Amazingly, the Vegas odds only favor the Patriots by 3.5 points (according to Siri on my iPhone at least.) I would say based on that that the Jets have almost a 50/50 chance of winning, which is pretty good. Typically the Jets are competitive or win the first Patriots game, and then get blown out in the second one. But this time I just have a feeling that the Jets are going to win... If Smith can get good protection, I think the Jets can win this one. Aqib Talib is very, very, very good, he generates tons of interceptions, and if he's injured that should really help the Jets' struggling WR corps. Wilfork's absence should help the Jets be able to run a bit, and with Vereen out, plus the Jets' D line being healthy, the Patriots shouldn't have much of a running game. It seems like Gronkowski's forearm is horrible, and if he does play I wouldn't expect him to immediately be dominant. He must have lingering issues to still be out this long, and he would have been on the temporary IR if it had been expected that he'd be out this long. He has to be progressing slower than expected, or he has to have had some kind of setback. Either way, I don't think he'll be amazing right away, as back injuries are a pretty big deal. A relative of mine had the same surgery Gronk had, in his early 60s, that Gronk had at like 24 or whatever. Disc replacement is a big deal, and statistically it tends not to work well at relieving chronic back pain, even though in the US it is mostly used for chronic back pain. Gronk is young and is an elite athlete, but still, he'll be taking big hits constantly and somehow I just don't think he's going to be the same player. Also with his forearm injury, he apparently had an abscess that may have ate away at his bone strength (because he had something surgically implanted to try to make him heal faster for the playoffs, but it ended up causing an infection that made it worse.) If he ends up being dominant again, it would probably be next year, or at best late this year. Brady can still win with whatever receivers, but I don't think it's a given that he's going to win this game. The Falcons have a great QB, have a Hall of Fame tight end who is maybe the best ever, and the Jets still beat them. I know they're 1-4, but they're a very good team with a great QB. I don't count the Jets out by any stretch, as long as Smith is able to reasonably protect the ball. The Saints were able to run the ball pretty effectively against the Wilforkless Patriots D-line. Hopefully Powell and Ivory can do well enough to force the Patriots to respect the run, and then hopefully that opens up the passing game enough for Smith to take his shots and have some success. I'm also looking forward to seeing Wilkerson slam Brady to the turf at least once or twice Go Jets!
Why would Wilfork slam Queerboy to the turf? Anyhow, the biggest problem we'll have is the Pats 12th to 19th extra players on the field in striped jerseys allowing Pat holding, bulldogging, tsckling on the OL and every other conceivable foul while throwing flags galore on any sort of ticky tack things by the Jets. See final "TD play" vs the Saints for reference
If we can get a good push up the middle without blitzing we have a great shot to win this game. If we have to blitz Brady like we did last week this will get ugly fast.
If Edelman has 16 catches again someone needs to get fired...In the first game the Pats had a massive amount of big time drops - way more than the Jets and much cleaner game changing drops. Those receivers have improved, the weather will be nice, and if the Jets don't run the ball and keep Brady on the sidelines he will tear the secondary to shreds early and often.
Accidentally wrote the wrong name. Wilkerson and Wilfork both start with "Wil" and I had just written Wilfork, so I accidentally wrote that instead of Wilkerson.
He had what, like 70 yards on those catches? Who cares how many catches he has if they're all contained. It's not as good as incompletions obviously but not that bad either.
Every damn one seemed to be for a first down...need to keep the pats off the field and no big drives. Their young rookie receivers are getting better and more comfortable.
Lol I'm not saying that he should line up vs Gronk. I'm not too worried about their outside receivers though.
I am so fuckin sick of losing to the fuckin Patriots. Especially the one earlier this yr and in OT last yr. It takes me weeks to get over those. I want Patsy blood on Sunday. That passrush needs to BRING IT. Id like to see more screens and short pass game setting up deep shots on O. Trapping, pulling and moving the pocket. Open the bag of tricks. We need this fuckin game.
Considering the number of three and outs we forced that game as well as the general lack of Pats offensive production I don't think that was the case. Not how I remember it at all. Sure, there were a few 3rd downs when everyone knew Edelman would get the ball and we still didn't shut him down, but I was fine with allowing (but containing) the dinky dinky throws to Edelman since they weren't beating us with them often. Their rookies should look better this week, I agree. Hopefully our rookie does better on O this time too. Not playing on a short week probably helps a rookie QB more than a veteran. They are hurting with injuries, I'm optimistic about this game although maybe not confident. At the very least we look to have a chance and that's all I ask for.
I just hope we can that conservative play shit and let Geno be Geno. We would have beat Pitt if not for the play calling.
What does that even mean? We'll never get them? Times change quick in the NFL. The Jets will probably be a bit deeper and better next year. Never say never.
We always seem to play WORSE against the Pats when we are at home. That's something that really bothers me. We play them tough in Foxboro but the games at MetLife are usually a smorgasbord of buttfumbles and football follies.
You should go watch last second Hail Mary plays to know that holding and PI penalties never get called. It's worth more to the NFL to have a last second highlight win than a game that ends in a penalty. Tons of holding on the Tyree catch. It is what it is.
