Thursday Night Football Prediction: Jets have advantage vs. weaker Patriots
The New York Jets have lost eight straight home meetings in the long-running division rivalry, but it’ll be a starkly different New England Patriots team visiting MetLife Stadium for Thursday Night Football on September 19.
Gone is legendary head coach Bill Belichick, whose Patriots routinely bullied their AFC East rivals for two decades. New England, however, has replaced Belichick with a disciple as former Patriots’ linebacker Jerod Mayo will coach his third game at the helm on Thursday.
Following a season-opening 16-10 road win over the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow, the Patriots dropped a 23-20 overtime decision to the visiting Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. Meanwhile, Jets are coming off a road victory after a double-digit loss in their season opener.
While the Jets are relatively healthy on the short week of rest, the Patriots have been severely banged up over the past two games. New England has already declared out starting offensive linemen left tackle Vederian Lowe and left guard Sidy Sow. Making matters more difficult for the Patriots’ offense, starting center David Andrews and right tackle Mike Onwenu are questionable to play.
The Jets, which had trouble containing San Francisco 49ers‘ backup Jordan Mason, can likely control the tempo if they can slow Patriots’ running back Rhamondre Stevenson. He has rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns in two weeks.
On the other side, it appears the Jets have discovered a potent one-two punch out of the backfield with rookie Braelon Allen proving to be an effective change-of-pace substitute for RB1 Breece Hall. Allen became the youngest player in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the same game.
The Patriots are also banged up on defense. Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley is out while starting safety Jabrill Peppers and defensive end Deatrich Wise are questionable.
The Sporting News Jets vs. Patriots Prediction:
- Game of Midweek: Patriots at Jets (-6, 37.5 o/u)
Thursday 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video
This is the other half of the AFC East division rivalry for TNF after the Bills ripped the Dolphins last week. The Jets got their first full-game Aaron Rodgers victory out of the way with their formula of running, defense, and a few timely pass plays. They should open things up a little more in the passing game with rising trust in the wide receivers and the Patriots likely focusing most on containing Breece Hall. The Jets’ defense can rip into a compressed, non-diverse Jacoby Brissett-led offense.
Pick: Jets win 23-13 and cover the spread. – Vinnie Iyer
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