2 weeks Ago
The New York Jets will play host on Thursday when they welcome in the New England Patriots for a Week 3 divisional clash. They’ll do so as touchdown favorites. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Jets entered the week as 6.
5-point favorites over their rival. © Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images New York won the last time these two faced, in Week 18, to break a 15-game streak of losses against New England. But this is a new-look Patriots team, and for the first time in recent memory, the Jets have an advantage at the sport’s most important position.
The Jets are favored for several reasons, but chief among them is quarterback Aaron Rodgers . He’s yet to have his statement game in green and white – he’s yet to begin a game over .500.
But it’s clear the floor of this team is much higher than years past. New York is no longer the team other defenses can circle as an opportunity to get right against. The Patriots entered the year with many expecting them to be that team – cellar-bound fodder for playoff teams.
Head coach Jerod Mayo is filling the shoes of the greatest to ever do it, and quarterback Jacoby Brissett is merely keeping Drake Maye’s seat warm under center. But New England showed in Week 1 that it is more than capable of playing with the big boys. The Patriots went on the road and beat the Cincinnati Bengals 16-10 in Week 1, and it took a dominant outing from Geno Smith and an extra quarter for the Seattle Seahawks to escape Foxboro with a win.
New England is remaining competitive despite talent disadvantages because of its physical brand of football. It sounds cliche; every team wants to be physical. But this is a team that entered the season with arguably the league’s worst offensive line, benched its starting left tackle after a dozen snaps, and ran for 170 yards, including two game-sealing first downs in the final minutes.
Related: Jets Have an Awkward Linebacker Problem This presents a problem for a Jets defense that was exposed by Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, when backup running back Jordan Mason trampled New York’s front seven . The Jets were outmuscled in the opener and are at risk of facing the same fate in Week 3. An encouraging performance against the Tennessee Titans helps ease fans’ nerves.
New England is much closer to Tennessee’s talent level than San Francisco’s. But with a corner capable of taking receiver Garrett Wilson out of plays and a run game that will take advantage of any ceded ground, there’s a recipe here for a trap game if the Jets play down to competition..
