What to Watch For: Jets vs Patriots
Joe Calabro, GoLocalProv Sports Team
What to Watch For: Jets vs Patriots
As GoLocalProv reported, the Patriots released Brown late Friday afternoon just 11 days and one game after they signed him.
"We appreciate the hard work of many people over the past 11 days, but we feel that it is best to move in a different direction at this time,” said the team in a statement.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTNew England enters Sunday's game following two dominant wins over the Steelers and Dolphins, while the Jets are 0-2 on the season and starting third-string quarterback Luke Falk.
“There is never an easy game in the NFL, they are all challenging. They are really good opponents, well-coached, a lot of good players. I’ve been playing too long to look past an opponent, these guys are a good team,” said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during his press conference on Friday.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick added, “It's another big week for us in the division, so it's always tough with the Jets. We know that. First of all, just with Adam [Gase], I think he does a terrific job. Certainly, we've had a ton of problems playing against him in the past. He's a very good football coach.”
Game time is set for 1 p.m.
See What to Watch for in the Slideshow Below
Patriots vs Jets
The Patriots and Jets will meet for the 121st time in history on Sunday, with the Patriots leading the series 65-54-1.
New England has won the last six games in the series, including two victories last season.
New York’s last win came in 2015 when they held off the Patriots 26-20 in the Meadowlands.
See What to Watch for in the Slideshow Below
5 Things to Watch For: Jets vs Patriots - September 22, 2019
Offensive Line
The Patriots offensive line is currently a mash unit.
As GoLocalProv reported earlier this week, left tackle Isaiah Wynn was placed on injured reserve and will be out of action until at least November 17.
Newcomer Marshall Newhouse is expected to take his spot protecting Brady’s blindside.
Wynn is just the latest blow to New England’s offensive line.
"There are some moving parts there. Some of them anticipated or had a chance to plan for, some happened rather quickly and you have to react to those. But yeah, that group is a hardworking group. They've communicated well together and the guys with more experience helping some of the guys with less experience, but overall we've just tried to take it day-by-day,” said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during his conference call on Monday.
Since the midpoint of training camp and the preseason, the Patriots offensive line has taken numerous hits when it comes to health.
Starting center David Andrews will miss the entire season after being hospitalized with blood clots in August.
Right tackle Marcus Cannon missed the game against the Dolphins after suffering a shoulder injury and is questionable to play on Sunday.
The o-line will be in for a challenge against the New York Jets defense led by coordinator Gregg Williams.
“They run a pretty good amount of blitz-man and they add in quickly, so if the player blocks that the defender is covering, then he just adds in on the blitz. So four or five becomes six, six can become seven in a hurry. They also have an overload blitz package, which compliments their single blitzers,” Belichick said during his press conference on Wednesday.
He added, “they have a good complimentary package and it'll be very challenging to not only our pass-protection and run-blocking schemes to get a hat on a hat, but also for the receivers to get open quickly and to make adjustments based on the leverage that they play those coverages with.”
PHOTO: University of Georgia
Run Defense
The Jets come into the game starting third-string quarterback Luke Falk and are limited at the wide receiver position after Quincy Enunwa went lost for the season.
New York will rely heavily on star running back Le’Veon Bell.
After holding out all of last season, Bell has 38 carries for just 128 yards in two games, with one receiving touchdown.
“He does an excellent job of setting the blockers up and making the defenders commit, and then finding space and going. You don't see him running into the back of his blockers and running into a pile and things like that. He makes guys commit, and then he finds space and is able to get to it. He's an excellent player,” said Belichick on Wednesday.
The Patriots defense has been stifling so far this season, having given up just three points over the last two weeks and six points in the last three games dating back to the Super Bowl.
When it comes to the run game, the Patriots are giving up just two yards per carry.
If the Patriots are able to replicate that, the Jets might have a tough time moving the ball.
PHOTO: Jeffrey Beall/Wikipedia
Wide Receivers
The Antonio Brown era is over which means it is time to shift focus back to the rest of the receiving corps.
The group will be led by Julian Edelman, who has 10 catches for 134 yards on the season.
Expect Phillip Dorsett to see more action similar to what he saw in the season opener. However, his snaps were then reduced against Miami with the addition of Brown.
Dorsett has seven catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns on the year, while Josh Gordon follows up with five catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.
Undrafted rookie Jakobi Meyers is expected to return to the lineup after he was inactive against the Dolphins to make room for Brown.
Meyers had one catch in New England’s season opener.
The New York Jets will bring a lot of pressure so the Patriots running backs to be a huge factor in the passing game, namely James White and Rex Burkhead.
“You have five receivers out there. Those are hard matchups for players who aren't good, experienced coverage players playing at all of the positions because those guys could line up anywhere,” said Belichick on Wednesday.
The tight end position remains a weak spot in the offense, though Matt LaCosse has shown the ability to catch the ball.
He has two receptions on the year.
“Matt's very attentive. Smart kid. Picks things up well, works really hard. He's just been limited here since the Detroit game, but he's tough. He's working through it, so hopefully, he just keeps getting better day-to-day,” said Belichick.
New England will get Ben Watson back in two more games.
PHOTO: Joe Calabro/GoLocalProv
Anderson vs Gilmore
Earlier this week, New York Jets wide receiver Robbie Anderson said that Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore gets away with a lot of holding.
“He’s one of the best. He holds a lot, gets away with it. I’ve got to come with my A-game,” said Anderson on Thursday.
So far this season, Anderson has seven catches for 104 yards. He has 162 career catches for 2,384 yards and 15 touchdowns.
However, against Gilmore as a Patriot, his numbers are much different.
Anderson vs Gilmore
2017, Week 17:
Anderson vs Gilmore: Anderson was not targeted.
2018, Week 12:
Anderson vs Gilmore: Four targets, no catches, one interception, and one pass break up.
2018, Week 17:
Anderson vs Gilmore: 10 targets, two catches, 11 yards, one interception and four passes broken up.
Overall, against the Patriots, Anderson has played six games and averages two catches for 26 yards per contest.
The Jets lost all six games.
PHOTO: Patriots media website
Stephen Gostkowski
Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed two extra points and a field goal last week in Miami.
He has already passed the number of extra points that he missed all of last season.
“Every year has different challenges and different ways you feel. You do the best you can with what you’ve got. And this hasn’t been the best start, but I’m not going to throw in the towel,” Gostkowski told the media after the game.
In his career, Gostkowski has nailed 84% of his field goals and has missed just nine extra points.
Gostkowski signed a two-year $8.5 million extension with the Patriots during the offseason.
PHOTO: National Guard/Wikipedia
