Throughout the regular season, NewYorkJets.com reporters Eric Allen, Ethan Greenberg, Randy Lange, Caroline Hendershot and John Pullano will give their responses to a series of questions regarding this year's Jets.
Today's question: What is the most critical matchup in Jets-Patriots?
EA: Will the Jets strike first? The Patriots have landed the opening shots in their two games to date. They rode a 13-0 start in Cincinnati to a 16-10 victory and then on Sunday, they jumped to a 7-0 lead over Seattle in a game they eventually lost, 23-20, in overtime. The Jets fell behind against the 49ers and the Titans and were playing catch-up to start the third quarters after being held to 7 points in Weeks 1 and 2. The pesky Patriots ran the ball well against the Bengals (39-150-4.4-1TD) and the Seahawks (36-185-5.1-1TD). Tight ends Austin Henry and Austin Hooper are the Pats' top receiving yardage leaders, but this club has been limited to 270 pass yards. New England's wideouts had 3 catches for 19 yards against Seattle and they've had 85 yards in two games. You combine that with inconsistent offensive line play, and I just don't see the Patriots – despite having a competent veteran signal-caller in Jacoby Brissett – winning this game if they are playing from behind in the second half.
EG: The Jets rush defense and the Patriots ground attack. New England has the NFL's No. 4 rushing offense, averaging 177.5 yards per game. RB Rhamondre Stevenson's 46 carries are tied for third in the league and his 201 yards rank No. 5. The Jets, after allowing 180 yards on the ground in Week 1 (147 to RB Jordan Mason), yielded 130 in Week 2 (62 to RB Tony Pollard). If the Jets can stop the Patriots on the ground, it'll force New England to throw the ball against one of the most talented cornerback rooms in the NFL. QB Jacoby Brissett, who has had success each of the last two seasons against the Jets, has thrown for 270 yards against through two teams, which ranks No. 29. He's completing just 58.8% of his passes. Patriots TE Hunter Henry leads the team with 10 receptions and 127 yards and Stevenson's 5 receptions rank second. K.J. Osborn, signed this offseason, leads all Patriots wideouts with 4 catches and 28 yards. If the Jets can limit the Patriots rushing offense, or climb out to a lead to force NE to throw the ball, the Jets will be in a favorable position to beat the Patriots at MetLife Stadium for the first time since 2015.
RL: I'll take the matchup of the Jets offense vs. a New England defense minus Ja'Whaun Bentley, its MLB and captain, out reportedly for the rest of the season with a torn pectoral muscle sustained Sunday against the Seahawks. Bentley had racked up 100-plus tackles the previous three seasons and started all but two games the past four seasons combined. With him at Cincinnati for Week 1 and without him for most of Week 2 vs. Seattle, New England's run defense has been formidable — second in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game and third in rush yards per opponent carry. The Bengals and the Seahawks ground games aren't highly ranked, but then again neither are the Jets, 26th in yards/game and 21st in yards/carry. Yet RBs Breece Hall and rookie Braelon Allen sparked the Green & White bigtime at Tennessee, rushing and receiving. QB Aaron Rodgers and OC Nathaniel Hackett would love nothing more than to orchestrate their offense off an awakened running attack in their primetime home opener against their heated rivals playing without the outstanding starter in the middle of their defense.
CH: The Jets run defense vs. the Patriots running backs. New England rushed for 170 yards in Week 1 at Cincinnati and 185 yards in Week 2 vs. Seattle. RBs Antonio Gibson and Rhamondre Stevenson have combined for 315 yards and 2 rush TDs in two weeks. While the Jets run defense improved over their first two games, they still allowed 130 total rush yards and 1 rushing touchdown from the Titans. Robert Saleh said earlier this week that the Patriots are "running the heck out of the football" and "they're playing a physical brand of football." While LB C.J. Mosley's availability is up in the air, the Jets run defense must be top notch to shut down the Patriots ground game.
JP: Thursday night the key will be New York's pass rush vs. versus New England's offensive line. The Patriots offensive front looks different than in years past with new starters at RG, LG and LT. Despite that, the line has held up well in pass protection allowing 4 sacks over the first two games. As for the Jets, Week 3 will be their first game without pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II, who sustained a torn Achilles tendon in Week 2. HC Robert Saleh, earlier this week, reiterated the confidence he has in his defensive front without Johnson, specifically mentioning second-year pass rusher Will McDonald IV, who had 3 sacks against Tennessee last week, and DE Micheal Clemons. If the Jets can take advantage of the Patriots' inexperienced O-line and pressure QB Jacoby Brissett, New England's savvy veteran signal caller, who has the 25th lowest completion percentage (58.8%) in the NFL when pressured, they could be in for potentially their most dominant defensive performance of the season.
