Jump-start. Rekindle. Get back on track. All are descriptions of the thing the Jets need to accomplish Sunday afternoon in their annual visit to Gillette Stadium in the Massachusetts countryside.
Beat the Patriots.
Of course, what can be said about the 2-5 Jets can also describe the 1-6 Pats' mission as well. But if the Jets seek to right their ship and return to their road to the playoffs, they need to fire up their win engine soon, as in Sunday.
The Patriots, who long were a Green & White nemesis, have recently come back to earth. The Jets defeated them in the 2023 season finale in Foxboro, MA, Bill Belichick's final game as New England's head coach, and they thumped the Pats, 24-3, in this year's Week 3 home opener.
A win by the Jets Sunday
would give them their first 3-game win streak over the Patriots since a 4-game win streak from 1999-2001, their first 2-game road win streak in this rivalry since they had 5 road wins in a row from 1998-2002, and their first season sweep of the Pats since the 2000 season.
More important, it would end the Jets' 4-game losing streak, get them in the right frame of mind to take on the tough but beatable Texans in their Thursday night game at MetLife Stadium on Halloween, and possibly provide that vital spark for a midseason run.
Hoping to help the Jets get this party started will be edge rusher and veteran DL/LB Haason Reddick, who ended his long holdout after his March trade from the Eagles to the Jets with a full week of practice. Reddick was moved to the active roster Saturday and is expected to contribute to the Jets' pass rush Sunday against rookie QB Drake Maye.
See photos of the Jets arriving at Gillette Stadium for the Week 8 matchup.
Reddick is the second former Pro Bowl player to be added to the Jets' attack in the past two weeks. WR Davante Adams was acquired in trade from the Raiders the week earlier, was reunited with former Packers QB Aaron Rodgers for a week of practice, and caught 3 passes for 30 yards in the Sunday night loss to the Steelers/
The Jets will also benefit from the return of two injured starters to their secondary in CBs D.J. Reed (groin) and Michael Carter (back).
But the Jets, like the Patriots, also had long injury reports this past week. On defense, the Green & White will be thin at safety with Tony Adams (hamstring, downgraded to out Saturday) and Ashtyn Davis (concussion) sidelined. On offense, starting RG Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) and backup G Xavier Warren (neck, IR) are out, as is WR Allen Lazard (chest).
Jake Hanson, who finished the Steelers game at RG, could get the nod there Sunday. Jalen Mills started at S last week and could be joined in the deep middle by Isaiah Oliver. Some names on recent Jets inactive lists are active for this game, including OL Max Mitchell, rookie WR Malachi Corley and rookie edge Braiden McGregor.
These are the Jets' seven inactives for Sunday's game in Foxboro:
- WR Allen Lazard
- S Ashtyn Davis
- S Tony Adams
- RB Izzy Abanikanda
- T Carter Warren
- G Alijah Vera-Tucker
- DL Leki Fotu
And these are the Patriots' six inactives:
- WR Ja'Lynn Polk
- QB Joe Milton
- S Kyle Dugger
- LB Joshua Uche
- G Layden Robinson
- DT Daniel Ekuale
