FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The rivalry between the Jets anܫd the Patriots barely has a pulse.
New England has won the past four meetings. The Jets’ last victory came in the 2010 playoffs, what feels like another life for the Jets organization. Since then the Patriots have dominated the series, including the unforgettable 49-19 Jets loss last Thanksgiving that featured bumbles, stumbles and, of course, the buttfumb🌱le.
Jets coach Rex Ryan arrived in 2009 talking about knocking Tom Brady and Bill Belichick off their perch, but their AFC East dominance has continued. The Patriots have won nine of the past 10 division titles — the only exception an 11-5 season in💫 2008, when Tom Brady was lost for the year on opening week.
“I think any time you play New Engဣland, it’s special,” Ryan said. “There’s no question because that’s the one you’re gunning for. You’re not gunning for secondꦓ place. You’re gunning for first place, and that team’s won our division the four years I’ve been here. So I think that clearly would make it a special game and a big game.”
The Jets enter this game feeling good about themselves. After hearing all offseason they should just forfeit the 2013 season all, they pulled ofꩲf an 18-17 season-opening win over the Bu൩ccaneers in stunning fashion.
To motivate his team Ryan showed his players ESPN’s “power rankings” last week that had the Jets ranked 32nd. Guard Willie Colon said he’s not sur🍎prised people are overlooking the Jets.
“We haven’t given anybody a reason not to put us in that position,” Colon said. “You figure you look around at every other team and they have a quarterback that is soꦇlidified and their running game is a littl꧟e bit better. In that regard, I try not to pay attention to the power rankings.”
The Jets hope they are on their way to solidifying the quarterback spot with rookie Geno Smith, who had an impressive debut. Now, he moves up in class as he faces Belichick and whatever he can cook up to stymie the rookie🅺.
Here is how The Post sees the game breaking down:
MARQUEE MATCHUP
Jets offensive coo🦂rdinator Marty Mornhinweg vs. Belichick
Mornhinweg called a nice game against Tampa Bay on Sunday, giving Smith lots of easy throws and cutting the field in half with rollouts. Belichick is sure to concoct some things Smith has not seen, and it will be fascinating to see if Mornhinweg can help Smith throu﷽gh it♓.
Tight end Kellen Winslow was a key for Smith last week. You can be sure Belichick will try to takeౠ that away. Can Mornhinweg spring him open?
KEEP GENO CLEAN
Smith was sacked five times by the Buccaneers, and fumbled on one♍ of those sacks. Smith has a tendency to hold onto the ball to💞o long, but the Jets had protection problems with their line and their running backs. It is essential they give Smith time to operate on Thursday night.
“His confidence is good now,” Colon said. “Now, we’ve got to keep pushing him. We don’t want him to go to Foxborough, a hostile environment, an🐬d he feels like he’s got the bulls chasing hi﷽m.”
WHO ARE THESE GUYS?
The Patriots have a much different look on offense with wide receiver Wes Welker in Denver, TE Aaron Hernandez in prison and TE Rob Groꦦnkowski expected to miss the game. Throw in injuries to WR Danny Amendola (doubtful to play) and running back Shane Vereen (out), and that does not leave Brady many weapons.
“Tom Brady is a guy who makes the players around him bett✱er,” Jets linebacker David Harris said. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game. So, I’m pretty sure he’ll make sure they’re in the right situations.”
Amendola led New England with 10 catches in Sunday’s 23-21 win in Buffalo but is dealing with a groin injury. That leaves WRs Julian Edelman and rookie Kenbꦺrell Thompkins as Brady’s top targets.
ON THE RUN
The Jets’ rushing attack was non-existent last week. Smith led the team with 47 yards rushing. Running backs Bilal Powell and Chris Ivor🧸y combined for just 44 yards. The Jets have to be more successful running the ball to take some pressure off Smith, and also control the game and keep Brady off the field.
Expect Mornhinweg to get creative and possibly show some re🍎ad-option looks to take advanta💙ge of Smith’s running ability.
“We need a little more attention to detail,” Colon said. “[The Bucs] were a very active front. They knew they couldn’t just line up and play against us because we would have rolled them out of there. We’re going to have ꦓto do a lot better in the run 🔴game than we did [last week]. It’s a good challenge for us.”
3 AND OUT
The key for the Jets will be getting Brady and the Patriots off the field on third down. The Bills struggled with that last week, allowing the 🌜Patriots to go 11-of-20 on third down and sustain some drives.
“That’s the theme, three-and-outs,” defensiveཧ end Muhammad Wilkerson said. “Get Brady off the field 🌱and give the ball to Geno and our offense and let them go to work.”
That’s easier said than done. Ryan brought pressure on Bucs QB Josh Freeman last week and got burne꧂d on a third down in the fourth quarter when he found Vincent Jackson for a 37-yard strike. Does Ryan send b𓆉litzers against Brady or flood the field with defensive backs? He’s done both in the past.
COSTELLO’S CALL
It’s all set up for the Jets. They’re getting a banged-up Patriots t𝕴eam early in the season when the Pats traditionally struggle. The Jets are coming off a big win, hopin꧃g to build momentum. … I’m not buying it. The Patriots still have Tom Brady.
PATRIOTS 27, JETS 13