Skip to content

FNIA NYJ at NE Preview: Rex Ryan says Belichick is best coach in the league.

Oct 20, 2012, 7:15 PM EDT

Leave a comment

JETS (3-3) AT PATRIOTS (3-3) 

By Football Night in America’s Eliott Kalb

The Patriots will wear throwback uniforms that replicate the ones worn by the 1985 team this week.

The Patriots swept the Jets last year, following a 30-21 win at Gillette on October 9 and a 37-16 victory in the rematch at MetLife in a Sunday Night Game on November 13.

“I don’t think I’m the best head coach in the league right now,” Rex Ryan said Wednesday. “I think he (Bill Belichick) is.”

With one touchdown pass against the Jets, Tom Brady will extend his streak to 39 straight games with at least one touchdown pass and continue his third longest streak all

time, behind Drew Brees (48-current) and Johnny Unitas (47).

Wes Welker has four straight 100-yard games and needs one against the Jets to set a team mark. He is tied with Randy Moss (2007) with four straight 100-yard games.

The Patriots extended their streak to 15 consecutive games with at least 350 total yards for the second-longest streak in NFL history to the 16 by St. Louis (1999-2000).

Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels selected Jets QB Tim Tebow with the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft when he was the head coach of Denver. Tebow threw passes to Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd with the Broncos from 2010-11.

Mark Sanchez has guided the Jets to 11 fourth-quarter comeback or overtime victories, with seven of those wins coming on the road.

Shonn Greene, the team’s starting running back, had 161 rushing yards against the Colts on Sunday.  But the Jets backup running backs are banged up.

Tim Tebow has played running back already this season, taking a couple of snaps at the position against the 49ers, but none of his carries have come as a back. They’ve all come from the shotgun as part of the Wildcat and read-option package. Belichick, speaking Wednesday, said Tebow is “really another running back for them.

Thursday’s Patriots practice session was held in light shoulder pads. The Patriots have not practiced in full pads since Sept. 27.

New England has given up a league-high 33 completions of at least 20 yards this season,

Some Jets defensive players said they were struck by how quickly the Patriots ran their offense two weeks ago against the Denver Broncos. In that game, the Patriots ran 94 plays and compiled a team-record 35 first downs. The Jets said Brady sometimes gets the snap before the defense has a chance to get set, allowing him to exploit vulnerable areas. They’ve seen the Patriots snap the ball with 22 seconds remaining on the play clock.

What the Pats excel at is running on nickel and dime defenses, and once their passing game that’s when their run game is most dangerous.  Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead and Brandon Boldin are still a more dynamic group than they’ve had in some time, but so far we’ve only seen them dominate the run game situationally, when teams are on their heels and overly concerned with the passing attack.

The Jets have averaged 35 points per game in their three wins, 9 points per game in their three losses.

The Patriots are +10 in turnover margin.

Aaron Hernandez is still on the injury list (ankle) and didn’t practice Wednesday.  On Sunday, Hernandez was on the field for 38 of the Patriots’ 86 plays, or 44 percent, and was targeted nine times.

Skip to Comments
More SNF All Access
Back to Homepage
Leave Comment

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Not a member? Register now!

More SNF All Access
Back to Homepage

Sunday Night Football Twitter

View all »