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Why They Win: Patriots 15th Consecutive Win Over Jets?

The New England Patriots have a chance to pick up their first win of the season against the most appropriate opponent possible: the New York Jets.
Geoff Magliocchetti|
Why They Win: Patriots 15th Consecutive Win Over Jets?
Why They Win: Patriots 15th Consecutive Win Over Jets?

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New England Patriots

Death, taxes, New England Patriots over New York Jets.

For just about two decades now, New England has brought inevitability to one of the most unpredictable professional sports mediums: the NFL divisional couple. Since the turn of the century, coinciding with the arrival of ever-so-brief Jets head coach Bill Belichick in New England, the Patriots have won 37 of their 48 meetings against New York. 

New England enters as winners of each of the last 14 meetings entering the latest get-together, which will be staged on Sunday afternoon on the Jets' turf. If the Patriots ever needed to see the Jets, the time is now, as New England is 0-2 for the first time since their original Super Bowl run back in 2001. 

The early defeats certainly aren't egregious, as they've fallen to two of last winter's playoff contenders by a combined 12 points in the opening couple. Moral victories, alas, don't count in the NFL standings, dooming the Patriots to the AFC East basement as October approaches. 

New York is still reeling from one of the most bittersweet victories in the history of professional sports, one that saw them defeat the Buffalo Bills but lose touted incoming Aaron Rodgers for what's presumed to be the rest of the season. Gang Green followed that up with a 30-10 loss at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys last weekend, a defeat that saw 2021 first-round washout Zach Wilson step in for the injured Rodgers. 

What: New England Patriots (0-2) @ New York Jets (1-1)
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Who's Won: Patriots lead 73-51-1 (Last: 11/22, NE 10-3)
Who's Favored: NE -2.5

Rain & Gain

Win or lose, one probably isn't expecting a classic from a Foxborough perspective on Sunday. Those who appreciate both precipitation and the Patriots, however, might have a special treat ahead. 

Tropical Storm Ophelia is expected to have a relatively sizable impact on the NFL action on the Eastern Seaboard. In other words, don't expect much aerial action from either Wilson or Mac Jones, and it'd probably be wise to investigate anything offering the under in most major statistical prop bets ... at least beyond the ground game.  

As it stands, New England is in a better position to succeed on the ground. Rhamondre Stevenson is off his four-digit pace and Ezekiel Elliott's showing clear signs of rust and inexperience over his first two games with a Flying Elvis on his helmet. But the Jets' apparent mistrust in their own rushing affairs could spell trouble.

Despite placing Wilson, who's clearly in over his head, under metropolitan center, the Jets put Breece Hall in action only four times in last Sunday's loss, leading the second-year man to not-so-subtlely vent his frustrations on social media. The Jets also have an Elliott-like veteran project working with them in Dalvin Cook, whose lost fumble in Arlington more or less knocked all the fight out of New York in their interconference loss to the Cowboys. New England's lingering confidence in its current group could be the difference when it comes to developing momentum.

Can't Back Zach

From the moment Rodgers went down and it was clear he wasn't coming back any time soon, the Jets have bestowed every vote of confidence that can unto Wilson. That may be the "right" thing to do and it's almost heartwarming to see the Jets try to make this work. 

But, as another famous New Yorker declared, 90 percent of the game is half mental and the Jets are clearly still fried from watching their supposed salvation leave mere minutes after his debut. Rodgers has done his part to make Wilson more comfortable, using his famed Pat McAfee platform to offer the latest assurances. If the latest edition of "Hard Knocks" was any indication, Rodgers and Wilson built something of a rapport that the Jets at least somewhat hope can solve the passing situation both now and later. In true Jets fashion, however, Wilson has had to come back and grow up in a hurry. 

If one were into conspiracy theories, they could argue that the Patriots facing a Jets team reeling both physically was a ploy by the NFL to get Belichick and Co. back on the right track. No matter how it happened, that opportunity is here, and it's clear that the Patriots must take advantage ... like they have so many times before.

Oh, Henry!

In the wake of the Rodgers injury, there's at least somewhat of a general agreement that the Jets can at least keep their heads above water thanks to a strong defensive unit headlined by Sauce Gardner, but there's a bit of a hole in the middle, the Jets continue to struggle against opposing tight ends.

Last season saw the Jets fall as one of six teams to allow at least 1,000 yards to opposing tight ends last season and this season has gotten off to an equally dubious start. A week after keeping the multi-faceted offense of the Buffalo Bills in check, the Jets allowed Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot into the end zone last week, which proved to be all the scoring that the Cowboys needed.

If the Patriots do manage to find any aerial traction in the expected rain, they'd be wise to continue the re-emerging Hunter Henry renaissance that has turned him into Mac Jones' favorite receiver in the early going. Henry's best skill may be his re-discovered red zone prowess, as his departure in the area led to New England's demise last season: through two weeks, Henry has already matched his entire touchdown tally from 2022 with a couple in the early going.

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Geoff Magliocchetti
GEOFF MAGLIOCCHETTI

Geoff Magliocchetti

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