Throughout the regular season, NewYorkJets.com reporters Eric Allen, Randy Lange, Susanna Weir and Jack Bell will give their responses to a series of questions regarding the Jets.
Today's question:
Which is the most favorable matchup for the Jets vs. the Patriots?
EA: The Patriots are the hottest team in the league right now, but the Jets are riding a bit of momentum themselves heading into Thursday night's tilt at Gillette Stadium. The Jets must make this a field position game and cash in when they get their opportunities. While both teams have shown they can be explosive in the return game, the Patriots rank 31st in punt coverage, allowing 14.9 yds/return. Isaiah Williams, the reigning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week who had the 74-yard punt return in the win over the Browns, is averaging 14.9 yds/return. And while the Patriots have been strong in kick coverage, Kene Nwangwu, who had the 99-yard KR score against Cleveland, has returned five kickoffs for TDs since entering the league in 2021. This Pats' defense is strong, but it ranks 32nd and is tied for 31st in red zone (73.91%) and goal-to-go situations (100%). As good as Nick Folk has been this season, you want him kicking extra points in primetime. Drake Maye deserves to be in MVP conversation, so the Jets are going to need another prolific pass rush game from their defense. Fresh off that 6-pack of sacks against the Browns (including the Will McDonald IV quartet), they have to get to Maye. He's a cool cucumber but has been sacked 35 times and 17 over the past four games.
RL: Call me crazy but I'm going with the Jets' passing game against New England's pass defense. As good as Breece Hall and the Jets' ground game has been, the Patriots' run defense is No. 1 in the NFL in yards allowed/game and fourth in yards/carry. The Pats' passing D, on the other hand, is 21st in yards/game, 26th in yards/play and 22nd in sack rate. Using Justin Fields' passing metrics, when the Jets offense has gone against four defenses in the NFL's top half, his passer rating is 76.1 and he's been sacked 16 times. Against four passing defenses in the league's bottom half in yards/game, Fields' rating is 99.2 and he's been sacked 9 times on almost twice as many passes. I could see the Jets of course trying to establish the run but also looking to get into a passing rhythm with throws to TE Mason Taylor and to a WR corps that, with or without Garrett Wilson, could have both new veteran wideouts, John Metchie III (who debuted as a Jet vs. Cleveland) and Adonai Mitchell, available for duty.
JB: I'm going to go with the Jets' rush attack vs. the Patriots' rush defense. Yeah, I know ... New England is No. 1 in the league, allowing the opposition a stingy 79.2 rush yards a game and No. 4 in yards allowed per carry through 10 games. In addition, the Pats' defense has allowed only 3 rushing TDs, led by the addition via free agency of DL Milton Williams from the Eagles and Pro Bowl edge Harold Landry from the Titans. The Green & White's ground game, however, is beginning to hit its stride. RB Breece Hall racked up 272 scrimmage yards and a quartet of fourth-quarter TDs to help spark the Jets' two-game winning streak. Overall, Hall's 664 rush yards lead the team, followed by QB Justin Fields with 130. New York's steady offensive line will be tested from the get-go by New England, and its ability to withstand the pressure on Fields, while also providing Hall and Isaiah Davis with room to maneuver and hit the next level. If the Jets can impose their will on the ground, eat some clock time, keep NE QB Drake Maye and his offense off the field, the Green & White might just have enough juice to end the AFC East-leading Pats' seven-game winning streak
SW: The Jets' passing attack vs. the Patriots' pass defense. While the Jets have focused on establishing the run and have done so successfully in their last two games, New England's run defense has allowed just 79.2 rushing yards per game, the fewest in the league. On the other hand, the Patriots have allowed 227.0 passing yards per game, which is 21st in the league. The last the time the Jets faced a defense that ranked towards the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed per game (Cincinnati), QB Justin Fields was 21-of-32 for 244 yards and 1 TD, so the Jets could take advantage of another favorable matchup. If WR Garrett Wilson does not take the field, others will have to step up. While newcomer WRs John Metchie III and Adonai Mitchell could be factors, I'm also looking at TE Mason Taylor, who leads the Jets with 15 targets and 9 receptions since Week 7. The Patriots have allowed 654 receiving yards to tight ends this season, which ranks 27th in the league.
