Jets Vs. Patriots: 10 Bold Predictions For Crucial Monday Night Football Clash
Jets-Patriots represents one of the best Monday Night Football clashes of the season .A pair of 9-2 teams, both of whom are fully capable of finishing with the best record in the AFC.
With teams this closely matched, it could be anybody's game. When you've got a team like the Jets, who've rallied to win four straight games, against a team like the Patriots, who have the capability to put points up on even the stodgiest of defenses, anything can (and typically will) happen.
Which is why we're bringing you these 10 bold predictions for tonight's clash. Sure, they might be a bit out there, but they wouldn't be bold if they weren't, right?
10. The Jets Will Score First
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The Jets have been great on the road this season, but Foxboro is a different animal than almost any other NFL stadium. They'll need to take the fans out of this one early, and the best way to do that is with a quick score.
They'd prefer to do it with Mark Sanchez's arm, to establish the pass early, but if they have to run it in, so be it. Either way, look for the Jets to go up by at least a touchdown early in this one.
9. BenJarvus Green-Ellis Scores a Touchdown
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Sure, it doesn't sound bold, right? That is, until you realize that the Jets' run defense is among the league's best, and have allowed just six rushing touchdowns all season.
Still, it won't take him the whole game to find the end zone, and he doesn't need to have a monster game to do it, either. Just one run, from inside the five, should be enough.
8. Braylon Edwards Drops Three Passes Before Halftime
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Edwards might be the Jets' leading receiver this season, but don't be fooled; he's still Braylon Edwards. The former Cleveland Brown has a nasty habit of catching the dropsies, and he's overdue for one of those games that makes you want to scream.
Look for Edwards to drop at least three passes by halftime, one of which will be a potential touchdown.
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7. Dustin Keller Exceeds 100 Yards Receiving
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Remember Week 2? Keller tormented New England's defense all game long, while racking up 115 yards and a score.
Look for him to match that yard total again this week, as the Pats lack someone capable of shutting him down. He will be Sanchez's primary offensive target against the diminutive Patriots secondary.
6. Danny Woodhead Breaks 75 Total Yards
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Itsy-bitsy Danny Woodhead has been the spark in the Patriots' offense for quite some time. He's versatile, capable of running with or catching the ball, and is quick enough to slice and dice a defense.
Look for Woodhead to be primed for a big night in this one, and for him to give the Jets fits all game long.
5. The Patriots Will Lead at Halftime
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It might not be pretty, and it might not be by more than a field goal, but look for New England to rally before halftime to take the lead back from the Jets. Maybe it'll be off of a Sanchez interception, maybe they'll just force a punt or two, but 17-14 Patriots is a pretty likely scenario.
4. Tom Brady Will Eclipse 300 Passing Yards
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Here's the logic: who's Revis going to guard that can shut down the Pats completely? If he marks the elusive Wes Welker, Brady hits up fellow pass-catchers Brandon Tate, Deion Branch, Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman. If he marks Branch, then he'll hit Welker instead.
The Patriots don't have one wideout who the Jets can focus on, because everyone in their offense is capable of making plays. Thus, Brady finds plenty of success, despite Revis Island.
3. LaDanian Tomlinson Gains 100 Yards Rushing
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Here's the thing about LT: he's not as much of a threat running the ball anymore, but when you combine that with his pass-catching abilities, you have yourself quite a talented back. The Patriots have been vulnerable to strong rushing attacks all season, and their pass defense isn't so great, either.
In short, 80 yards rushing and 30 yards receiving sounds about right for the aging former Charger.
2. Mark Sanchez Throws For Fewer Than 225 Yards.
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If you don't want the other team's offense on the field, the last thing you're going to do is throw the ball a ton. Sanchez has run hot and cold this season, and he had an ugly game against Cincy on Turkey Day, totalling just 166 yards through the air.
Combine cold weather and shaky receivers with an inconsistent, occasionally mistake-prone quarterback, and you have a recipe for LaDanian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene getting 20 carries each. Even if Sanchez does throw the ball, look for him to struggle to hit receivers in the swirling Foxboro winds.
1. The Patriots Win
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When you've got an offense clicking like New England's, it won't matter who the defense is. Sure, the Jets will keep this one close, but their comeback luck is just about to run out.
Tom Brady is a better passer than anyone they've faced in their four-game win streak, and the Pats' defense, while still not all that good, is better than it was then.
New England 28, New York 20.
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