Jets vs. Patriots Preview, Prediction

[JetNation]

On Sunday night the New York Jets (5-3) take on the New England Patriots (5-3) at MetLife Stadium (8:20 EST).  The Jets enter this marquee match-up winners of three in a row, while the Patriots come to New Jersey battered and bruised from a two game losing streak.  Lets take a look at the keys to the game from the New York Jets perspective.

Offense

Mangold vs. Wilfork- One of the key match-ups at the line of scrimmage will be All-Pro center Nick Mangold versus defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.  In order for the Jets to have any type of success running the ball Mangold is going to have to do a very good job containing Wilfork.

Sanchez remains patient- It is no secret that the New England Patriots secondary is struggling, therefore there will be plenty of opportunities to make big plays in the passing game.  Quarterback Mark Sanchez must remain patient within the offense and take what the defense is giving him.  Sanchez and the Jets offense cannot afford turnovers due to forced throws and over-aggressive reads.  Keep an eye on rookie Jeremy Kerley this week as he could make some big plays when the Jets go to the three wide formation.

Ground and pound- Over the past couple of games the New York Jets have started to get back to their ground and pound running game which has been very effective.  Gang Green must continue to effectively run the ball on Sunday night in order to wear down an already beaten up Patriot defense.  Once the running game gets going the play action pass becomes ten times more effective, especially against a weak secondary.

Redzone efficiency- The New York Jets offense has been very efficient in the redzone and that trend must continue on Sunday night.  The Jets offense cannot settle for field goals, especially early on in the game where setting the tone is key.  One play that Sanchez and company should continue to utilize is the fade pass to Plaxico Burress, which in my eyes is impossible to defend.

Defense

Get physical- The New York Jets defense as a unit must play very physical on Sunday night.  The defensive line  and linebackers must shed their blocks and get to the ball carrier.  The defensive backs must get aggressive at the line of scrimmage by chucking/jamming the receivers and tight ends within the 5-yard allowance.  The philosophy should be to get as physical as possible in order to disrupt the timing of the Patriots offense.

Beat up Brady- Another way to disrupt the timing of the Patriots offense is to get hits on quarterback Tom Brady.  The more pressure the Jets can get Brady, the better off they will be in terms of forcing turnovers.  (Note: Tom Brady is tied for 3rd in the NFL with 10 interceptions)

Welker vs. Revis- A key to slowing down the Patriots passing game, which is averaging 325 yards a game, is to find ways to contain wide receiver Wes Welker (66 catches, 960 yards, 6tds).  The Jets will more than likely put All-Pro cornerback (and defensive player of the candidate) Darrelle Revis on Welker for the majority of the game.  This formula worked in their first match-up earlier this season, minus one blown coverage which resulted in a 73-yard reception.

Contain Gronkowski/Hernandez- The Jets defense, which has struggled to cover tight ends for the majority of the season, will have their hands full with Aaron Hernandez (33 catches, 333 yards, 5 tds) and Rob Gronkowski (44 catches, 596 yards, 6tds).  Gang Green must find ways to contain these huge targets which will be no easy task especially if safety Brodney Pool misses the game due to injury.

Stop the run- In their first meeting this season the Jets philosophy was to give up yards in the running game in order to slow down the passing attack.  That strategy backfired on Gang Green as running back Benjarvus Green-Ellis carved up the Jets defense for a season high 136 yards and 2 touchdowns.  The Jets must do a better job against the run and get off of the field on third down.

Injury Update: Running back Joe McKnight is questionable for Sunday’s game with a foot injury.  If McKnight is unable to return kicks on Sunday, Antonio Cromartie and probably Jeremy Kerley will replace him.

Prediction

Does it get any better than this Jets fans? A Sunday night match-up at MetLife stadium with the winner leaving the building on top of the AFC East.  The atmosphere is going to be electric with the intensity at an all-time high.  I expect the Jets defense fueled by a raucous home crowd to come out very aggressive and physical, which will set the tone for the game.  I think the Jets will have success with their ground and pound which will open up some deep plays to Plaxico Burress.  Sanchez shines on the big stage.  Jets 28-24

One note: For those of you going to the game lets make this a true home field advantage on Sunday night.  No sitting on your hands and sipping your coffee or favorite beverage.  Get on your feet and make the environment as miserable as possible for Tom Brady and company.  The Jets face all types of animosity when they head up to Gillette Stadium, now it is time to return the favor.  This game has huge playoff implications, get your monies worth by supporting your team and making some noise.

</img>

</img>

View the full article

[JetsFanInDenver]

JETS 34

Pats 9

[Knix Tix]

I just heard Brodney Pool is out for the secondary as well, but I think this is a game where the fan noise and the Jet's D is really going to rattle Tom Lady.

Jets win by 2 TDs. Let's go Jets!!!

[Knix Tix]

I didn't know that Sanchez's QB rating for the last 3 games is 91.9

[JiFtheOracle]

Jets 31

Pats 17

[JerryK]

We need to be up 10 at the 4th qtr 2min warning.

Seems like Brady can pull a hurry-up touchdown out of thin air -- anywhere. Ask Eli Manning if being up 4 is good enough.

[faba]

Jets finally take first in this division

Jets 28

pats 24

[pointman]

Jets D carves up the first shut out of the year!

*hopes*

[TNJet]

Jets- 27 Pats- 13

[JetsFanFromQueens]

New York Jets: 37

NE Patriots: 13

Jets in a ROUTE!

[T0mShane]

Jets are getting their physical pants on, finally. They'll beat up the Pats on D, but our offense will keep them in the game.

Jets: 24

Pats: 17

[T0mShane]

New York Jets: 37

NE Patriots: 13

Jets in a ROUTE!

It's spelled "Jetes."

[Il Mostro]

Jets 27-17.

[JetsFanInDenver]

It's spelled "Jetes."

I was going through a tough day. Thanks for the laugh!

[jetsmayhem29]

Jets win nough said

[Vince Lombardi]

Mark Sanchez cannot match Tom Brady, even with his defense. And Revis is only one person, while he maybe on Wes Welker, there are at least 5 other weapons for Tom to throw to and who is going to cover them. You know after him facing three weeks of pressure, blitzing will not work.

[greeniemeanie]

Mark Sanchez cannot match Tom Brady, even with his defense. And Revis is only one person, while he maybe on Wes Welker, there are at least 5 other weapons for Tom to throw to and who is going to cover them. You know after him facing three weeks of pressure, blitzing will not work.

Ok, we get it. You're a Pats fan.

The question I have is who are these "weapons" that you speak of?

Welker is great.

Edelman is crap.

Branch is not scaring anyone.

Woodhead, please?

Gronkowski and Hernandez are studs.

But really, what weapons do the Patriots have? They have 1 really good receiver and two good pass catching tightends. That's it. Every other player on offense is pedestrian at best. The reason the Pats offense is good is because of Brady, Still, the Pats offense is not only having issues lately, but they are also matching up against a Good defense.

On the other side of the ball, I would take the Jets offense over the Patriots historically horrible defense at this point. The Jets offense is middle of the pack at this point. The Patriots defense is flirting with quite possibly being one of the worst defensive units in the history of the NFL.

We'll see what happens come Sunday, but your posts here are giving new meaning to the term "blind homerism"

Thanks for joining Jetnation.

This game is going to be a great one. Anyone could win. The Patriots are still a good team, but they are nowhere near the team that we all have come to expect them to be. Even you have to see that.

[JonEJet]

Pats fans are noticeably quiet this week

[Sperm Edwards]

The Patriots defense is flirting with quite possibly being one of the worst defensive units in the history of the NFL.

They do suck, but they're only giving up 22 ppg. Nowhere near all-time badness.

[Mr Brady]

Ok, we get it. You're a Pats fan.

The question I have is who are these "weapons" that you speak of?

Welker is great.

Edelman is crap.

Branch is not scaring anyone.

Woodhead, please?

Gronkowski and Hernandez are studs.

But really, what weapons do the Patriots have? They have 1 really good receiver and two good pass catching tightends. That's it. Every other player on offense is pedestrian at best. The reason the Pats offense is good is because of Brady, Still, the Pats offense is not only having issues lately, but they are also matching up against a Good defense.

On the other side of the ball, I would take the Jets offense over the Patriots historically horrible defense at this point. The Jets offense is middle of the pack at this point. The Patriots defense is flirting with quite possibly being one of the worst defensive units in the history of the NFL.

We'll see what happens come Sunday, but your posts here are giving new meaning to the term "blind homerism"

Thanks for joining Jetnation.

This game is going to be a great one. Anyone could win. The Patriots are still a good team, but they are nowhere near the team that we all have come to expect them to be. Even you have to see that.

You talk about 'blind homerism"....that's a laugh..!

The "weapons" that you deride have helped make the Pats the number one passing offense in the NFL....so your credibility score is tanking on "zero"..!

BTW...you forgot to trash Kevin Faulk, too..! But you know what would be really hilarious..? If Ocho finally has his breakout game against the Jests..!

I see that Rex has probably been put under orders to keep his big fat mouth shut this week.....but the daily News reporters are taking up the slack, talking as if the Jests have actually won the game and are going anywhere...! Very, very obnoxious journalism.

Prepare yourselves.....it's going to be a miserable night (again..!) to be a Jsts fan..!

And Sanchez better wear a Huggie to the game....He'll be wetting himself just thinking about how he has to make a contribution to the effort in order for the Jests to have a chance....and so far, he hasn't shown anyone that he's up to the task. That NE defense that you think is possibly the worst ever.....remember that when they make Sanchez look like a high school QB..!

[greeniemeanie]

You talk about 'blind homerism"....that's a laugh..!

The "weapons" that you deride have helped make the Pats the number one passing offense in the NFL....so your credibility score is tanking on "zero"..!

BTW...you forgot to trash Kevin Faulk, too..! But you know what would be really hilarious..? If Ocho finally has his breakout game against the Jests..!

I see that Rex has probably been put under orders to keep his big fat mouth shut this week.....but the daily News reporters are taking up the slack, talking as if the Jests have actually won the game and are going anywhere...! Very, very obnoxious journalism.

Prepare yourselves.....it's going to be a miserable night (again..!) to be a Jsts fan..!

Welcome to the board.

We'll see what happens come Sunday night. As far as credibility goes, you're new here, but I've never claimed to have any.

I'm about as dumb as they come.

Tomorrow night needs to get here...

CAN'T WAIT!

[Mr Brady]

Welcome to the board.

We'll see what happens come Sunday night. As far as credibility goes, you're new here, but I've never claimed to have any.

I'm about as dumb as they come.

Tomorrow night needs to get here...

CAN'T WAIT!

I like the self-effacing humor..! But seriously....you don't really think this is going to be

a. a Jets cakewalk, or

b. a Jets victory...?

I do think the Jets will snag one of the WC slots, as long as they don't go into a funk like they did last after being spanked by NE 45-3, so will have some hope of a PO appearance, but to think the Pats are going to drop three in a row is sort of a stretch, IMHO.

[greeniemeanie]

I like the self-effacing humor..! But seriously....you don't really think this is going to be

a. a Jets cakewalk, or

b. a Jets victory...?

I do think the Jets will snag one of the WC slots, as long as they don't go into a funk like they did last after being spanked by NE 45-3, so will have some hope of a PO appearance, but to think the Pats are going to drop three in a row is sort of a stretch, IMHO.

The Patriots are always formidable. They are on the decline from what it seems. I think you have a tale of two teams, possibly moving in different directions.

Do I think it's going to be a cake walk for the Jets...umm, no

Do I think that this Pat's team is as dominant as the Pat's teams from years past...umm, no

Brady is great. That is the one thing keeping this game competitive. He is also the one reason I don't feel comfortable with predicting a Jets victory.

Can the Jets win, yes. They have proven that. Since Rex has come to NY, the Pat's don't scare me like they used to, and the record and last year's Playoffs kind of back that up.

However, the Jets do scare me. We are a very inconsistent team with Sanchez at QB. If the Jets show up, we walk away with this game. However, if Brady plays inspired football, we don't. In case you haven't been watching, Brady is not playing inspired football much this year. The amount of INT's he has is pretty evident of that.

This game could go either way, but at this point I would have to give a slight advantage to the Jets. The Pat's just don't scare me anymore.

Then again, we'll have to wait and see...

[Vince Lombardi]

Just two bad games, Brady is back will play inspired football and will play inspired football on a consistent basis like he normally does. He makes other teams Quarterbacks play a perfect game in order for them to win.

[Mr Brady]

The Patriots are always formidable. They are on the decline from what it seems. I think you have a tale of two teams, possibly moving in different directions.

Do I think it's going to be a cake walk for the Jets...umm, no

Do I think that this Pat's team is as dominant as the Pat's teams from years past...umm, no

Brady is great. That is the one thing keeping this game competitive. He is also the one reason I don't feel comfortable with predicting a Jets victory.

Can the Jets win, yes. They have proven that. Since Rex has come to NY, the Pat's don't scare me like they used to, and the record and last year's Playoffs kind of back that up.

However, the Jets do scare me. We are a very inconsistent team with Sanchez at QB. If the Jets show up, we walk away with this game. However, if Brady plays inspired football, we don't. In case you haven't been watching, Brady is not playing inspired football much this year. The amount of INT's he has is pretty evident of that.

This game could go either way, but at this point I would have to give a slight advantage to the Jets. The Pat's just don't scare me anymore.

Then again, we'll have to wait and see...

OK....a fair -minded post. I can't argue or trash talk you on that one.

However, I do think the "going in two different directions" that has been floating around all week is probably nonsense.

NE has had a couple of not so stellar games....I think every team has them and the Pats included. Even some Pats fan have been jumping off the bandwagon this week...! I can't figure it out. I ask them...."When exactly did this slide towards oblivion allegedly begain.." It must have been somewhere between the 4th and 8th games, because NE was lights out on O from the get-go. These past 2 games are the mild slump variety, until the Jets and a couple more teams prove otherwise to me.

I would be worried if I was a Jets' fan, not over confident as some definitely are. Brady and that offense is liable to explode Sunday night after those two sub=par performances....far more likely than imploding...!

And I do think the Jets are going to have their hands full trying to score....because the Pats are good against the run and I don't think Sanchez is as good as Rex has tried to portray.

As you say, though....it will all be decided tomorrow night..! Can't wait.

[villain_the_foe]

I didn't know that Sanchez's QB rating for the last 3 games is 91.9

Another Stat....

The Pats have given up 18 TD's in the redzone this year. Pathetic.

[villain_the_foe]

The Jets will win this game because of pleasing play of two men.

Maybin/Wilson

Wilson has become a cover corner. More importantly, we were lacking a pass rush and Maybin is able to rush both inside and outside which makes his speed even more dangerous. As a side note, how in the world did buffalo not only misuse this guy, but let him go to land inside the same damn division?

Brady will NOT sit in the pocket for 5-6 seconds tomorrow night. We will get to him and with the best trio CB's in the league, the jets will win!

27-13 Jets.

[Maxman]

The Jets will win this game because of pleasing play of two men.

Maybin/Wilson

Wilson has become a cover corner. More importantly, we were lacking a pass rush and Maybin is able to rush both inside and outside which makes his speed even more dangerous. As a side note, how in the world did buffalo not only misuse this guy, but let him go to land inside the same damn division?

Brady will NOT sit in the pocket for 5-6 seconds tomorrow night. We will get to him and with the best trio CB's in the league, the jets will win!

27-13 Jets.

Wilson has been good -- he is going to have to continue that tomorrow. But the Jets coverage has been scary lately (scary good)...

[Bergen Jet]

Jets 42

Pats 3

This is the week that we show the world that we are the best team in the AFC...

[Darth Vader]

38-21

[Garb]

Jets 30, Pats 20. Brady can't overcome the Pats Pass D suckage.

[BornJetsFan1983]

JETS BLOW OUT!!

[Vince Lombardi]

Wilson has been good -- he is going to have to continue that tomorrow. But the Jets coverage has been scary lately (scary good)...

They have to be perfect if they want to even slow down the Patriots. Too many weapons, too many YAC playmakers and those Tight Ends are the best Tight-End duo in NFL history.

[NYJets90]

They have to be perfect if they want to even slow down the Patriots. Too many weapons, too many YAC playmakers and those Tight Ends are the best Tight-End duo in NFL history.

Which is why they've lost their last two games

[JonEJet]

Jets 30, Pats 20. Brady can't overcome the Pats Pass D suckage.

You're an a$$