Patriots-Jets Preview: Can the Jets finally knock off the defending champs?

November 13, 6:17 PMNew England Patriots ExaminerSean Crowe

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A happy Cassel, week 2 in New York

Update 6:15 PM: I forgot to mention the fact that the NFL Network has tonight's game, which means if you have Comcast and can't fork up the dough, you don't get the game.

National Sports Examiner Paula Duffy put up an article with different ways you can see the game. The NFL Network having exclusive rights to NFL games is ridiculous.

Where's John F. Kerry when you need him?

I hate Thursday Night football. It seems odd writing a game preview on a Wednesday night. And if I’m having trouble getting back into game day form, imagine how the players feel.

Didn’t the Patriots-Bills game just end a few hours ago?

Bleacher Reports’ Angel Navedo accurately points out that, unlike the Patriots, the Jets didn’t actually play a game last weekend. They spent Sunday preparing for the Patriots by practicing against a semi-pro team from St. Louis.

Jets’ Nation is getting cocky. They’re feeling pretty good about themselves right now. And why not? They could have won last weekend’s game by 80 points if they wanted to.

They’re more rested, they’re on a roll, and they’re due to beat their AFC East rivals. They seemingly have everything going for them.

View from the Enemy

Our very own New York Jets Examiner likes the Jets this week:

One of the best games of week 11and could possibly come down to the last possession of the game. Both defenses should be able to stop the run, therefore it comes down to the passing game. Have to take Favre over Cassel. 24-21

Most of the Jets community on Bleacher Report agrees with him. As a matter of fact, there seems to be a common theme (the Jets will win, and their fans hate the Patriots):

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/80850-jets-patriots-new-york-looks-to-subtract-new-england-from-division

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/80733-the-biggest-jets-game-in-years-how-to-beat-the-new-england-patriots

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/80924-jets-patriots-gang-green-poised-to-stop-being-pat-sies

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/80951-a-fans-rant-why-jets-fans-hate-the-patriots

Some schmuck (read: me) even put the Jets at number 5 in his Power Rankings (the Patriots are 10).

So Jets fans think their team finally has what it takes to beat the Patriots. It’s their time, according to them. Maybe they’re right?

Then again, didn’t the Jets recently lose to the Raiders?

Keys to the Game

Patriots:

• Get an early lead: There’s nothing the Patriots’ defense likes better than Brett Favre trying to come from behind.
• Stop the run: Put the game in Brett Favre’s hands. Don’t let Thomas Jones beat you. Jones won’t turn the ball over. Favre will.
• Protect the ball, sustain drives: Don’t turn the ball over and convert on third down. That was the formula for beating the Bills. The same formula will work against the Jets.

Jets:

• Throw, throw, throw: The Patriots want them to throw, but they REALLY want to throw. Ty Law is walking through that door, but he’s wearing a Jets uniform. Test the Patriots’ secondary early and often.
• Pressure Matt Cassel: The kid who they saw in week two isn’t nearly the quarterback they’re going to see today. The Jets need to get in Cassel’s face and force him to make mistakes.
• Get your defense off the field: The Patriots have been dominating time of possession, but they haven’t been hitting big plays. The Jets will have their chances to get off the field on defense, they need to take advantage. Execute defensively on third down, and they’ll win the game.

Prediction:

I’m not buying the New York Jets. I’m just not. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s Favre. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve only seen them beat the Patriots once since 2002. I don’t know. But whatever the reason, they just don’t scare me.

Or the Patriots.

Patriots 24, Jets 10

Sean Crowe is the New England Patriots Examiner. You can email him at scrowe@gmail.com. Check out some of his other work on his Bleacher Report page.