack led by Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris has combined for 787 rushing yards and averaged 4.7 yards per rush. Stevenson has recently emerged as the starter, as Harris has been dealing with a hamstring injury. The Jets pride themselves in stopping the run and will make life difficult for the Patriots. Led by Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, and Solomon Thomas, the Jets only allow 3.7 yards per rush, ranking third in the NFL. They allow 105.7 yards on average, which is 11th in the league. Linebacker C.J. Mosley has 69 tackles thus far (6th in the league). Meanwhile, New England averages 120.3 yards on the ground (12th) and seventh in attempts (197). Both running backs are expected to be healthy, so the Patriots should run the ball often as they ease Mac Jones back into the offense.
When the Jets run: Winner: Jets
New York’s secondary has been elite all season long, led by rookie Sauce Gardner and veteran D.J. Reed. The Jets are giving up six yards per play (7th in the league) and 209 yards passing per game (11th). First-round pick Sauce Gardner has been nothing short of impressive. Gardner leads the NFL with 12 pass breakups. Last week in Denver, he was targeted ten times and allowed two receptions for 16 yards. Gardner is now PFF’s highest-rated rookie defender overtaking Patriots’ fourth-round pick Jack Jones. However, it’s the safety of Lamarcus Joyner, who leads the team in three interceptions. Bill Belichick announced Thursday that Mac Jones “got the full workload” and is in line to start Sunday. From the outside, it looks like this is Mac Jone’s job to lose. Jakboi Meyers leads the Patriots with 355 receiving yards and 35 targets, even with missing two games. Meanwhile, Rhamondre Stevenson is starting to get involved in the passing game, as he has 29 receptions for 145 yards this season. Receiver Kendrick Bourne will return this week after missing last week with a toe injury, although Nelson Agholor is still questionable with a hamstring injury. Captain David Andrews will also be inactive as he is in concussion protocol after getting hit on a blind-side block Monday night. Protecting the quarterback will be a must, as the Jets have racked up 15 sacks in seven games this season.
When the Patriots pass: Winner: Jets
The Jets suffered a huge loss last week as emerging star rookie running back Breece Hall tore his ACL and will be out for the remainder of the season. Hall was impressing many as he had 463 yards and averaged six yards an attempt. However, the Jets traded with the Jaguars for third-year back James Robinson. Robinson has 340 yards on 81 attempts and three touchdowns. Another injury loss the Jets suffered was in guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, who is out for the season with a torn tricep he suffered in Week 7. Vera-Tucker was seen as the most versatile offensive lineman, and with an offensive line that has already dealt with injuries this season, Vera-Tucker helped fill their needs. Backup Michael Carter is also an option, as he has 228 and two touchdowns thus far but is at the bottom of the league averaging only 3.5 yards a carry. Meanwhile, New England had a tough time Monday defending the run, although Chicago is the best run team in the NFL. The Bears ran for 242 yards, led by quarterback Justin Fields with 82 yards. The Patriots will need to keep sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson in the pocket and hold the edge. Matthew Judon leads the league with 8.5 sacks and has a sack in every game but one. The defensive line will get a chance to redeem themselves after a brutal beating in Primetime.
When the Jets pass: Winner: Patriots
Since sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson returned from his knee injury, he is 4-0 as a starter. He hasn’t played particularly well, but he isn’t careless with the football. Wilson’s stats don’t shine as he only completed 57% of his passes on 101 attempts, and he’s only thrown one touchdown in four games against two interceptions. The leading receiver is rookie Garret Wilson at 28 catches for 314 yards. Veteran receiver Corey Davis was announced OUT on Friday and won’t play, which will be a huge blow to the passing game. The Jets will return Elijah Moore after reiterating he was unhappy with his target share. On the flip side, the Patriots’ secondary has been above par this season, allowing 208.6 yards through the air (12th) and giving up 20.8 points a game (14th). The Patriots’ seven interceptions are tied for fourth in the league.
Special teams: Winner: Patriots
The Patriots’ special teams haven’t delivered recently. Punter Jake Bailey has struggled with a 35.4-yard net average, which ranks at the bottom of the league. Bailey is also tied for first with four touchbacks. In addition, opposing teams have had significant returns, including a 27-yarder on Monday night. For the Jets, punter Braden Mann hasn’t been great either. Mann has a 43.4 net average and three touchbacks. Both kickers have been effective, as New York’s Greg Zuerlein is 13 for 15 on FGs, and Nick Folk is 10 for 12 on FGs. For the Patriots, rookie Marcus Jones returns kicks and punts, averaging 13.5 yards on punt returns and 23.7 yards on kickoffs. Meanwhile, former Patriot Braxton Berrios handles the returns for the Jets. He averaged 13 yards per punt return and 26 yards per kick return. Special teams will be essential, especially if it’s a low-scoring game. However, New England has just a slight edge.
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)
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
Offesnive cordinator: Mike LaFleur
Quarterbacks: Rob Calabrese
Running backs: Taylor Embree
Wide receivers: Miles Austin
Tight ends: Ron Middleton
Offensive line & run game coordinator: John Benton
Defesnive line: Aaron Whitecotton
Linebackers: Mike Rutenberg
Senior defensive assistant & cornerbacks: Tony Oden
Special teams coordinator: Brant Boyer
Injury Report
Key:
DNP: Did not participate in practice
LP: Limited participation in practice
FP: Full participation in practice
NL: Not listed
Jets:
OUT
WR Corey Davis – Knee (DNP)
QUESTIONABLE
OT Duane Brown – Shoulder (FP)
DE Jermaine Johnson – Ankle (FP)
Patriots:
OUT
C David Andrews – Concussion (DNP)
DL Christian Barmore – Knee (DNP)
QUESTIONABLE
WR Nelson Agholor – Hamstring (LP)
S Kyle Dugger – Ankle (LP)
LB Anfernee Jennings – Calf (LP)
CB Jonathan Jones – Ankle (LP)
S Adrian Phillips – Shoulder (LP)
LB Josh Uche – Hamstring (LP)
T Isaiah Wynn – Shoulder (LP)
Latest Patriots transactions
10/25 LB Jamie Collins Sr. reverted back to the practice squad.
10/25 OL Bill Murray reverted back to the practice squad.
10/26 Re-signed K Tristan Vizcaino to the practice squad
Placed DL LaBryan Ray on the practice squad injured reserve.
Game Officials
Head Referee – Shawn Smith (7th season in the NFL and 5th as head official)
Weather Forcast
Partly cloudy. High 64F. Winds light and variable. 4% rain.
Noteworthy quotes
Jets:
On facing the Patriots
“It’s another division opponent. They’ve been the gold standard of the AFC East for a very, very long time and they’re not going anywhere as long as Coach Belichick is there. They’re not going to disappear. People were trying to write them off before the season and you forget they’ve been coaching these schemes so long that is very easy for them to coach all the details on it and get the players to understand it, so they can play at very, very efficient level. Credit to them and the conviction they have. But it’s another championship opportunity versus a championship team and we just have to find ways to get better every day and when Sunday rolls around, we’ll see what happens.”
– Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh
“Every game is big … but division games are really big and to have them back-to-back-to-back, that really is going to affect how division plays out when it comes to the postseason. I think this is the biggest three-game stretch we have. Nobody is taking them lightly. Everyone is really excited.” – Jets Center Connor McGovern
On the Patriots defense
“New England has forever been a team that just feasts on your mistakes,” Saleh said. “The reason why they’re such a good ball-hawking defense is they’ve been coaching that system for what seems like 100 years. They know every single detail and the players are so well coached because of all the detail that goes into what they coach. They can anticipate and they know how teams are going to attack them. They can just be opportunistic. You have to be very ball conscious as an offense to make sure that you’re not giving them freebies. That’s always going to the challenge when you play New England.”
– Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh
On the Patriots offense
“I think a lot of people question whether or not [Matt] Patricia and Joe [Judge] can do what they’re doing and they’re doing a really good job. They’re moving the ball, they’re doing a good job handling the different things with the quarterback. I know Mac isn’t fully healthy. Bailey has come in and do a really nice job. They’ve come close to knocking off some really good football teams. They’ve strung together a couple of games where they’ve played dominant football. They’re doing a great job. Their schemes are sound, their players are playing with great techniques, so hats off to them.” – Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh
New England Patriots:
On his game status
“Yeah, I think it’s a big week for the entire team. We had a good practice today, or walkthrough, whatever you want to call it. Making good progress. So we want to just come together as a unit, as an offense really, and just do what we can do to become better, whether that’s extra film or speaking together as a unit. I think we’re doing really good stuff there. So that’s kind of what we’re focused on. When Sunday comes, we’ll be ready. But this is a really good defense that we’re going against. Probably the top defense in the league right now. So we have to be ready to go. A lot of the stuff we want to focus on are things that we’re doing and try and get better at that.”
– Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones
On if he plans on starting
“I plan to start every game that I’ve ever played in. So whether that was in peewee football or third string at Alabama, I always try to prepare as a starter. Like I always say, if it’s one snap or 70, I’ll be ready to go. That’s all you can do, right? You can’t really control anything else. I work really hard and put myself in position to do that. Yes, I think I deserve that.”
– Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones
On throwing the ball downfield more
“I think the good offenses, they have all three types of passes: short, medium, and long. We want to be to able to do that. We have a great offensive line. Obviously, you want to have all different types of plays that you can run. We’ve worked on different things. It’s all about finding what we’re comfortable with, what works, gets yards and ultimately scores points. So just trying to work through that and get there. They’ve done a great job of explaining things, showing clips and things like that. So they’ve been very fun to learn from Coach Patricia, obviously Joe Judge and Coach Belichick. So they provide great insight. I’ve learned a lot, and I’m going to continue to learn from them and the guys on our team who may have run those plays in the past or have familiarity with stuff like that.”
– Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones
On the Jets defense
“Yeah, I think that’s the basis of it. Sure, they play hard. They’re very aggressive. They play a lot of people. Up front they don’t give them any big plays. They pursue well. They play physical. [C.J.] Mosley’s really good. [John] Franklin-Meyers’ really good. [Quinnen] William’s having a good year. [Sauce] Gardner’s giving them a good player on the corner. The whole secondary, there’s a lot of new players in the secondary. They play well. They’ve had good field position from their special teams and played well defensively.”
– Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick
On the growth of Zach Wilson
“He’s played well. I don’t know you’d have to talk to them about it. I couldn’t give you a percentage or anything. He’s good. He’s got better players around him. He’s playing well. The team’s playing well. Great running back. [Breece] Hall’s had tremendous production coming into after six games or whatever it was. I know he got hurt last week but had a big play in that game that helped them to win the game. So, they’ve got a lot of good players. Wilson’s played good. They use everybody. They get the ball to everybody. A lot of receivers’ production. A lot of running backs, you know [Michael] Carter and Hall. Multiple guys carrying the ball. Multiple players catching the ball. So, it’s a balanced offense.”
– Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick
Broadcast information
From Patriots.com
TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by CBS and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4. Ian Eagle will handle play-by-play duties with Charles Davis as the color analyst. Evan Washburn will work from the sidelines. The game will be produced by Mark Wolff and directed by Suzanne Smith.
NATIONAL RADIO: Sunday’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Sports USA. Josh Appel will call the game with Brandon Noble 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. The games are produced by Marc Cappello.
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
The Patriots and Jets will square off Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET for a critical AFC East game. The Patriots are 3-4 and will look to get back to 500 if they want any chance to play football in January. The game will air on CBS with Ian Eagle and Charles Davis on call. Mac Jones should be healthy and able to play the full game for the first time since Week 3. Let’s look at interesting facts, matchup winners, player connections, and more.
Quick hits
*The Patriots will be looking for their 13th straight win against the Jets. The Patriots have 22 series sweeps over the Jets, with 13 under Bill Belichick. New England leads the series, 71-54-1 overall, and they are 18-14 at Gillette Stadium and 9-3 playing at MetLife Stadium.
*New England’s 71 overall victories over the Jets (including two playoff wins) are the second-most over any single opponent, trailing only the 77 all-time wins over Buffalo.
*The Patriot’s longest winning streak against a single team was 15 games beating the Bills, ranging from 2003 to 2010.
*With a win against the Jets, the Patriots will be tied for first and have the longest winning streak against an opponent. The Chiefs are currently first with 13 straight wins against the Broncos.
*Head Coach Bill Belichick was hired by the Jets on two separate occasions.
*One of the more famous trades came when Robert Kraft and the Patriots agreed to send the Jets a first-round pick in exchange for Bill Belichick.
*With a win this week, Bill Belichick will take sole possession of the second-place slot in most wins of all time (347). Furthermore, if the Patriots win, Belichick will be in sole possession of the second place for most regular season wins with one team.
*CB Jalen Mills needs one interception this week to match his career-high (3).
*If Tyquan Thornton has a rushing touchdown this week, he will become the first rookie wide receiver with two rushing touchdowns.
*With one sack, Detrich Wise Jr. will set a career-high with six sacks in a single season.
What to look for
Mac Jones’s clock is ticking.
Mac Jones suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3, and everything has been downhill since. At first, it was Brian Hoyer at quarterback, but when he exited with a concussion, it was the rookie out of Western Kentucky, Bailey Zappe, at the center. Zappe went 2-0 as a starter beating the Lions and the Browns. Last week Belichick started Mac Jones, but he went 3/6 for 13 yards and an interception and was benched. It was unclear if Belichick benched Jones for health reasons. Zappe finished the game but didn’t do well either, going 14/22 and 185 yards. If Mac Jones continues to struggle, it may be time to give Bailey the starter job. Jones’s leash is getting shorter each week.
Is Damien Harris nearing the end of his Patriot career?
The second-year back Rhamondre Stevenson is slowly starting to take the starter job. Last season it was all Damien Harris, but the Patriots are splitting their snaps 50/50, and with Harris dealing with a hamstring injury, it’s been mostly, Stevenson. The sophomore has run well; on 98 attempts, he had 487 yards, averaging 5 yards a carry, and has four scores. It will be interesting if he maintains that pace this week. Harris is playing the final year of his rookie contract, and he may be a trade option in the offseason.
Run Defense will get tested.
Robert Saleh wants the Jets to be a run-first team, and that’s understandable, as Zach Wilson isn’t playing well right now. However, New York recently lost star rooking running back Brecce Hall due to a torn ACL. They traded with the Jaguars for running back James Robinson and also have second-year back Micheal Carter on their roster. Both running backs are capable of doing damage. New England let up 224 yards on the ground last week, and a staple for a win on Sunday will be stopping the run.
Kendrick Bourne or Tyquan Thornton?
Receiver Kendrick Bourne was inactive last week due to a toe injury which limited him to 10 snaps in Week 6. In the absence of Bourne, rookie Tyquan Thornton has seen plenty of action in the last two weeks. In the previous two weeks, the Baylor product has two touchdowns with seven receptions for 63 yards, averaging 9 yards a catch. With both receivers healthy tomorrow, it will be interesting to see who gets more playing time.
Who has the advantage?
When the Patriots run: Winner: Patriots
The Patriots are running the ball at a high rate; during the first six weeks of the season, they were first in many metrics, but in back-to-back weeks they have struggled. The one-two attack led by Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris has combined for 787 rushing yards and averaged 4.7 yards per rush. Stevenson has recently emerged as the starter, as Harris has been dealing with a hamstring injury. The Jets pride themselves in stopping the run and will make life difficult for the Patriots. Led by Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, and Solomon Thomas, the Jets only allow 3.7 yards per rush, ranking third in the NFL. They allow 105.7 yards on average, which is 11th in the league. Linebacker C.J. Mosley has 69 tackles thus far (6th in the league). Meanwhile, New England averages 120.3 yards on the ground (12th) and seventh in attempts (197). Both running backs are expected to be healthy, so the Patriots should run the ball often as they ease Mac Jones back into the offense.
When the Jets run: Winner: Jets
New York’s secondary has been elite all season long, led by rookie Sauce Gardner and veteran D.J. Reed. The Jets are giving up six yards per play (7th in the league) and 209 yards passing per game (11th). First-round pick Sauce Gardner has been nothing short of impressive. Gardner leads the NFL with 12 pass breakups. Last week in Denver, he was targeted ten times and allowed two receptions for 16 yards. Gardner is now PFF’s highest-rated rookie defender overtaking Patriots’ fourth-round pick Jack Jones. However, it’s the safety of Lamarcus Joyner, who leads the team in three interceptions. Bill Belichick announced Thursday that Mac Jones “got the full workload” and is in line to start Sunday. From the outside, it looks like this is Mac Jone’s job to lose. Jakboi Meyers leads the Patriots with 355 receiving yards and 35 targets, even with missing two games. Meanwhile, Rhamondre Stevenson is starting to get involved in the passing game, as he has 29 receptions for 145 yards this season. Receiver Kendrick Bourne will return this week after missing last week with a toe injury, although Nelson Agholor is still questionable with a hamstring injury. Captain David Andrews will also be inactive as he is in concussion protocol after getting hit on a blind-side block Monday night. Protecting the quarterback will be a must, as the Jets have racked up 15 sacks in seven games this season.
When the Patriots pass: Winner: Jets
The Jets suffered a huge loss last week as emerging star rookie running back Breece Hall tore his ACL and will be out for the remainder of the season. Hall was impressing many as he had 463 yards and averaged six yards an attempt. However, the Jets traded with the Jaguars for third-year back James Robinson. Robinson has 340 yards on 81 attempts and three touchdowns. Another injury loss the Jets suffered was in guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, who is out for the season with a torn tricep he suffered in Week 7. Vera-Tucker was seen as the most versatile offensive lineman, and with an offensive line that has already dealt with injuries this season, Vera-Tucker helped fill their needs. Backup Michael Carter is also an option, as he has 228 and two touchdowns thus far but is at the bottom of the league averaging only 3.5 yards a carry. Meanwhile, New England had a tough time Monday defending the run, although Chicago is the best run team in the NFL. The Bears ran for 242 yards, led by quarterback Justin Fields with 82 yards. The Patriots will need to keep sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson in the pocket and hold the edge. Matthew Judon leads the league with 8.5 sacks and has a sack in every game but one. The defensive line will get a chance to redeem themselves after a brutal beating in Primetime.
When the Jets pass: Winner: Patriots
Since sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson returned from his knee injury, he is 4-0 as a starter. He hasn’t played particularly well, but he isn’t careless with the football. Wilson’s stats don’t shine as he only completed 57% of his passes on 101 attempts, and he’s only thrown one touchdown in four games against two interceptions. The leading receiver is rookie Garret Wilson at 28 catches for 314 yards. Veteran receiver Corey Davis was announced OUT on Friday and won’t play, which will be a huge blow to the passing game. The Jets will return Elijah Moore after reiterating he was unhappy with his target share. On the flip side, the Patriots’ secondary has been above par this season, allowing 208.6 yards through the air (12th) and giving up 20.8 points a game (14th). The Patriots’ seven interceptions are tied for fourth in the league.
Special teams: Winner: Patriots
The Patriots’ special teams haven’t delivered recently. Punter Jake Bailey has struggled with a 35.4-yard net average, which ranks at the bottom of the league. Bailey is also tied for first with four touchbacks. In addition, opposing teams have had significant returns, including a 27-yarder on Monday night. For the Jets, punter Braden Mann hasn’t been great either. Mann has a 43.4 net average and three touchbacks. Both kickers have been effective, as New York’s Greg Zuerlein is 13 for 15 on FGs, and Nick Folk is 10 for 12 on FGs. For the Patriots, rookie Marcus Jones returns kicks and punts, averaging 13.5 yards on punt returns and 23.7 yards on kickoffs. Meanwhile, former Patriot Braxton Berrios handles the returns for the Jets. He averaged 13 yards per punt return and 26 yards per kick return. Special teams will be essential, especially if it’s a low-scoring game. However, New England has just a slight edge.
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)
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
Offesnive cordinator: Mike LaFleur
Quarterbacks: Rob Calabrese
Running backs: Taylor Embree
Wide receivers: Miles Austin
Tight ends: Ron Middleton
Offensive line & run game coordinator: John Benton
Defesnive line: Aaron Whitecotton
Linebackers: Mike Rutenberg
Senior defensive assistant & cornerbacks: Tony Oden
Special teams coordinator: Brant Boyer
Injury Report
Key:
DNP: Did not participate in practice
LP: Limited participation in practice
FP: Full participation in practice
NL: Not listed
Jets:
OUT
WR Corey Davis – Knee (DNP)
QUESTIONABLE
OT Duane Brown – Shoulder (FP)
DE Jermaine Johnson – Ankle (FP)
Patriots:
OUT
C David Andrews – Concussion (DNP)
DL Christian Barmore – Knee (DNP)
QUESTIONABLE
WR Nelson Agholor – Hamstring (LP)
S Kyle Dugger – Ankle (LP)
LB Anfernee Jennings – Calf (LP)
CB Jonathan Jones – Ankle (LP)
S Adrian Phillips – Shoulder (LP)
LB Josh Uche – Hamstring (LP)
T Isaiah Wynn – Shoulder (LP)
Latest Patriots transactions
10/25 LB Jamie Collins Sr. reverted back to the practice squad.
10/25 OL Bill Murray reverted back to the practice squad.
10/26 Re-signed K Tristan Vizcaino to the practice squad
Placed DL LaBryan Ray on the practice squad injured reserve.
Game Officials
Head Referee – Shawn Smith (7th season in the NFL and 5th as head official)
Weather Forcast
Partly cloudy. High 64F. Winds light and variable. 4% rain.
Noteworthy quotes
Jets:
On facing the Patriots
“It’s another division opponent. They’ve been the gold standard of the AFC East for a very, very long time and they’re not going anywhere as long as Coach Belichick is there. They’re not going to disappear. People were trying to write them off before the season and you forget they’ve been coaching these schemes so long that is very easy for them to coach all the details on it and get the players to understand it, so they can play at very, very efficient level. Credit to them and the conviction they have. But it’s another championship opportunity versus a championship team and we just have to find ways to get better every day and when Sunday rolls around, we’ll see what happens.”
– Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh
“Every game is big … but division games are really big and to have them back-to-back-to-back, that really is going to affect how division plays out when it comes to the postseason. I think this is the biggest three-game stretch we have. Nobody is taking them lightly. Everyone is really excited.” – Jets Center Connor McGovern
On the Patriots defense
“New England has forever been a team that just feasts on your mistakes,” Saleh said. “The reason why they’re such a good ball-hawking defense is they’ve been coaching that system for what seems like 100 years. They know every single detail and the players are so well coached because of all the detail that goes into what they coach. They can anticipate and they know how teams are going to attack them. They can just be opportunistic. You have to be very ball conscious as an offense to make sure that you’re not giving them freebies. That’s always going to the challenge when you play New England.”
– Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh
On the Patriots offense
“I think a lot of people question whether or not [Matt] Patricia and Joe [Judge] can do what they’re doing and they’re doing a really good job. They’re moving the ball, they’re doing a good job handling the different things with the quarterback. I know Mac isn’t fully healthy. Bailey has come in and do a really nice job. They’ve come close to knocking off some really good football teams. They’ve strung together a couple of games where they’ve played dominant football. They’re doing a great job. Their schemes are sound, their players are playing with great techniques, so hats off to them.” – Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh
New England Patriots:
On his game status
“Yeah, I think it’s a big week for the entire team. We had a good practice today, or walkthrough, whatever you want to call it. Making good progress. So we want to just come together as a unit, as an offense really, and just do what we can do to become better, whether that’s extra film or speaking together as a unit. I think we’re doing really good stuff there. So that’s kind of what we’re focused on. When Sunday comes, we’ll be ready. But this is a really good defense that we’re going against. Probably the top defense in the league right now. So we have to be ready to go. A lot of the stuff we want to focus on are things that we’re doing and try and get better at that.”
– Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones
On if he plans on starting
“I plan to start every game that I’ve ever played in. So whether that was in peewee football or third string at Alabama, I always try to prepare as a starter. Like I always say, if it’s one snap or 70, I’ll be ready to go. That’s all you can do, right? You can’t really control anything else. I work really hard and put myself in position to do that. Yes, I think I deserve that.”
– Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones
On throwing the ball downfield more
“I think the good offenses, they have all three types of passes: short, medium, and long. We want to be to able to do that. We have a great offensive line. Obviously, you want to have all different types of plays that you can run. We’ve worked on different things. It’s all about finding what we’re comfortable with, what works, gets yards and ultimately scores points. So just trying to work through that and get there. They’ve done a great job of explaining things, showing clips and things like that. So they’ve been very fun to learn from Coach Patricia, obviously Joe Judge and Coach Belichick. So they provide great insight. I’ve learned a lot, and I’m going to continue to learn from them and the guys on our team who may have run those plays in the past or have familiarity with stuff like that.”
– Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones
On the Jets defense
“Yeah, I think that’s the basis of it. Sure, they play hard. They’re very aggressive. They play a lot of people. Up front they don’t give them any big plays. They pursue well. They play physical. [C.J.] Mosley’s really good. [John] Franklin-Meyers’ really good. [Quinnen] William’s having a good year. [Sauce] Gardner’s giving them a good player on the corner. The whole secondary, there’s a lot of new players in the secondary. They play well. They’ve had good field position from their special teams and played well defensively.”
– Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick
On the growth of Zach Wilson
“He’s played well. I don’t know you’d have to talk to them about it. I couldn’t give you a percentage or anything. He’s good. He’s got better players around him. He’s playing well. The team’s playing well. Great running back. [Breece] Hall’s had tremendous production coming into after six games or whatever it was. I know he got hurt last week but had a big play in that game that helped them to win the game. So, they’ve got a lot of good players. Wilson’s played good. They use everybody. They get the ball to everybody. A lot of receivers’ production. A lot of running backs, you know [Michael] Carter and Hall. Multiple guys carrying the ball. Multiple players catching the ball. So, it’s a balanced offense.”
– Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick
Broadcast information
From Patriots.com
TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by CBS and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4. Ian Eagle will handle play-by-play duties with Charles Davis as the color analyst. Evan Washburn will work from the sidelines. The game will be produced by Mark Wolff and directed by Suzanne Smith.
NATIONAL RADIO: Sunday’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Sports USA. Josh Appel will call the game with Brandon Noble 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. The games are produced by Marc Cappello.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
