As crazy as it may seem, the Jets are on at primetime, on Monday Night Football, and they play host to their arch-nemesis Patriots, only this time, Tom Brady isn't in the equation. Evil Bill Bellicheat still is, and their new QB now is former Panthers QB Cam Newton. Whatever it takes to finally stop this team must be done in tonight's matchup. However, it will be without Jets signal caller Sam Darnold after reinjuring his shoulder against the Chiefs last week, so Joe Flacco will be picking up his third start this season.
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| Patriots QB Cam Newton hasn't had much success yet this year in his first season with the team |
The Jets have some notable injuries coming into this game as well, the main one obviously being QB Sam Darnold. QB Joe Flacco will have an opportunity to seize a division opponent in primetime and play against an already slim Patriots side as well. Some other notable names that won't play tonight for the Jets are DT Quenin Williams and K Sam Ficken. In Ficken's place, K Sergio Castillo again will kick this week, and he has proven to be an effective signing and backup kicker so far for the Jets. All of the Jets receivers are back tonight minus Vyncent Smith and Chris Hogan, which leaves Flacco a lot of options on offense.
The Jets must continue to also utilize rookie RB La'mical Perine as well, along with Frank Gore in the backfield. If the Jets win tonight, I will make the prediction that the Jets with these two backs will rush for more than 100 yards combined, which only has happened once this year against the Bills at Metlife back in Week 8. This element needs to be used more and with OC Dowell Loggains taking full control now of the offense, I have good reason to believe it will continue to be used more as well.
For a quick preview on the cheaters that inhabit New England, they're a heavy ground and pound team, even with QB Cam Newton who has a good arm and can throw the ball well downfield. They have three go to RBs with Damien Harris, James White, and Rex Burkhead, who will all split carries and all have proven to be effective. With wideouts, Julian Edelman and N'keal Harry are their top guns, but Edelman is on IR and Harry he out of the lineup tonight. Those are two big bullets dodged for the Jets defense. Instead, they'll have Isaiah Ford, Jakobi Meyers, and Damiere Byrd, who are serviceable, but not elite wideouts by any means. This offense definitely favors a Jets defense that is more rush heavy.
On their defense, their top 3 is without a big piece in DE Lawrence Guy, and their best player and leader of their defense who is CB Stephon Gillmore is also out. With these absences, guys like local Jersey natives Jason and Devin McCourty will play bigger roles in their defense. With these two key guys missing for the Patriots, Flacco and the Jets should definitely have chances to take shots downfield and beat up on a slimmed down secondary and defensive front New England has. Jets WR Breshad Perriman is back in the lineup, and could be just the guy to do this.
At the end of the day, with the number of key injuries New England has and the Jets playing hosts on the big stage, this might be one of the best chances the Jets will have to win all season. It's possible, but will it happen? Probably not with the "amazing" luck this franchise has had. Although close scoring, I'll take the Patriots to win this one 20-17.
-Miles Chamberlain
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| Joe Flacco picks up his third start for the Jets this season in tonight's matchup |
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