The New York Jets (3-12) will host the New England Patriots (12-3) at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Let's take a deeper look at what to expect from their Week 17 opponent.

Patriots Back in the Postseason
The Jets will play their final home game of the 2025 season Sunday against the Patriots, who on Sunday night, with a 28-24 victory over the Ravens, clinched their first playoff berth since 2021.

Following a 1-2 start the Patriots will travel to East Rutherford with 11 wins in their last 12 contests, which includes a 27-14 victory against the Jets in Week 11.

In the earlier season matchup between New York and New England, the Green & White took a 7-0 advantage before 3 straight scores by RB Treveyon Henderson made it 21-7. The Jets cut into the lead late in the third quarter to make it 21-14, but failed to complete a comeback.

At present, New England has a game advantage over the Buffalo Bills in the race for the AFC East title and are tied for the top seed in the AFC with the Denver Broncos. The Jets should expect New England's best shot when they visit MetLife, considering they have plenty left to play for.

The Drake Maye Show
New England's defense has played below its season averages since Week 11, when the Jets and Patriots last played. Over their last 4 games, the Patriots have allowed 24.5 points per game, 142.5 yards rushing per game and more than 300 yards of total offense in 3 of the 4 contests. They are however, 3-1 in those games, thanks in large part to the play of MVP candidate QB Drake Maye.

Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, over his last 4 games, has thrown 5 touchdowns, rushed for 2 and completed 68.4% of his passes, all while New England has averaged 29.5 points per game over that span.

"I have a lot of confidence in him out there," Patriots HC Mike Vrabel said Sunday postgame. "It has been great for him to have success. I'm happy for him, especially executing at the end of the games the way he has."

Maye, for the season, is No. 4 in passing yards (3,947), No. in passing touchdowns (25), compared to 8 interceptions, and No. 1 in completion percentage (70.9%). His favorite targets have been WR Stefon Diggs (76-869-3) and TE Hunter Henry (52-663-6).

Additionally, Maye's passing has allowed New England to improve its run game — the last 2 weeks the Pats have averaged 162.5 yards per game. TreVeyon Henderson leads the team with 776 yards rushing and 8 total touchdowns (7 rushing).

Dealing With Injuries
Like most teams in the NFL, the Patriots have had to persevere through injuries to several key players, and with 2 games left in the regular season they expect to get a few of those contributors back in time for Sunday's game, as well as the postseason.

The most notable injuries have been to rookie LT Will Campbell (missed the last 3 games with an MCL sprain), DL Milton Williams (missed the last 4 games with an ankle sprain) and LB Robert Spillane, who has been in and out of the lineup since Week 10 with an ankle injury.

In addition, Sunday versus the Ravens, Treveyon Henderson played 14 offensive snaps, leaving the game early in the second quarter with a head injury. RT Morgan Moses briefly left the game with a knee injury in the first quarter, as did T Thayer Munford Jr. after subbing in for Moses.

"Our training staff has worked hard to evaluate our guys and get them ready," HC Mike Vrabel said. "And then on the coaching side, just being able to figure out what packages we could still get into, and what we are able to do and some of the things that we weren't able to do. But we look forward to getting healthy and hopefully getting those guys back in the coming weeks."