Dissecting Most Crucial Matchups in Jets' Week 7 Contest Against Patriots
The struggles continue for the New York Jets (1-5), but Rex Ryan’s crew can’t hang their hang heads on a short week. Thursday Night Football features a rivalry game against a division opponent—the New England Patriots.
If the Jets plan to salvage what’s left of their season, they can start by winning their first divisional game against a quality opponent. Subtle improvements were evident—specifically on offense against the defending AFC Champion Denver Broncos. Gang Green looks to take bits and pieces of their fifth loss to get back into the win column. Coach Ryan's team must take advantage of these critical matchups.
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Oday Aboushi vs. Vince Wilfork
Welcome Oday Aboushi to the disarray that is the Jets offensive line. He’s going to replace injured guard Brian Winters for the rest of the season. Winters has struggled this season, leading the league among starting guards in total pressure allowed, via Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Pressure is defined as a culmination of sacks, hits and hurries allowed on the quarterback.
Aboushi could be an upgrade if he impresses as he did in training camp.
On the other hand, he hasn’t lined up against the likes of Vince Wilfork—a five-time Pro Bowler in midseason form. It’ll be a major test for the second-year guard out of Virginia. Other than protecting Geno Smith, Aboushi can’t allow Wilfork to disrupt the rushing attack Marty Mornhinweg figures to employ heavily against a defense allowing 111 rushing yards per game.
Rob Gronkowski vs. Calvin Pryor
You can ask Julius Thomas just how easy it is as a tight end to score on the Jets.
It shouldn’t be that easy, but tight ends Antonio Gates and Martellus Bennett can certainly agree with Thomas’ sentiments. New York’s middle linebackers and safeties match up horribly against athletic tight ends that resemble oversized receivers.
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns | |
| Martellus Bennett (CHI) | 5 | 54 | 2 | |
| Antonio Gates (SD) | 4 | 60 | 2 | |
| Julius Thomas (DEN) | 4 | 51 | 2 |
Gronkowski will likely see linebacker David Harris on short routes leading him into Calvin Pryor as he meddles within the Jets secondary. Pryor has the physicality to match Gronkowski but struggles in coverage.
This is Pryor in coverage against Thomas.
Pryor is pressed up against Thomas in the red zone.
Thomas makes a double move, faking outside, then taking the inside route. Pryor opens his hips, slightly taking his stance off balance.
Peyton Manning delivers the ball accurately, and it's an easy pitch-and-catch for a four-yard touchdown pass.
This is Pryor in Week 3 against Bennett of the Chicago Bears.
Pryor shows blitz.
He backs off into coverage.
Jay Cutler looks toward Bennett on the left.
Cutler throws a touch pass right over Pryor to Bennett in the open field for a touchdown. Pryor was five yards off coverage—leaving too much space for the receiver to make a routine catch.
Gronkowski hasn’t been the same red-zone scoring machine of past seasons, but he has come along steadily in the last two games.
| Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns | |
| Week 5 | 6 | 100 | 0 |
| Week 6 | 7 | 94 | 1 |
Pryor's poor coverage skills can be exploited if Tom Brady continues to target Gronkowski as he's done in the past two weeks.
Jace Amaro vs. Deontae Skinner
According to the Patriots injury report, strong-side linebacker Dont’a Hightower was limited in practice with a knee injury, and Jerod Mayo has been placed on injured reserve—ending his season.
Jace Amaro is the other tight end in this contest that’s catching passes with ease as of late. He’s coming off his best performance of the season and now faces the Patriots’ wounded linebacker corps.
In Week 6 against Denver, all of Smith’s completions to Amaro were short to intermediary passes. Rookie linebacker Deontae Skinner, filling in for Mayo, should be on high alert.
| Field Position | Targets | Receptions |
| Short Left | 2 | 2 |
| Short Middle | 2 | 1 |
| Short Right | 8 | 7 |
New England's defense is susceptible to giving up significant yards to Amaro if Smith can deliver the ball accurately over the middle.
Muhammad Wilkerson/Sheldon Richardson vs. Patriots Offensive Line
Earlier in the season, when the Patriots struggled, the focus was placed on an offensive line lacking cohesion and the fallout from trading away guard Logan Mankins. Two offensive linemen, Dan Connolly and Bryan Stork, are currently dealing with concussions, per New England's injury report.
Brady has been sacked 12 times this season, per espn.com
Thursday night, he could be taking snaps from yet another center—the third this season—if Connolly and Stork fail to pass concussion protocol.
The Jets are tied for the second-most sacks this season with 19—led by a prominent trio of Muhammad Wilkerson, Calvin Pace and Sheldon Richardson. The pass rush could overwhelm Brady due to the inexperience surrounding him in the pocket.
New England’s wide receivers don’t compel double coverage or complex schemes, which allows Ryan to use man-to-man coverage and pressure Brady with the blitz.
If the Patriots fail to negate or adjust to Ryan's blitz schemes at the line of scrimmage, Gang Green can steal one from the Patriots in New England.
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