W2W4: New England Patriots vs New York Jets

bostonherald.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

October 20^th, 2013

W2W4: New England Patriots vs New York Jets

The New York Jets coming off of a tough loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at home in which they only scored 6 points at home. On Sunday they will be playing their division rival the New England Patriots for the final time this season, and will be looking to bounce back from an early season 13-10 loss.

- Welcome to the Crib

With a depleted Wide receiving core and the loss of Clyde Gates for the season, who was their kickoff returner, the Jets have signed one of the better kickoff returners in history in Josh Cribbs. In his career Cribbs has returned eight kickoffs for touchdowns, which ties him with former Jet Leon Washington for most in NFL history. Cribbs probably wont factor in much of the passing offense however, as although he is technically a Wide Receiver he only has caught 107 passes in his eight NFL seasons. To fill in the role Gates served in the offense, the Jets signed Greg Salas from the Eagles practice squad, but he was on a stationary bike for most of the Jets practice.

- Geno vs Pats Round 2

In his first match-up against the Patriots, in his second game of his career on a short week Geno Smith struggled against Bill Belichick and the Patriots defense. On September 12^th in the loss Geno went just 15 for 35 passing the football for 214 yards, the major problem for Smith was the interceptions, as he threw three picks in the fourth quarter with the Jets still very much in the game. A positive for Smith and the entire Jets defense is that two of the Patriots better defensive players in Vince Wilfork and Jerrod Mayo are both done for the season, and Cornerback Aqib Talib is questionable after leaving the game against the Saints with a hip injury.

- Tom Brady

When playing the Patriots it all comes down to stopping Tom Brady, and it seems like Head Coach Rex Ryan loves the challenge of stopping one of the best Quarterbacks of all-time. The Jets have been drafting Defensive Linemen the last few years, as they feel that getting pressure on Brady is the key to slowing down the star Quarterback. In their first meeting this season the Jets held Brady to a mediocre game, as with Brady not in tune with his receivers, he only had 185 yards passing on 19 for 39 passing with a touchdown. Last week Brady for the best of Rob Ryan's Saints defense, and Rex made no bones about it that he wants to get revenge this week, and get the Jets first victory against the Patriots since 2010.