Can the New York Jets be taken seriously by the New England Patriots?
Should they?
The Patriots have won three straight over the New Yorkers and 18 of the last 20, dating back to the 2016 season.
Yet, the Jets hit Gillette Stadium on Sunday with a 2-3 record and a hunger to prove that, yes, they are a legitimate NFL franchise.
Dominance has made impact
Clearly, they still have a bit of “Patriots on the brain.”
“When I came in, I knew the stakes. The Patriots were the ones that always rose to the top,” said Jets receiver Garrett Wilson. “At the time, it was 14 straight. We ended up breaking that a few years ago, but just knowing how much it weighs on the … you know, at the end of the season, this is what it comes down to, you put yourself in that position, put yourself in the hunt.
“All of a sudden, it’s one of those things the young guys are going to get hip real soon. Being in year five, I know what it comes down to at the end of the season.”
Still searching for answers
The question of why New England has owned the Jets pretty much stumped Wilson this week.
“Multitude of reasons, you know, I don’t know. I don’t know,” he said.
New York would like to believe it has turned the corner.
Geno Smith, now in his second tour for the Jets, has taken charge of things with the offense and placed his club into the middle of the pack.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
High marks for Smith
“Geno’s a really good quarterback. Obviously, he is playing like a top-10 quarterback, right now, for sure,” said New England defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr. “I would say he’s very patient with his reads. He’s not forcing bad throws. I think he operates well.
“There’s a reason he’s been in the league for so long. He’s got great arm talent, great accuracy. He’s smart. He knows how to get to the right plays, the right checks. And he’s going to be a great challenge.”
New York believes, for now, but still you have to wonder if it’s a bit of false bravado.
“(It’s) a new season at the end of the day. There’s a premium on this one because it’s our first (division game),” said Wilson. “I don’t know how to exactly put it, but it’s a big-ass game.”
