2020 Just keeps getting weirder and weirder, what will the next twist take us? On Monday the 2-5 New England Patriots travel to Metlife Stadium to take on the 0-8 New York Jets.
Date: Monday, November 9, 2020
Game Time: 8:25 PM EST
Venue: Metlife Stadium, East Rutherford NJ
Network: ESPN
All-time record: Patriots lead series, 67-54-1 (including playoffs)
When They Last Met…
Patriots 33-0 Jets
October 21, 2019
The Patriots started off hot with a near nine-minute opening drive which ended with a Sony Michel three-yard TD run to open the scoring.
On the next drive, Sam Darnold, who would later claim he was “seeing ghosts” threw an interception to Devin McCourty to give the Pats an immediate red-zone opportunity.
After a couple of bad plays, the Pats had to settle for a field goal to increase their lead to ten. The Jets continued to struggle early on and weren’t able to move the ball before punting possession back to New England.
The Pats drove back nicely into Jets territory before getting stopped on fourth down, six yards short of the first. After going for it and finding a first-down completion to Ben Watson, Tom Brady launched a dime to Philip Dorsett for a 26-yard touchdown.
Moving into the second quarter, Michel continued his monster scoring game and found the end zone again with another rushing touchdown. Halftime Patriots 24-0 Jets
The third quarter came and went as Darnold threw two more interceptions, and received a terrible snap inside his own five-yard line that he had to bat out of bounds for a safety.
After finding themselves at the Jets goal line in the fourth quarter, Michel powered his way through for his third score of the game to ice the game. Brady got swapped out for Stidham and he saw the game out as the Patriots improved to 7-0 on MNF. Final- Patriots 33-0 Jets
Performances
NE
QB Tom Brady 31/45 – 249 YDS – 1 TD – 1 INT
RB Sony Michel RUSH- 19 ATT – 42 YDS – 3 TD
PATS D – 6 Turnovers – 4 INT – 1 SACK
How The Patriots Win
The Patriots showed the ability to compete against Buffalo last Sunday, but on Monday night, it will be a much different battle. I think in their two match-ups against the Jets this season, it will be the only time I honestly think the Patriots are better in all phases of the game than the opposition. The Jets really suck this year, really bad.
Running The Ball
With Sony Michel back from IR, the team should look to establish the run using him, Damien Harris, and potentially J.J. Taylor if he can suit up. This could really help open up the Jets secondary for the passing game, which somehow had some effectiveness last week without any of the team’s usual starting receivers.
Solid Defense
The defense has been up and down all year, but the last time they faced the Jets, they forced six turnovers in a shutout performance. Now, they won’t need to do that to win on Monday night, but I have a feeling if they can force turnovers, the Patriots will win.
Ball Security
One final note, the team has awful with ball safety so far this season, very much uncharacteristically for a Bill Belichick coached team, please can I have one game with no turnovers, just one?
Player Spotlight – Josh Uche
Fans were excited when the Patriots selected Josh Uche 60th overall in the second round of this year’s draft. Unfortunately, it took until Week 8 of the regular season before we were able to see him in action.
Uche’s college career was spent at Michigan where he made scouts take notice as his draft stock rose following an impressive final season for the Wolverines.
Given how depleted the linebacker group is this year, Uche really has a golden opportunity to develop playing in NFL games during his rookie year and staking a claim for a regular starting place. There’s something about him that makes me feel he could be an important part of this organization for years to come if he can develop to the ceiling for the position he was drafted in.
He is expected to play in only his second professional game on Monday night.
Familiar Faces
Former Patriots
Players
LB Harvey Langi (2017)
WR Braxton Berrios (2018-2019)
Coaching Staff
DLC Andre Carter – Defensive End (2013)
Ast. HC/WRC Shawn Jefferson – Wide Receiver (1996-99)
Former Jets
Players
DB Terrence Brooks – (2017-18)
K Nick Folk – (2010-16)
Coaching Staff
HC Bill Belichick – Ast. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator (1997-99)
WRC Mick Lombardi – Ast. Quarterbacks Coach (2017-18)
Broken Records
Here’s some milestones that could be surpassed on Sunday.
Team
-A win will see the Patriots will improve to 93-26, the best intra-division record in the NFL since 2001.
CB J.C. Jackson
-If Jackson gets one more interception this season, he will become the first Patriot since Asante Samuel (2006-07) and fifth overall to net at least five
picks in consecutive seasons.
RB James White
-Needs two touchdown receptions to tie Larry Garron (26) as most all-time in Patriots history for touchdown receptions by a running back.
S Devin McCourty
-Needs one interception to tie Ron Hall, Roland James, and Fred Marion for third all-time in Patriots history with 29 career interceptions.
Score Prediction: Patriots 24-7 Jets
This Patriots team, believe it or not, isn’t tanking. I don’t think Sam Darnold is terrible, but the rest of his team is, the Jets will get a touchdown on the board, but nothing more. Patriots come home with a bounce-back win to end the streak. LFG.
[…] Check out my preview for today’s match up here. […]