The New York Jets (2-5, 2-5 ATS, 2-3-1 O/U) will face off against the New England Patriots (1-6, 1-5-1 ATS, 4-3 O/U) in a crucial divisional contest this Sunday afternoon. Last week, the Jets suffered a defeat on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the Patriots experienced a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Earlier this month, the Jets dominated the Patriots with a 24-3 victory in their previous encounter.
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New York Jets Seek Redemption Amidst Struggles
The New York Jets find themselves in desperate need of a win as they navigate through a challenging season. Initially projected as potential division contenders, the Jets have found victories hard to come by. After starting with a 2-1 record, they fell into a four-game losing streak, including a narrow 23-20 defeat to the Buffalo Bills at home. Last week, they faced a disappointing 35-17 loss against the Steelers, despite being favored by 2.5 points. The Jets have only managed to cover the spread in one of their last five games.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, while not dominating the field, has achieved respectable numbers. The seasoned QB has thrown for at least 225 yards in his last five games, including 276 yards against the Steelers. Despite two interceptions in that game, one was due to a miscommunication. So far this season, Rodgers has accumulated 1,663 passing yards with a 10:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio, all while battling a hamstring injury.
Running back Breece Hall had an impressive showing against the Bills with 113 rushing yards, but he was limited to just 38 yards last week. He has 348 rushing yards for the season. Recently, the Jets added star receiver Davante Adams, who caught 30 yards in his debut and has a total of 239 yards this season. Another key player, Garrett Wilson, has tallied 460 receiving yards. However, the Jets offense has struggled to score, managing 20 or fewer points in four consecutive games.
Defensively, the Jets have been a solid unit. They have allowed 23 points or fewer in five of the last six games. They held the Bills in check during week six but faltered against the Steelers, giving up 410 total yards. The return of linebacker Haasan Reddick, who has resolved a contract dispute, bolsters their defense further. The Jets boast an elite pass defense, ranking second in the league, while their rush defense is positioned at 16th.
Currently, New York averages 18.3 points per game, placing them 25th in the league, while limiting opponents to 20.7 points, which ranks 11th overall.
New England Patriots Struggle to Find Momentum
The New England Patriots are in dire need of a win to turn their fortunes around. After a surprising victory against the Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener, the team has struggled, suffering six straight losses. Their offense has been lackluster, ranking near the bottom in multiple categories, with many games ending in significant blowouts. The Patriots faced a 41-21 defeat against the Houston Texans in week six, followed by a 32-16 loss to the Jaguars, where they were 6.5-point underdogs. They have only managed to cover the spread once this season.
After starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett’s tenure, the team has turned to rookie Drake Maye, who has offered a glimpse of hope. Maye threw for 276 yards against the Jaguars and has recorded 541 passing yards with a 5:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio across two games. He is set to lead the offense in this matchup.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson has had a challenging season, with a single game exceeding 100 rushing yards. Last week, he only managed 18 yards, bringing his total for the season to 374 rushing yards. He is currently dealing with a foot injury but was seen at practice earlier this week. Another running back, Antonio Gibson, has contributed 225 rushing yards. The receiving corps has been underwhelming, with Demario Douglas managing to secure at least 50 yards in three of his last five outings, totaling 259 receiving yards. The Patriots offense has struggled to score, failing to reach 16 points in four of their last five games, averaging a mere 262 yards per game.
On the defensive side, the Patriots have shown some resilience but remain below average. While they started the season strong, recent performances have been disappointing, with 368 yards allowed against Houston and 365 yards surrendered to a struggling Jacksonville offense. Their pass defense ranks 24th, with the rush defense at 21st.
Currently, New England averages only 14.1 points per game, placing them 31st in the league, while their defense allows an average of 25 points, ranking 24th overall.
Best Bets for New York Jets vs. New England Patriots
With the New York Jets coming off another tough loss against the Steelers, the team is eager to turn things around. Their roster is viewed as more talented than their current 2-5 record indicates. On the opposite side, the New England Patriots are facing a severe crisis, having lost six games in a row, with four of those defeats coming by significant margins.
Additionally, Aaron Rodgers now has the experienced Davante Adams to bolster the Jets’ passing game. New York ranks 11th in passing yards per game and should be able to take advantage of New England’s weak pass defense, which stands at 24th. Furthermore, the Patriots have struggled offensively, scoring 16 or fewer points in four of their last five games, making it unlikely for them to succeed against a strong Jets defense. Given that the Jets dominated the Patriots by 21 points in their last meeting, another decisive victory is anticipated.
