Patriots Can Extend Jets’ Record-Setting Drought In Week 17
Will they finally get an interception?
The New York Jets don’t have much at stake beyond draft positioning and pride when they host the New England Patriots in Week 17. However, they will look to snap an unfortunate streak this Sunday.
Fifteen games into the season, the Jets still haven’t recorded a single interception. Their defense set a record for most consecutive games without a pick in last weekend’s 29-6 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
The Jets are two games away from becoming the first NFL team to ever go an entire season without intercepting a pass. Drake Maye can steer them one step closer to the dubious milestone.
Despite throwing an interception in back-to-back games, Maye has only relinquished eight picks in 453 pass attempts this season. The 23-year-old hasn’t thrown two interceptions in a game during his sophomore campaign, but he’s tossed multiple touchdowns 10 times.
When they met last month, Maye completed 25 of 34 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown. The MVP candidate wields an NFL-best 70.9 completion percentage before the AFC East tilt.
As the Jets seek their first pick, every other team has at least six interceptions this season. The Chicago Bears boast a league-high 21, and the Patriots can boost their modest tally of eight against Brady Cook.
The Cleveland Browns ranked last with four interceptions last season, the lowest output since the Houston Texans mustered three in 2020. The Jets need two picks over the final two games just to match the all-time low number set by the 2018 San Francisco 49ers.
Gang Green unsurprisingly has the league’s worst turnover margin (-18) entering Sunday’s game against the Patriots, which starts at 1 p.m. ET.
