The struggling New York Jets head to New England to face their fierce rivals the Patriots
These divisional rivals are going in opposite directions. After a season-opening victory, the Jets have lost five in a row. While they had a chance against Green Bay and Chicago in Weeks 2 and 3, they’ve gone backwards from there. Their schedule eases up after this trip to New England, but it’s too late to salvage the season. New England, meanwhile, was taking a lot of heat after a Week 4 Monday night blowout loss to the Chiefs, but has bounced back with two straight dominating performances (combined score: 80-39).
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So, is there any way the Jets can pull off the improbable upset? Actually there is, and it starts in the trenches. The Pats may be better than the Jets in almost every aspect of the game, but the Jets have one major advantage: their defensive line versus the Patriot offensive line. The interior of the Patriots’ line has been in flux in all season, and the team has yet to find a combination that works. At tackle, Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer have played below their past standards (especially Solder), and they look vulnerable.
Muhammad Wilkerson, and the rest of the Jets’ defensive line must be on top of their game this week. Damon Harrison is capable of dominating the interior of the Patriots’ line and shutting down the run game, something he was able to do last year as the Patriots rushed for 90 and 54 yards in their two matchups with the Jets. The Pats also just lost Stevan Ridley for the year, and the Jets have the ability to completely take away the run.
Even if the Jets dominate this game up front, they could still end up losing. However, they won’t have any chance of winning without a dominant performance from the defensive line, and it is time for Wilkerson & Co. to prove why they should be considered among the best defensive lines in football.
When New England has the ball:
Those whispers we heard about Tom Brady and the Patriots being finished? They’re nonexistent after the last two games, in which Brady went 50 of 72 for 653 yards, six touchdowns and no picks. A subpar Jets secondary lost cornerback Dee Milliner last week to injury, so Brady should have a field day. Stevan Ridley is out for Thursday and probably the rest of the season with a knee injury but the Patriots have a stable of running backs capable of filling in, including Shane Vereen. The Jets normally stout run defense has shown cracks the past two weeks but still figures to limit New England.
With that in mind, expect the Pats to do most of their damage through the air. Familiar faces Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski have been Brady’s favorite targets this season, but Brandon LaFell is coming on. New York will certainly wish Darrelle Revis was still in a Jets uniform, and not suiting up for the opposition on Thursday.
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