The Jets have only 11 regular-season games remaining and safety Jamal Adams knows they have to string together a bunch of wins in order to get in contention later this fall. And after picking up their first 'W' over the Cowboys, Adams says the stakes will be even higher Monday night against the 6-0 Patriots.
"We understand that this is a must-win for us, that's how we're going about it," he said. "It's honestly like a playoff game, that's how we're treating it. It's a big game, but we're not going to make anything bigger than what it is. We're playing a hell of an organization that's well-coached, so we have to be ready."
Adams, who recorded his first career pick-six in the Jets' 30-14 loss to the Pats at Gillette Stadium on Sep. 22, would like to celebrate another first against New England. He has yet to taste victory over the 10-time defending AFC East champions in five meetings, but there is reason for optimism. The offense got back in gear last week with the return of Sam Darnold and the defense, already competing at a high level, could be getting another game-changer back in the lineup in ILB C.J. Mosley.
"It puts a smile on my face because it makes things easier for us in the back end, and it makes my job a lot easier as far as communicating in the back end and up front," Adams said of Mosley's intentions to play in prime time. "Just to have him back, to have everybody back, that's the main thing, so we're excited to have him back out there."
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The 6'1", 213-pound Adams, who turned 24 Thursday, is thriving in Gregg Williams' defense. He is second on the club with 34 tackles and also leads the Jets with four pass defenses. He is an instinctive defender who has become a lethal weapon as a blitzer as evidenced by the QB hit on Cowboys passer Dak Prescott that sealed the club's 24-22 win in Week 6. The task Monday will be slowing down Tom Brady after the future Hall of Famer connected on 67% passes against the Green & White the first time out, amassing 306 yards and two touchdowns.
"You have to get him off his spot. He's not a scrambler, but we definitely have to create pressure in different ways and get after him," said Adams. "Disguise as well, and doing certain things that are going to—I'm not going to say trick him because he's been in this league for like fifty years, so you're not going to trick him —but show him something different or show him a disguise. We just have to do a good job of playing complete, disciplined football and that's the main thing and not hurting ourselves."
