New York Jets (2-7) at New England Patriots (8-2)
If you did not look too closely at this game, you might think that this was simply yet another seeming mismatch for the Thursday Night Football game. Last week, the 2-7 Raiders visited the 7-2 Broncos. Now, the 2-7 Jets visit the 8-2 New England Patriots.
However, this one feels a bit different. Also, let's not forget that while the Raiders did lose, as most people predicted, they fought hard and kept it close. It certainly was no blowout, and the game was not nearly as much of a mismatch as it might have seemed likely.
This week feels like it might even be more the case. Yes, the Pats are hot right now. No team is hotter, in fact. They enter this game at 8-2, which is the best overall record in the NFL currently. And they are riding the high of an eight-game winning streak.
Meanwhile, the Jets enter with a 2-7 record, one of the worst records in the league. It would require nothing short of a miracle for Gang Green to make a serious playoff run, let alone actually qualify for the postseason.
So yes, everything sure seems like it favors the Patriots.
Still, the Pats are relatively new to winning. This current win streak is the longest that this franchise has enjoyed in many years, because they suffered through years of losing. Also, they sometimes struggle inexplicably, like struggling to get past teams like the Falcons and the Saints. Indeed, they do have some potential vulnerabilities that a team like the Jets could potentially exploit.
Let's remember that the Jets had some close games en route to their rather disastrous 0-7 start. But they were better - indeed are better - than that 0-7 start would suggest. Now, they have won two in a row. Have not lost in something like three weeks, with the two wins coming on either side of a bye week. In short, they are playing their best football of the season right now, as they prepare for this game. A bit of momentum, which makes them tougher than they may appear at first glance.
Also, these two teams are in the same division. That means that there is a degree of familiarity there that makes these teams dangerous to one another. It is also why this seeming mismatch between the Broncos and Raiders entering last week's game ended up being so close and competitive throughout. That is also the reason why the Bills looked so bad against the Dolphins last weekend and suffered a costly and convincing loss, even though they had not lost a game to Miami in years prior to that game. Divisional games can be tricky that way.
Perhaps we should also bear in mind that the Patriots suffered both of their losses right there at home in Foxboro. True, they were a different team, because that was early in the season. Yet, they dropped those two games, to the Raiders and the Steelers, in the comfortable confines of home field.
All of that translates to this one potentially being quite close as well.
Nonetheless, I do not want to make too much of the Jets chances in this one. I think that they could win. In fact, I like their chances entering this game better than I liked the Raiders chances last week. And yet, the Raiders proved very tough in that one, didn't they?
Gang Green should be able to keep it close. Expect them to do some things and enjoy some success early. It should be a competitive game.
Yet for all of that, the Pats do indeed have the best record and are tied for the longest active winning streak for a reason. My expectations are that they will not have an easy time of it. Indeed, they will likely struggle at times. Still, they feel like the better overall team, and that is why they likely will pull off the win in the end.
My pick: New England
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