Against the hapless Jets, the Patriots just need to avoid a letdown

Welcome to Season 14, Episode 16 of the Unconventional Preview, a severe but lighthearted, nostalgia-tinted have a look at the Patriots’ weekly matchup …

Should you’re a Patriots fan, it’s endlessly amusing {that a} half-dozen years after Tom Brady’s distinctive 20-year run ended, the franchise has discovered one other extraordinary quarterback in Drake Maye.

It’s particularly amusing when you think about that the most effective quarterback in Jets historical past performed when the franchise was in a distinct league, and by far probably the most legendary second in franchise lore was Joe Namath’s victory assure earlier than Tremendous Bowl III. That’s proper, III. The Jets have been ready 5 many years for his true successor.

It’s not honest, however that’s how it’s. And so the Patriots, in Maye’s exceptional second season, search for their thirteenth victory Sunday, and to complete with an 8-0 report on the highway, which might be the third time in franchise historical past that they’ve achieved such a feat.

The Jets, underneath rookie coach Aaron Glenn, are a large number even by their requirements. They’re 3-12 after a 29-6 loss to the Saints on Sunday, and undrafted rookie Brady Cook dinner — who has one landing move and 6 interceptions — will make his third begin at quarterback.

The Patriots, coming off a come-from-behind 28-24 victory over the Ravens, ought to roll, offering that they don’t overlook a Jets group that’s simply missed.

This one received’t be a battle with the Jets, however for some time it is perhaps a battle with human nature after such an exciting excessive final week.

Kick it off, Borregales, and let’s get this factor began …

Three gamers price watching apart from the quarterbacks

Rhamondre Stevenson: More often than not when a Patriots participant developed a fumbling behavior through the Invoice Belichick period, the participant would grow to be persona non grata for some time, relegated to the Stevan Ridley Doghouse For Fumble-Susceptible Ballcarriers.

For greater than 20 years, Patriots followers had been conditioned to anticipate main penalties when a participant began coughing the ball up. So it got here as a shock when Stevenson — who led the NFL with seven fumbles final 12 months — coughed up the ball twice within the 21-14 loss to the Steelers in Week 3. Perhaps you’ll admit you had been amongst them and possibly you received’t, however there have been a big variety of Patriots followers who had seen sufficient of Stevenson for some time.

However Mike Vrabel didn’t bury him, saying the Patriots had been relying on each participant and noting that Stevenson had particular expertise, corresponding to an adeptness at blitz pickup, that had been essential to the group. He nonetheless didn’t bury him when Stevenson fumbled on the Patriots’ second collection within the Week 5 win over the Payments, a sport during which he later ran for 2 brief touchdowns.

Wanting again now, sticking by him was one in all Vrabel’s finest early selections. Stevenson has simply 425 dashing yards this season, with rookie TreVeyon Henderson rising on the halfway level as one of the electrifying big-play working backs within the league. However he’s come by means of when the Patriots have wanted him, together with Sunday night time in opposition to the Ravens, when he ran eight occasions for 51 yards, together with the game-winning 21-yard landing run, and added one other 27 yards on two catches.

With Henderson among the many three Patriots (guard Jared Wilson and receiver Kayshon Boutte the others) in concussion protocol this week, Stevenson might have his heaviest workload of the season in opposition to a Jets run protection ranked twenty eighth within the NFL (133.7 yards per sport). It’s a chance he’s earned whereas rewarding his coach’s belief.

Jack Gibbens: Needed to chuckle at Vrabel’s holiday-season-appropriate reply as to whether Robert Spillane, who has missed the final two video games with a foot damage (he dressed however didn’t play in opposition to the Payments), had an opportunity at enjoying this week.

“I don’t [believe so],” mentioned Vrabel, “until we get a Christmas miracle. Tiny Tim begins strolling or one thing.”

Not-So-Tiny Spillane’s absence — barring that miracle — signifies that Gibbens shall be anchoring the Patriots linebacking corps but once more. He’s carried out a reasonably admirable job within the Subsequent Man Up function. He led the Patriots with 10 tackles in opposition to the Ravens, and had 10- and 9-tackle video games (in opposition to the Buccaneers and Jets) earlier this season when Christian Elliss was sidelined.

But it surely should be acknowledged that Gibbens is a backup for a motive — he’s not as fluid in house as even Spillane, an outstanding tackler who struggles in protection. The Patriots nonetheless rank sixth within the NFL in opposition to the run (100.1 yards per sport), however that quantity has been trending within the improper route for a number of weeks.

On Sunday night time, the Ravens ran 33 occasions for 171 yards, and if not for the inexplicable resolution by John Harbaugh (who has a historical past of inexplicable selections in opposition to the Patriots) to bench Derrick Henry for the ultimate two possessions, the Ravens might need held on for the victory.

The Jets working sport is first rate, rating ninth with 124.2 yards per sport. Working again Breece Corridor ran for 58 yards on 14 carries in the first meeting with the Patriots, probably the most yardage a working again had totaled in opposition to them to that time. He hasn’t run for greater than 68 yards prior to now six video games, however he wants simply 46 yards to achieve 1,000 for the season, so he figures to get loads of alternatives.

Milton Williams: Oh, sure, it is going to be awfully good to have arguably their best defensive player back. Williams missed the previous 4 video games with an ankle damage suffered within the earlier assembly with the Jets. He’ll assist some in opposition to the run, although that facet of the protection was beginning to develop some fissures earlier than his damage. However his biggest worth shall be as a move rusher. Regardless of lacking these 4 video games, he nonetheless ranks third on the Patriots in sacks (3½, together with one which locked up their first win of the season in Week 2 in opposition to the Dolphins) and is tied for third in QB hits (eight).

The flashback

The Patriots and Jets have met 133 occasions of their lengthy historical past, which started with the beginning of the American Soccer League in 1960. The Patriots have received 76 of these video games, the Jets 56 (about 20 greater than I anticipated), and there was one tie.

Say, anybody on the market keep in mind the tie?

It’s actually not current. On Oct. 2, 1966, Namath and the Jets rallied from a 24-7 deficit with 17 unanswered fourth-quarter factors to … properly, determine nothing. Ties stink and so they all the time have, regardless of the game.

Within the subsequent day’s Globe, columnist Harold Kaese was neither impressed with Namath and the Jets nor thrilled with the Patriots’ effort after taking an enormous lead behind a pair of Larry Garron rushing touchdowns.

“The Patriots ought to have piled it on in opposition to the Jets although the sport was on TV,” wrote Kaese. “They need to not have been good and caught to the bottom. The value they paid was a tie that nearly ruined their first-place hopes for the season.

“The Jets might have left city nonetheless unbeaten, however they’re hardly the A.F.L.’s reply to the Inexperienced Bay Packers,” he continued.

“Neither is Joe Namath soccer’s reply to Sandy Koufax. He threw quite a lot of warheads within the fourth interval, however solely earlier than Boston’s anti-missile protection had been drugged by all of the duds he threw earlier than that.

“Typically the professionals are so unprofessional that shedding somewhat than successful appears to be the sport’s goal.”

OK, a few ideas: Because it turned out, neither the Patriots nor the Jets received the AFL East Division. The Jets began 4-0-1 however completed 6-6-2, even with Namath — who in all probability drew Kaese’s unfavorable comparability to Koufax as a result of the ace lefty had simply pitched the Dodgers to the pennant that very same day — main the AFL in passing (3,397 yards).

The Patriots had been 1-2-1 after the tie with the Jets, however received it collectively and completed 8-4-2, the second tie coming in opposition to the Chiefs of their tenth sport.

In a bizarre method, the ties did harm them — they completed simply behind the division champ Payments, who went 9-4-1. Thank goodness the NFL lastly added time beyond regulation a number of years after the merger with the AFL, in 1974.

Grievance of the week

Appears like I’ve been writing for 2 months now that there’s not a lot to gripe about with this group that has rocketed previous all preseason expectations, no less than from these of us exterior of their locker room.

Even my (minor) grievance this week is tied to how good they’re. It was a little bit of a bummer to be taught that solely Maye and cornerback Christian Gonzalez made the Professional Bowl from a 12-3 group.

I might have favored to have seen cornerback/punt returner Marcus Jones — a game-changing participant who has three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and a pair of punt-return touchdowns — get a Pro Bowl acknowledgment. He’s a terrific player.

Tennessee’s Chimere Dike beat him out, and he’s a worthy alternative — he additionally has two punt-return touchdowns and leads the league in all-purpose yards (2,269). However Jones in all probability deserved that nod given how he’s contributed to his group’s success, whereas Dike’s Titans are 3-12.

As for different Patriots that ought to have made it? You can also make circumstances for receiver Stefon Diggs, tight finish Hunter Henry, and Williams, although he’s missed the final 4 video games.

However truthfully, the gamers chosen over them had been in all probability extra deserving. Which reveals yet another cool factor about this Patriots group: Vrabel and his workers are doing a exceptional job getting probably the most out of nearly everybody on the roster.

Let me inform you, if he doesn’t win Coach of the 12 months, that’s once I’ll be dedicated to a grievance.

Prediction, or will the Jets ever intercept one other move?

The win over the Ravens had no less than a brief price. 9 Patriots needed to go to the damage tent through the sport. Seven didn’t return. Eight gamers didn’t take part in Wednesday’s follow, together with Spillane, Boutte, receiver Mack Hollins, cornerback Carlton Davis III, and linebacker Harold Landry. The Patriots will overcome their accidents in opposition to a hapless Jets group, but it surely’s crucial that they deal with enterprise early and get out of this one with out additional attrition. Patriots 34, Jets 10.

Chad Finn

Sports activities columnist

Chad Finn is a sports activities columnist for Boston.com. He has been voted Favourite Sports activities Author in Boston within the annual Channel Media Market and Analysis Ballot for the previous 4 years. He additionally writes a weekly sports activities media column for the Globe and contributes to Globe Journal.