The Jets beat the Pats 16-9 at Giants Stadium in Week 2, and they've won the last two meetings between the division rivals. Prior to the two-game slide, the Patriots had won 11 of their last 12 games against the Jets. New York also leads the all-time series, 50-49-1, including two playoff games that the Patriots won. The Patriots are 25-24-1 at home against the Jets, including one playoff victory, and they're 5-3 against New York at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots have not been swept in a season series against a divisional opponent since 2000.
WHEN AND WHERE
Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, 4:15 p.m.
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
RECORDS
Patriots 6-3 (2-1 AFC East)
Jets 4-5 (1-3 AFC East)
SKINNY
It's going to be difficult to recognize the Patriots and Jets when they meet this weekend at Gillette Stadium. That's because the teams look entirely different than they did during their Week 2 matchup in New York.
For starters, the Jets were in the middle of their best stretch of the season, as they won their first three games in decisive fashion and were playing defense at an amazing pace. The Patriots, meanwhile, were still a work in progress on offense and couldn't figure out right from left.
That segues to the next point: Each team's personnel has seen a major shift, mostly because of injuries. While Tom Brady was working his way back from his left knee injury, he played against the Jets without wide receiver Wes Welker, who missed his first game ever with the Patriots due to a knee injury. Therefore, Joey Galloway, who was more painful to watch than Lopez Tonight, was thrust into a starting role along with rookie Julian Edelman, who made his pro debut.
"We always miss Wes," Brady said. "He's one of the best players on our team, one of the best in the league. Whenever he's not playing, you have to make up for it in other ways. Julian stepped in there the last time and did a good job against them, but there's only one Wes Welker out there."
Linebacker Jerod Mayo also missed the game with a knee injury, and Matt Light was still starting at left tackle ahead of rookie Sebastian Vollmer.
On the other side, the Jets were without outside linebacker Calvin Pace, who was serving a suspension, and wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who was acquired before the league's trading deadline. When Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is interested in completing passes to his own team, Edwards has really opened up New York's offense.
However, the Jets are missing defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and running back Leon Washington. Jenkins might be the best defensive tackle in the league, and Washington is one of the two best speed backs in the game. Without them, the Jets have relied more on defensive tackle Sione Pouha and rookie running back Shonn Greene.
Since the Jets' 3-0 start, they've lost five of their last six games, although four of them have come down to the wire. So far, each team has had its struggles with the game on the line in the final moments.
The Patriots are 5-2 since the loss to the Jets, and their offense has really found its stride since Welker returned in Week 4. Immediately after the Jets' impressive victory, this weekend's rematch appeared to be a classic in the making, but each team is so drastically different, that is no longer the case.
"We probably have a better idea of what we do well," Brady said. "I think we've shown some steady improvement. Not that we've got it all figured out, but I think we're closer than we've been."
PROJECTED STARTERS
Patriots
Offense
Quarterback: Tom Brady
Wide Receiver: Randy Moss
Wide Receiver: Wes Welker
Running Back: Laurence Maroney
Tight End: Ben Watson
Tight End: Chris Baker
Left Tackle: Sebastian Vollmer
Left Guard: Logan Mankins
Center: Dan Koppen
Right Guard: Stephen Neal
Right Tackle: Nick Kaczur
Defense
Left Defensive End: Ty Warren
Defensive Tackle: Vince Wilfork
Right Defensive End: Mike Wright
Outside Linebacker: Tully Banta-Cain
Middle Linebacker: Jerod Mayo
Middle Linebacker: Gary Guyton
Outside Linebacker: Adalius Thomas
Left Cornerback: Darius Butler
Right Cornerback: Leigh Bodden
Strong Safety: Brandon Meriweather
Free Safety: Brandon McGowan
Specialists
Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski
Punter: Chris Hanson
Long Snapper: Jake Ingram
Holder: Chris Hanson
Kick Returner: Matthew Slater
Punt Returner: Wes Welker
Jets
Offense
Quarterback: Mark Sanchez
Wide Receiver: Braylon Edwards
Wide Receiver: Jerricho Cotchery
Running Back: Thomas Jones
Fullback: Tony Richardson
Tight End: Dustin Keller
Left Tackle: D'Brickashaw Ferguson
Left Guard: Alan Faneca
Center: Nick Mangold
Right Guard: Brandon Moore
Right Tackle: Damien Woody
Defense
Left Defensive End: Shaun Ellis
Defensive Tackle: Sione Pouha
Right Defensive End: Marques Douglas
Left Outside Linebacker: Bryan Thomas
Middle Linebacker: Bart Scott
Middle Linebacker: David Harris
Right Outside Linebacker: Calvin Pace
Cornerback: Darrelle Revis
Cornerback: Dwight Lowery
Strong Safety: Jim Leonhard
Free Safety: Kerry Rhodes
Specialists
Kicker: Jay Feely
Punter: Steven Weatherford
Long Snapper: James Dearth
Holder: Reggie Hodges
Kick Returner: Jim Leonhard
Punt Returner: Jim Leonhard
STAT SHEET
Patriots
Since 2003, the Patriots are 20-1 in games following a loss. The one blemish occurred against the Jets, who beat New England, 17-14, at Gillette Stadium in 2006 — one week after the Pats fell to the Indianapolis Colts.
Quarterback Tom Brady has a 12-3 career record against the Jets, including one playoff game. The only team he has defeated more times is the Buffalo Bills. Brady has completed 305-of-488 passes (62.5 completion percentage) for 3,052 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions in those games.
Brady has four consecutive 300-yard passing games, which is a career high and two shy of the all-time record set by Steve Young (1998), Kurt Warner (2000) and Rich Gannon (2002).
Brady needs 261 passing yards to tie Drew Bledsoe's team record of seven season with 3,000 yards. Brady is on pace for 4,869 yards, which would give him a team-record third 4,000-yard season.
Brady needs 473 passing yards to break Bledsoe's team record of 29,657.
Despite an oft-criticized pass rush, the Patriots have as many sacks (16) as the Jets, who are routinely praised for their ability to get after the quarterback.
The Patriots are 41-12 against their division since 2001, the most divisional wins of any team in the NFL during that time. The Jets have 26 victories since 2001, the second most of any AFC East team. The Patriots are the only AFC East team with a winning record against division opponents since 2001.
Wide receiver Randy Moss needs 109 more receiving yards this season to join Jerry Rice as the only two receivers in league history to record 1,000 yards in a season 10 times. Rice has 14 such seasons.
Last week, Moss became the seventh player in league history with 14,000 career receiving yards and the 11th player with 900 receptions.
Moss has 34 career two-touchdown games, which is second all-time and 10 behind Rice.
Wide receiver Wes Welker has 33 receptions for 378 yards and one touchdown in 10 career games against the Jets.
Linebacker Gary Guyton leads the Patriots with 52 total tackles, based on coaches' film review.
Safety Brandon McGowan has a team-high 36 solo tackles, based on coaches' film review.
Linebacker Jerod Mayo has 32 total tackles (23 solo) in two career games against the Jets.
Jets
Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez has completed 130-of-244 passes (53.3 percent) for 1,655 yards, nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also has three rushing touchdowns.
Running back Thomas Jones topped 54 rushing yards just once in his first five games this season, but he's got 510 yards and three touchdowns in his last four games.
Wide receiver Braylon Edwards has 16 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns in five games with the Jets.
Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery leads the Jets with 33 receptions for 498 yards, and he's got two touchdowns.
Tight end Dustin Keller is second on the Jets with 29 receptions for 347 yards, and he's got two receiving touchdowns.
Punter Steve Weatherford has executed two fake punts for first downs this season.
Defensive tackle Marques Douglas has played in 105 consecutive games since 2003, and he leads Jets defensive linemen with 37 tackles.
Middle linebacker David Harris leads the Jets with 89 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
Middle linebacker Bart Scott is second on the team with 68 tackles, and he's got eight tackles for loss.
Cornerback Darrelle Revis has two interceptions, with one coming in coverage of Moss in Week 2, and he's got 15 passes defensed.
BLACK AND BLUE
(From Thursday's practice report)
Patriots
Linebacker Tully Banta-Cain (groin) did not practice.
Defensive end Jarvis Green (knee) did not practice.
Right guard Stephen Neal (head) did not practice.
Linebacker Rob Ninkovich (knee) did not practice.
Running back Fred Taylor (ankle) did not practice.
Wide receiver Sam Aiken (hip) had limited participation.
Linebacker Eric Alexander (groin) had limited participation.
Tight end Chris Baker (shoulder) had limited participation.
Defensive lineman Ron Brace (ankle) had limited participation.
Wide receiver Julian Edelman (forearm) had limited participation.
Center Dan Koppen (knee) had limited participation.
Left tackle Matt Light (knee) had limited participation.
Running back Sammy Morris (knee) had limited participation.
Defensive end Ty Warren (ankle) had limited participation.
Quarterback Tom Brady (right shoulder) fully participated.
Defensive back Shawn Springs (knee) fully participated.
Tight end Ben Watson (back) fully participated.
Jets
Linebacker Vernon Gholston (hamstring) did not practice.
Safety Jim Leonhard (thumb) did not practice.
Defensive end Shaun Ellie (knee) had limited participation.
Wide receiver Brad Smith (quadriceps) had limited participation.
Linebacker Bryan Thomas (toe) fully participated.
THIS DATE IN PATRIOTS HISTORY
In 2004, the Patriots beat the Chiefs, 27-19, in Kansas City on Monday Night Football. Corey Dillon rushed 26 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns, and Tom Brady completed 17-of-26 passes for 315 yards and one touchdown.
The Patriots are 3-3 all-time on Nov. 22, and they're riding a three-game winning streak on this date.
OVERHEARD
"I've coached for 35 years, so I probably covered most all the bases. I think I swore once, too."
— Bill Belichick, when asked if he has ever cried in front of his team, a question that stemmed from Jets head coach Rex "Cryin'" Ryan's team meeting Monday.
PRESS BOX
Patriots
Tom Brady and Junior Seau provide the leadership in dire times.
Kevin Faulk wasn't always a master of backfield blocking.
Here is a good breakdown of the Patriots' red-zone issues.
Jets
Rex Ryan is still doing his thing.
Leon Washington remains upbeat about return to Jets.
Thomas Jones rallied the Jets with a players-only meeting Wednesday.
NFL
Here are a couple dozen candidates for the league's soon-to-be-vacant head coaching jobs.
This is the reason the Patriots' favorite enemy was benched.
It's never a bad time for some Rex Grossman-Chicago Bears talk.
OUTLOOK
Right off the bat, the Patriots' assignments are easier on both sides of the ball than they were during their first meeting. The defense doesn't have to look over its shoulder for running back Leon Washington, who had 14 rushes for 58 yards and two catches for 18 yards in the team's Week 2 meeting. Tackling Washington can be like trying to catch a fly with two fingers.
The Jets' running attack will have more focus on a north-to-south style with Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene, and the surprise element is less of a factor. The Patriots did a good job containing the Jets' top-ranked running game in the first half in Week 2, but they were selling out to make sure Jones and Washington didn't establish control of the game. Once head coach Rex Ryan showed a little faith in quarterback Mark Sanchez, New York's offense kept the Patriots off balance, and that's when the game turned in the Jets' favor.
Therefore, the Patriots can't just stack the defense to stop the run and hope Sanchez doesn't beat them. He already did that once this season, and that was the only game of his brief career he has completed at least 59 percent of his passes. The Patriots have to try being a little more honest on the defensive side and hope they can bait Sanchez into a mistake. Judging by his five-interception game against the Bills four weeks ago, that might not be overly difficult.
Offensively, it's about containing the Jets' blitz patterns. As Bill Belichick said, the only way the Patriots can do that is if everyone is on the same page with their pre-snap calls. While the Pats have one game of actual experience and a lot more tape to study on the Jets than they did in Week 2, staying in sync might be a tall order considering how many injuries they've had on the offensive line lately. This week in practice alone, they're switching off with Sebastian Vollmer and Matt Light at left tackle, and Dan Connolly is filling in at center for Dan Koppen on a part-time basis, and at guard for Stephen Neal, who has yet to practice. It's an experienced and dedicated group, but there is a lot to juggle.
The matchup out wide between Randy Moss and cornerback Darrelle Revis should be a fiery one, especially after Revis fired a few shots in Moss' direction during his conference call with the New England media Wednesday. Whether Revis had help on Moss or not, the Pats' big-play wideout was held to four catches and 24 yards, and Moss has to do a better job Sunday.
That will come easier because of Welker's return to the lineup. The Jets' secondary can't cheat toward Moss and let Welker roam free over the middle. Additionally, Sam Aiken has been a better third option than Joey Galloway, and Julian Edelman and Isaiah Stanback are showing positive signs, too.
It's nearly impossible to run a screen offense against the Jets because they're so dedicated to neutralize anything that moves out of the backfield, but Welker's presence should offset that and help the Patriots right the wrongs they had in their September defeat.