2011 NFL Schedule: Tom Brady, New England Patriots Host New York Jets Week 5

According to Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald, the New England Patriots will host the New York Jets in Week 5 of the 2011 NFL season.

That is, of course, if we have a season at all. Still, it's hard not to be excited about this game.

The Patriots still have the bitter taste in their mouth from the 28-21 loss to their division rivals at home. Not since 2007 had the Patriots entered the playoffs with high expectations, and the Jets sent them crashing down.

For the Jets, the big breaks were aplenty. An early interception thrown by Tom Brady was taken back for a 58-yard return by David Harris. A botched fake punt on fourth-and-two gave the Jets the ball and excellent field position.

Even after the Patriots drew within a field goal, Jerricho Cotchery's 58-yard reception swung the momentum right back in the Jets' favor.

Throw in the fourth quarter eight-minute drive to nowhere and while the Patriots did a few things to give this game to the Jets, the Jets did a great job of capitalizing on New England's mistakes.

This will be Brady's chance to prove himself against his AFC East rivals. After a season in which he broke efficiency records and touchdown records left and right, Brady was made to look very human against Rex Ryan's tenacious defense.

In fact, much of the blame for the Patriots loss has fallen on Tom Brady's overall performance. Ron Jaworski said that Brady looked like he was seeing ghosts out there, feeling the pressure of a pass rush that wasn't anywhere around him.

Most of the Jets' five sacks were coverage sacks, plays in which Brady didn't have a single open receiver to throw to.

This contest will go a long way in determining who sits atop the AFC East. If the Jets win this game, they would pull to 3-1 in the previous four meetings against the Patriots. If New England pulls out a win, the Patriots pull even at three apiece against Rex Ryan's Jets.

The x-factor in this game could be the weeks before it. According to Manish Mehta of New York Daily News, the Jets have a tough three-game road stretch. They go on the road to face the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens, and finish off the stretch at New England.

What we still don't know, though, is who New England is facing. If they are facing the Steelers and the Colts, I'd say it's a wash, but that's unlikely so early on in the season.

Just as it was last year in Weeks 2 and 13, this will definitely be the most hyped contest in Week 5. I can safely say that, even without knowing the other games on the docket that week.

Follow Erik Frenz on Twitter @erikfrenz