What a satisfying win. Everyone keeps talking about how this win feels old fashioned, behind a stout defense and a balanced and effective offensive attack. The Broncos are also a team every Pats fan wanted to see squished by the big foot of TB12/BB. Now with a first round bye (holla) and the fate of their seeding in their own hands, I don’t expect to see them to take their foot off the gas. That’s not Belichick’s style. Plus, better to only rest guys who are hurting in Week 17, you don’t want them to get too rusty sitting on their couches in January for too long. The Jets games are always an intense battle but the Patriots are riding high and could seriously feast here.
Here’s everything you need to know about the NY Jets, aka, “The Slaves of Ryan Fitzpatrick.”
Week 16 vs. New York Jets
Saturday December 24
1:00 pm, CBS
Low 40’s/High 30’s, minimal chance of precipitation, 12 mph winds
[table id=17 /]
Opponent/Patriots Stats:
Jets: 4-10
Common Opponents:
- Cincinnati Bengals (Pats won, Jets lost)
- Buffalo Bills (Pats split series, Jets won first matchup)
- Seattle Seahawks (Both teams lost)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (Pats won, Jets lost)
- Arizona Cardinals (Patriots won, Jets lost)
- Baltimore Ravens (Both teams won)
- Cleveland Browns (Both teams won)
- Miami Dolphins (Patriots won first matchup, Jets lost both)
- Los Angeles Rams (Pats won, Jets lost)
- San Fransisco 49ers (Both teams won)
History: The Patriots and Jets are always good for a competitive game, despite the score. The teams very obviously dislike each other strongly. The Patriots have dominated the Jets in the Belichick era and probably will for the years to come. The Jets are a hot mess and a half. The last time the Jets won in regulation as 2011. There have also been 3 overtime matches since 2012, a sign that this game could still be competitive despite the disparities in record.
Notable Players
Bryce Petty QB: (in 5 games) 75/130 (57.7%), 809 yards, 3 TDs, 6 INTs, 1 fumble
Matt Forte RB: 218 carries, 813 yards, 3.7 avg., 8 total TDs, 1 fumble, 30 catches, 236 yards
Brandon Marshall WR: 57 catches, 760 yards, 41 long, 3 TDs
Quincy Enunwa WR: 52 catches, 746 yards, 69 long, 4 TDs
Injury Alerts
Patriots
Danny Amendola was recently spotted in the locker room with a boot on his right foot that he injured in the Rams game. Amendola would help, but with the addition of Michael Floyd and the offense’s current weapons clicking, Amendola is not a necessity right this second. Don’t expect to see him until the postseason at the earliest
Jets
Buster Skrine is the Jets starting CB who is in the concussion protocol. He was inactive last week against the Dolphins. He is one of their better defensive players and would help
Lorenzo Mauldin is the Jets LB dealing with an ankle injury who was also out against the Dolphins. Look for him on the injury report as he could make a difference in the run game against New England.
Key Matchups:
Patriots:
vs. WR1: 20th—– vs. Logan Ryan vs. Brandon Marshall
vs. WR2: 23rd—– Malcolm Butler vs. Quincy Enunwa
vs. other WR: 20th– Eric Rowe vs. Robby Anderson
vs. RB: 24th—– Kyle Van Noy vs. Matt Forte
Jets
vs. WR1: 22nd—– Julian Edelman vs. Darrelle Revis (LOL)
vs. WR2: 32nd —– Chris Hogan vs. Buster Skrine
vs. other WR: 26th —– Malcolm Mitchell vs. Darryl Roberts
vs. RB: 14th —– James White vs. Darron Lee
What’s at stake?
The Patriots control their own destiny, meaning if they win out, they’ll get the number one seed. They can still get the number 1 seed with a loss, but it makes it a little more interesting. If they go 1-1 to end the seasons, they need the Raiders to lose one. I personally would be a little concerned with a trip to Oakland in the playoffs, but regardless they will get a week off with a first round bye.
Early thoughts:
The Jets sure feel like a dumpster fire but they cannot be underestimated. They have some talent and pieces and Todd Bowles is, in fact, a good coach. Matt Forte is a player who could cause some problems, but the Patriots are better equipped now to handle him than they were earlier in the year. The team dynamic also feels different from earlier in the year. The Jets feel like a firecracker about to go off while the Pats are playing their best ball and really gelling together. The Pats defense also feels some type of way about being criticized (rightfully so) for their play earlier in the year. This seems to have brought them together in a way while they’re thriving. I love me a good “Us Against the World” Patriots mentality. While the Jets could do some damage, I really see the Patriots demolishing them.
