Jets' Facing Early Must-Win Game Against Patriots

That will happen when you are pimped by the media as a major Super Bowl contender, your coach is a minor celebrity, and then you go out and post 176 total yards and 6 first downs.  The fickle draw of perception can be cruel, and now everyone is off this lame party bus.  The problem with that is, despite the horrible offensive performance, the Jets only lost the game to one of the top contenders in the AFC by 1 point.  Now, the Jets host the hated Patriots, and judging by the line movements and message boards and post comments this week, the public is expecting a Patriots’ bloodbath.

I am expecting a close contest, as I look for the Jets to show up emotionally and hit Brady early and often in the New Meadowlands.   The Patriots will try to isolate against rookie Kyle Wilson and Antonio Cromartie, while the Jets will try to get to Brady like they did in week 2 last year so he can’t make those reads.  Of course, the Jets’ offense has to do something–anything– in this game, and that is where most of the skepticism lies.  This game will come down to the Jets generating enough offensively, and enough is going to be more like 16 first downs instead of 6.  While most teams should pass the ball more frequently than they do, the Jets should lean on the run heavily, including on third downs in mid to short range, and even be willing to play an aggressive fourth down strategy and lean on the defense.  The Jets will have to pick their spots to pass, and give Sanchez some simple play action reads to try to strike for some big plays.  The Patriots, meanwhile, need to get something out of the running game, which Ray Rice and Baltimore were unable to do.  Otherwise, Brady may take too many shots.  I know this, it will be a fascinating matchup, and I would love to be able to see the coach’s tape from this matchup when the Patriots’ offense is locking horns with the Jets’ defense.