Patriots Power Rankings: Game vs. Jets Gives 'Clue'?
The New England Patriots are one of nine teams to start their season with an 0-2 record.
Some 0-2's look worse than others, and if there is such a thing as a "good" 0-2, the Pats might have that. The Pats and the Minnesota Vikings are the only teams in the winless column to have lost both games against playoff teams from a year ago.
That's part of the reason why the Pats are given some leeway in this week's power rankings from Sports Illustrated. New England clocks in at No. 24.
"They are much improved, but they are facing off against a handful of teams to start the year with Super Bowl aspirations," SI writes. "Narrow losses to the Eagles and Dolphins look like an indictment on New England, though I’m not sure they would have been within 15 points of either team last year with a different offense. A game against the reeling Jets in New Jersey should clue us in on how their season will go once the schedule softens."
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones against the New York Jets.
The Pats' first road test of the season comes against the Jets, a team New England has had a fair amount of success against over the years. Knowing the fact that they will play Zach Wilson rather than Aaron Rodgers, this could be a must-win for the Pats.
Only 9.58 percent of teams have started 0-2 and made the playoffs, but that statistic shrinks to 2.5 percent for those who begin the year 0-3. Just four teams have started off 0-3 and made the playoffs since 1992, so a loss on Sunday would give the Pats extremely long odds to return to the postseason.
The Patriots and Jets kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday inside MetLife Stadium.
