Patriots
The Jets won’t have the most effective quarterback scenario, however they could have one of many prime rosters within the league exterior of that place.
The Patriots are in determined want of a win in Week 3 after beginning the season 0-2.
Whereas they’ll go up towards a Jets crew they’ve defeated 14 straight occasions, it’s clear this crew is healthier than a lot of the Jets groups the Patriots have crushed within the current previous. Positive, their ceiling took successful when Aaron Rodgers went down in Week 1, however the Jets boast one of many league’s prime defenses and arguably have the league’s greatest group of younger gamers.
So, let’s take a better have a look at a few of these younger stars. Listed here are six Jets gamers to observe in Sunday’s Patriots recreation.
Garrett Wilson
The Patriots’ secondary will get one other powerful problem in Week 3 as first-round rookie Christian Gonzalez may discover himself masking one of many recreation’s greatest receivers once more.
Wilson has already confirmed to be a stud in his first year-plus within the NFL regardless of comparatively lackluster quarterback play. He had 83 receptions for 1,103 yards and 4 touchdowns final season, principally catching passes from Zach Wilson and Mike White en path to profitable the Offensive Rookie of the 12 months.
When Rodgers got here to New York, Wilson was considered as the most important beneficiary of the transfer, however that didn’t final lengthy because the four-time MVP ruptured his Achilles on his fourth snap with the crew. So, it was again to catching passes from the opposite Wilson.
To date, Wilson has proven out this season. He made a landing seize to tie the sport towards the Payments in Week 1 that’s possible going to be one of many prime catches of the season. Final week, he turned a 10-yard in-route right into a landing by shedding Stephon Gilmore off him earlier than turning free for the 68-yard rating.
Wilson gashed the Patriots of their first matchup towards the Jets final season, recording six receptions for 115 yards, together with a 54-yard reception on a deep go from the opposite Wilson. A couple of weeks later, Wilson solely had two receptions for 12 yards towards the Patriots, although that was possible partially as a result of the quarterback Wilson struggled in that recreation.
Jalen Mills, Jonathan Jones, and Jack Jones every bought a shot at masking Wilson final season, with Mills being answerable for the massive reception within the first matchup. Now that he’s at security although, the Patriots may toss Gonzalez as a part of the combination to cowl Wilson on Sunday.
Breece Corridor
The Patriots by no means bought a shot to go up towards considered one of final season’s greatest rookies as Corridor tore his ACL within the matchup previous to their first recreation towards the Jets final season.
Corridor has seemed good this season, no less than when he’s touched the ball. The second-year operating again ran for a whopping 127 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, However he solely had 4 touches final week towards the Cowboys, expressing some frustration following the 30-10 loss.
It clearly stays to be seen if Corridor will get a superb variety of touches in Week 3, but when he does, he’ll do it towards a Patriots crew that couldn’t comprise Raheem Mostert final week. The Dolphins operating again rushed for 121 yards on 18 carries. As well as, Dolphins backup operating again Salvon Ahmed had three receptions for 28 yards, which is one other space the place Corridor can excel. He had 19 receptions for 218 yards and a landing in six-plus video games final season.
Quinnen Williams
If the Patriots fail to get the run recreation going and battle to guard Mac Jones on Sunday, Williams will possible play an enormous function in that.
The fifth-year defensive sort out was arguably the most effective defensive sort out within the recreation final season, recording 55 mixed tackles, 12 sacks, and two pressured fumbles. He additionally had 52 pressures and 32 run stops, which had been each among the many greatest within the league for inside defensive linemen, per Professional Soccer Focus.
The Patriots had been simply one of many many groups Williams feasted on final season. He recorded 10 mixed tackles and two sacks plus 5 pressures and 6 run stops within the two video games towards New England.
Williams has but to get a sack this season, however Sunday provides him a superb alternative to get his first in 2023. The Patriots’ inside offensive line has been battered by the primary two weeks, enjoying two mid-round rookies in Week 1 earlier than Cole Unusual and Michael Onwenu struggled of their returns to the sphere final week. Unusual was credited with permitting a sack and three pressures final week whereas Atonio Mafi (who has performed rather than Onwenu by the primary two weeks), has given up two sacks and eight pressures by the primary two video games, per PFF.
John Franklin-Myers
The opposite potential huge beneficiary of the Patriots’ messy offensive line scenario is Franklin-Myers.
The sixth-year defensive finish usually traces up reverse of the opposite crew’s proper sort out, the place Calvin Anderson has additionally struggled for New England to this point this season. He’s given up a sack and 9 pressures to this point this season, per PFF.
Except if the Patriots make a change at proper sort out, Anderson will go up towards a participant that additionally had a pair of robust outings towards New England final season. Franklin-Myers recorded six mixed tackles, two sacks, and 6 complete pressures over each matchups final season.
One of many performs that didn’t rely for Franklin-Myers although was arguably the most important within the first Patriots-Jets recreation final season. The sting rusher dedicated a boneheaded roughing the passer penalty on Jones late within the first half of the Week 8 matchup, wiping a pick-6 off the board in an eventual 22-17 win for the Patriots.
Franklin-Myers will look to rectify that mistake Sunday.
Quincy Williams
Lining up proper behind Quinnen Williams is his brother.
The linebacker has seemingly been everywhere in the subject for the Jets by the primary two video games of the season. He has 17 mixed tackles to this point this season, with 16 of them being solo tackles.
Williams has additionally helped steadiness the Jets’ robust go rush along with his skill to cease the run. He’s recorded 13 run stops by the primary two video games, which is among the many greatest within the league, per PFF.
That’s clearly going to be powerful to comprise for the Patriots, particularly as they’ve struggled to run the ball by the primary two video games of the season. Rhamondre Stevenson solely has 75 yards on 2.7 yards per carry to this point this season whereas Ezekiel Elliott has added simply 42 yards on 3.5 yards per carry.
Nevertheless, Stevenson had a robust efficiency within the Week 7 matchup towards the Jets final season. He recorded 83 yards after contact in that win, wherein he rushed for 71 yards (that means he labored from a deficit).
The Patriots may want Stevenson to offer one other do-it-yourself efficiency on Sunday, however Williams would possible be the most important cause which may not occur.
Sauce Gardner
Rounding the Jets’ spectacular younger core is the reigning Defensive Rookie of the 12 months.
Gardner solely had two interceptions final season, however his skill to stop different quarterbacks to throw in his route or for receivers to select up many yards immediately made him one of many recreation’s prime corners.
That skill was on full show in each matchups towards the Patriots final season. Jones accomplished 4-of-7 passes for 19 yards when throwing in Gardner’s route final season, making it nearly unimaginable for the Patriots to select up yards alongside the boundary on passing performs.
There have been some considerations about Gardner present process a second-year battle following the season opener. He was a part of a Jets secondary that allowed Stefon Diggs to document 10 receptions for 102 yards.
However the Patriots don’t have that type of receiving menace on their roster, making it extra possible we see extra of the Gardner from these matchups final season in comparison with the one we noticed within the season-opener.
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