The New England Patriots look borderline unstoppable through six weeks of action. The defense is playing at an elite level while the offense has shown flashes of great potential. New England faces what is probably their greatest opponent of the young season in the New York Jets. Let’s take a look at some Patriots bold predictions heading into this Monday Night matchup.
New England Patriots vs New York Jets Bold Predictions
Jakobi Meyers Gets Two Touchdowns
The New England Patriots are hurting at wide receiver. Julian Edelman is playing through a rib injury, Josh Gordon suffered a knee injury, and Phillip Dorsett missed the majority of the past two games with a hamstring injury. Edelman should play, while Gordon and Dorsett are questionable for Monday night’s affair. However, none of the trio will be at full strength, so New England will need to turn to their depth.
Jakobi Meyers might be a rookie undrafted free agent, but this kid can play. As discussed back in August, Meyers is a crafty receiver who does all the little things right and catches everything thrown his way. While he isn’t the most athletic guy in the world, he’s an NFL-caliber player who should succeed if given an opportunity. He should have an opportunity to exploit a bad New York Jets secondary and come down with the first two touchdowns of his career.
The Defense Scores More Points Than It Allows
Is this really a bold take? New England’s defense is ridiculously good and already scored more points than they’ve allowed. This sort of performance is completely unsustainable over a full 16-game season, and the New York Jets are probably the best offense New England’s faced all year. In theory, regression should strike this week and New England should allow at least a touchdown or two.
However, the defense is ready to continue their improbable run of unparalleled dominance. Sam Darnold is a solid quarterback, but New England should win in the trenches and apply constant pressure. Jonathan Jones can take away his safety valve in Jamison Crowder and Stephon Gilmore can completely eliminate Robby Anderson. The Jets are going to struggle to move the ball, and the defense should come away with at least one or two turnovers. It’s not crazy to think that one of those turnovers goes to the house for a score.
Tom Brady Stays Clean
New England’s offensive line is a problem. What was once a top-five unit in the league has been decimated by injuries. David Andrews is done for the season, Isaiah Wynn is on the short-term injured reserve, and Marcus Cannon is clearly not 100% after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 1. Because of this, New England’s offensive line has struggled to give Brady time to throw all season long.
However, the line is going to bounce back in Week 7. The New York Jets have a fine pass rush, but most of their strength comes from the interior. Quinnen Williams is still working on adjusting to the NFL, and Joe Thuney and Shaq Mason should be able to take care of the former third overall pick. Marshall Newhouse is bad, but he should be able to slow down Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Williams long enough for Brady to complete quick passes to Edelman. Look for Brady to end the day without a sack and only three or four pressures.
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