Patriots vs. Jets: Matchup Showcases Two NFL Teams Playing Poorly

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Next Sunday at 4:15 p.m. in Foxboro, Massachusetts, one of the NFL's best rivalries resumes when the New York Jets and the New England Patriots meet for the first of two meetings this season. These games always carry a ton of implications but this season will be a little different. 

In New York, an offense that had performed admirably by controlling the clock and the ball while opportunistically scoring points for the past few years has made some attempts to broaden their reach with more passes for young quarterback Mark Sanchez, and more looks downfield for wideouts like Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress. The two-headed rushing attack that featured Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson has been eliminated as well. In its place is Greene as the primary ball carrier and Tomlinson as a versatile third-down back who can both run as well as catch passes out of the backfield. 

One major problem. It's not really working that well.

Sanchez, who had been shielded from too many drop backs and a more complex pass-oriented offense in his first few seasons, is now afforded the chance to pass the ball more. The results have been an increase in sacks, hits, interceptions and fumbles. The Jets offense has become turnover-prone and at times looks like its own worst enemy. 

In New England, the Patriots also are having problems but not in the same vein as the Jets. 

Put simply: the Patriots don't get nearly enough stops. Their defense is often ineffective. A lack of a pass rush combined with a lack of depth, size and experience in the defensive backfield means that the Patriots can't really stop anyone with regularity.

Chad Henne threw for over 400 yards against them. Ryan Fitzpatrick orchestrated a second-half comeback from 21 points down. Yesterday in spite of a final score that would suggest defensive success (31-19), they allowed over 500 yards of total offense to a Raider team that is not exactly known for its high-powered scoring attack.

Patriot loyalists will tell you that the team is suffering from a rash of injuries. This is true, and the loss of Pro Bowl middle linebacker Jerod Mayo will only add to their defensive vulnerability. Injuries are however an inevitable part of the NFL. The Patriots aren't the only team that is suffering from them, and their defense displayed a distinct lack of impact from the very first game of the season.

Winning football games while giving up 500 yards of total offense to your opponent is nice. Any win in the NFL is better than a loss, but a consistent lack of effective defense is like a ticking time bomb. It will eventually blow up and generally at the worst time.

The Patriots got what should have been a real wake-up call two Sundays ago in Buffalo when, in spite of a rare four-interception game from Tom Brady, the team still managed to score 31 points and take a tie game late into the fourth quarter. The Bills then easily marched down the field and kicked a chip-shot field goal to win the game as time expired.

Yesterday's performance against the Oakland Raiders sure looked a lot better on the scoreboard but make no mistake about it. The Patriots are arguably the worst defensive team in the entire NFL.

The presence of Brady, Wes Welker and the rest of the talented and efficient offense affords the Patriots what they most need. Time. Time to make adjustments, possibly bring in a few new players, and most importantly start playing defense as if they have a purpose.

All too often Patriot defensive plays resemble a prevent defense where they are far too willing to yield five to 15 yards in an effort to avoid the embarrassment of a huge 40-yard gain. That type of passive attitude might get the team through a regular season schedule and into the playoffs, but it will in all likelihood make for a very brief playoff run.

In New York, the eternally Super Bowl-bound New York Jets (if you were to listen to their coach) find themselves looking further and further from what we're repeatedly told (by Ryan) that they are.

Yes, the defense can still bring it but now that the offense is passing more and turning the ball over more as well.  That defense which was able to stay off the field for longer breaks during games is now finding itself on the field more frequently. Running plays, whether they are successful or not, just take more time off the clock. Two incompletions and a telegraphed draw play don't take much time at all, and it's back on the field for a defensive unit that at times has looked a bit gassed this season.

Bill Belichick's teams used to be known for their tough defense and offenses that were unpredictable and innovative.  Rex Ryan's were known for aggressive defense and steady, ball-control offense. Both teams are moving away from those fairly successful formulas and the results to this point aren't that impressive.

The Patriots are a soft 3-1. The Jets are a very soft 2-2. Next week the two teams who represent one of the most heated rivalries in the NFL meet in Foxboro. Some will hype this as an AFC title game preview or a contest between two Super Bowl contenders.

As of today, it is a matchup of two talented teams heading in questionable directions.

Ben Shapiro writes for www.TheFanManifesto.com . He can be followed on twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/Shappernyc