The New England Patriots are now leading the NFL standings, and Jets fans probably aren’t thrilled about seeing their rivals back on top. The Patriots are riding a seven-game winning streak into Week 11, and they’ll face off against Justin Fields, Breece Hall, and the Jets this Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
New England (8-2) is tied with Indianapolis and Denver for the best record in the league, thanks to a hot streak that started on September 28. They’ve had some easier games against struggling teams like New Orleans, Tennessee, and Cleveland, but they also beat Buffalo on the road to take the lead in the AFC East. Most recently, they played a strong four quarters to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28-23. Drake Maye threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns, and the offensive line did a much better job, giving up only one sack after allowing 16 in the previous three games.
The Patriots are aiming for their first eight-game winning streak since 2019, the last time they started a season 8-2 or better, which was Tom Brady’s final year with the team. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said his team isn’t getting caught up in all the attention. “We never want to take the cheese and get into all that,” he said. “When things are going well, you have to be ready for when they’re not.”
New England’s defense is the best in the league against the run, allowing just 792 yards in 10 games. That could force the Jets to pass more, which might be tough for Fields, who’s been struggling.
The Jets (2-7) managed to win their second straight game on Sunday, even though Fields only completed 6 of 11 passes for 54 yards. Star running back Breece Hall was responsible for 42 of those yards with a touchdown catch that sealed the 27-20 win over Cleveland. Hall’s season has been up and down, leading the team with 133 yards and two touchdowns in the Jets’ first win over Cincinnati. “He’s that man,” Fields said. “It’s simple. He’s that man.”
The Jets need Fields to step up, too. Their hopes of ending a 14-year playoff drought are gone, but they’re sticking with Fields over veteran Tyrod Taylor at quarterback. “I don’t care if it’s three games or one game. We just want to win,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn said. “The more you win, the more confidence you get as a player and as a team. That's the only thing that we care about.”
Both coaches have played in the Jets-Patriots rivalry before, Glenn with the Jets from 1994-2001, and Vrabel with the Patriots from 2001-08, right at the start of the Brady era. The Patriots won 15 straight against the Jets from 2016-23, but the Jets finally broke that streak at the end of 2023 and split their two meetings last year.
Against Cleveland, the Jets returned both a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns in the first quarter, the first time that’s ever happened in franchise history. Will McDonald IV also tied a team record with four sacks. Vrabel said the Jets don’t look like a team that lost two of their top defenders (Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams). “That didn’t show up at all,” Vrabel said. “I saw an energy, I saw excitement that jumped off the screen. This will be a challenge. I know they'll be ready to go on the road and we'll have to continue to prepare and ultimately play well."
The Patriots’ biggest injury worries are in the backfield. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson (430 yards) has a knee injury but practiced fully on Tuesday. Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) has missed two straight games, and he and third-stringer Terrell Jennings (knee) were limited. Receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) and linebackers Christian Elliss (hip) and Jack Gibbens (hamstring) were also limited.
The Jets will reportedly be without top receiver Garrett Wilson (knee sprain) for 3-4 weeks. Glenn left reporters confused at his press conference by telling them to ask the reporter who broke the news about Wilson’s injury. When the official injury report came out, defensive lineman Harrison Phillips (foot) and cornerback Azareye’h Thomas (concussion) were listed as missing practice, while McDonald (quad) and DL Braiden McGregor (shoulder) were limited.
Wilson Pick Focus: Jets vs Patriots (O 43.5, -105)
I’m leaning toward Jets +12.5 to keep this one close and I’m backing the Over 43.5 as my main play. The Jets might be a mess on paper, but they’ve shown real fight lately, staying within one score in most losses. New England’s offense has been rolling behind Drake Maye, yet its red-zone defense remains one of the league’s worst. That opens the door for New York to do its part on the scoreboard. With both teams trending Over, I’m expecting more points than the total suggests on Thursday night.
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