The Patriots and Jets will fight for the top spot in the AFC East this Sunday at Gillette Stadium, and getting win No. 4 won't be easy for either team.
New England (3-3) is coming off a 24-23 loss to the Seattle Seahawks while the Jets (3-3) beat Andrew Luck's Colts in Week 6 by a 26-point margin. The Patriots won both matchups against the Jets in 2011, but this isn't the same New York team as last year. Several players can score from any part of the field, while the defense has shown it's better than advertised at times.
Mark Sanchez is still the starting quarterback for the Jets, whether that's the popular decision or not. He has not been very good in 2012, completing half of his attempted passes for 1,125 yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions. He's fumbled three times already this year and should feel the wrath of the Patriots' defense come Sunday.
Running back Shonn Greene was having a miserable season before an enormous Week 6 performance against the Colts. Greene ran for 161 yards on 32 carries with three touchdowns. He did run for 94 yards in Week 1, but in the other four games that he's appeared in, he's averaged just over 30 yards per game. Greene has coughed up the ball twice already, and his longest run on the year is just 21 yards.
Tight end Dustin Keller has been absent from the Jets' offense for most of the season, missing four games due to injury. In the two games he has been in, he's been invisible. He's had two catches on the year on just two targets — accumulating 13 total yards. He's expected to be ready to go on Sunday, though.
Much like Keller, Stephen Hill is also yet to be a big contributor to the Jets' game plan. He's missed a handful of games, but he did have three receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown against the Colts last week. Hill had his breakout game against the Bills, when he caught five balls for 89 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-28 Jets victory.
Will Rex Ryan finally allow Tim Tebow to do his thing? Tebow has three pass attempts this season as Ryan has rarely let him throw the ball, using him more as a decoy instead on wildcat plays. Tebow has been running more than passing this year and could be used as the running back on several plays Sunday.
With Darrelle Revis out for the season, Antonio Cromartie is the top cornerback on the active roster, and he has the potential to ruin Tom Brady and the Patriots' day. Cromartie has three interceptions this season, picking off Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Schaub and Luck. He will most likely be covering Brandon Lloyd and/or Wes Welker on Sunday, which could limit their targets.
With so many game-changers set to play against the Patriots on Sunday, which Jet scares you the most?
Which Jet scares you the most in this Sunday's matchup against the Patriots?
