Week 3: Patriots' season on the line
The Red Sox season was over pretty quickly after it started. Could New England fans be looking at the same scenario with the Patriots? If the Patriots lose to Zach Wilson and the Jets, the season may well be over before the leaves even start changing colors in New England.
The Patriots have come close to winning each of their first two games. That’s nice. But they are still 0-2. To hear fans and media, the prevailing feeling this week is “thank goodness we got the Jets this week.” People are chalking it up as a win – an actual victory that shows up in the standings, not a moral victory.
What Patriots’ fans need to begin realizing is that - and this is going to hurt to read - other teams are now looking at the Patriots on the schedule and they are chalking that up as a possible win, if not a “should” win. There is no one, and that includes the Jets, that the Patriots can look at on the schedule and say that is a definite win. New Orleans, Washington, Pittsburgh? Maybe before the season the Patriots could chalk those games up as wins, but not now. You feel good about beating Denver and the Giants on the road? I guarantee you those two teams think they can beat the Patriots, especially on their turf. The only game the Patriots can feel “really” good about winning at this point is Week 10 at home against the Colts, and I think the Colts would agree.
The Patriots should feel good about beating the Jets twice now that New York is without Aaron Rodgers. But the Patriots are 2-7 in their last nine games. The Jets have beaten Buffalo twice the last two years, so they cannot be easily dismissed.
The Patriots managed only 32 points in two games last year against the Jets. New England needed a miraculous walk off punt return by Marcus Jones for a touchdown to eke out a 10-3 victory in Foxboro in their last matchup. The Jets’ defense is for real. Before Rodgers' injury, this team was considered a Super Bowl contender. Just because they lost their Hall of Fame quarterback does not mean the Jets suddenly fall to contenders for the number one draft pick.
The Patriots’ offense, while improved, has struggled to put together a full, clean game. There has been Mac Jones throwing a pick six, Zeke Elliott fumbling, and Demario Douglas fumbling and subsequently being benched. There have been inopportune penalties and sacks. For a team that is incapable of making big plays, one penalty or one sack is simply a drive killer for the Patriots.
Weather conditions are expected to be miserable Sunday for the game. Tropical storm Ophelia is expected to be passing over New York during the game. It will bring with it high winds and heavy rain. The Patriots had nasty weather for most of its season opener against Philadelphia. It will be frustrating to watch this Patriots offense try to operate in horrible weather conditions for the second time in three weeks. I want to see what this offense can truly do, but we won't find out this week. It is possible Mac Jones will throw the ball fewer than 20 times, reminiscent of when he threw the ball only three times during blizzard conditions in Buffalo in 2021. The bad news is that Zach Wilson should throw fewer than 20 times as well. The Patriots want him to throw as much as possible. The more he drops back to pass, the more chances for the Patriots’ defense to make Wilson turn the ball over.
On a positive note, the Patriots offensive line is slowly getting healthier and coming together. Trent Brown, new contract in hand, should be returning to action after missing last week with concussion symptoms. Starting guards Cole Strange and Mike Onwenu will have a game under their belt after missing significant time. Onwenu didn’t play much of the second half last week due to conditioning issues. Strange was just downright bad in his first game back. What the Patriots do at right tackle is anyone’s guess, but that was the case going into the season. The Patriots will have plenty of options to pick from. Calvin Anderson was a complete disaster last week. Newcomer Vederian Lowe may be someone to keep an eye on. He did a decent job filling in for Trent Brown at left tackle last week.
The Patriots will need their offensive line to get their act together against a tough Jets’ front seven which is every bit as good as the Philadelphia one the Patriots faced two weeks ago. It will be critical to get Rhamondre Stevenson going in this game.
My Prediction: Patriots 16, Jets 7
This game would have been ugly under ideal weather conditions. Mix in a tropical storm and this game may be borderline unwatchable. If you are not a fan of either team, there really is no reason to watch this game. Whoever can hold onto the ball the most will win - plain and simple. Expect plenty of turnovers (hopefully not by Demario Douglas or we may never see him again this season). Where the turnovers occur will be key.
The Jets will get a touchdown, not on offense, but via their defense. I am picturing the Jets picking off a quick wide receiver bubble screen and returning it for a touchdown. It is only a matter of time before some defense sits on New England's bubble screen and jumps it at just the right time.
The Patriots will take advantage of good field position all day long and score touchdowns on short scoring drives, led by Stevenson and a resurgent offensive line. The extra two points? Yes, I see the Patriots getting a safety either by sacking Wilson in the endzone or causing a fumble recovered by the Jets in their own endzone.
The Patriots save their season (for now) and move to 1-2 on the season.