Lets look at this game objectively, it is 2009 a whole new season. Neither the jets or pats made the playoffs last year.
My observations from last nights game:
Brady looked a little rusty in the beginning but flourished under pressure.
The pats offensive line a is a cause for concern. The Bills pass rush which is not really good at all was able to penetrate and rush brady/ hit him on a number of occasions.
The defense seems to have a taken a few steps back. Maybe the loss of seasoned veterans hurts the D, it certainly looks like it. The bills second string runner, was able to carve up the patriots defense on runs and short screens. TO was neutralized, but the other recievers were making great medium ranged catches that move the ball down the field.
now for next week, The patriots offense faces a defensive line vastly superior to the bills, a line that includes that 365 pound monster, Jenkins, and pro bowler Sean Ellis, the jets best pass rusher back fresh from a one week suspension. The linebackers are also better than the Bills, Bart Scott and David Harris were beasts in Houston. And lasty, the secondary which is one of the leagues best, the shutdown corner, Revis, Lito shepherd, another pro bowler who had a pick last week, a great Blitz safety in Rhodes and the former Raven leonard who had a great year with Baltimore.
The patriots o line better be up to the task of protecting Brady on every single down, they cannot afford to take a down off in regards to effort, the Jets will be blitzing over 50% of the time. Brady also needs to get comfortable not having moss to throw to. Revis makes it a habit to shutdown #1 WRs, just talk to Andre Johnson with his 36 yards. Brady will need to utilize Welker, and Watson more so in this game than he will, Moss.
The running game of the pats had under 80 yds rushing combined between their runners against the Bills defense which ranked 22 against the run last season. The Jets only allowed 38 yards rushing this past week, facing the AFC's second leading rusher from last year. The patriots will need to use the pass to set up the run, not the other way around which is more common in the NFL.
The Pats defense is going to face two far better running backs than the Bills 2nd stringer Jackson who managed to get around 140 yds with his 15 rushes and 5 recepetions.
Thomas Jone will be the power runner up the middle and on the goal line, while Leon is a threat in whatever he does, whether he returns a kick, gets a hand off or catches a pass. He was the NFL leader in all purpose yardage last season.
The Jets may not have star recievers but they have capable ones. Cotchery, Stuckey, and the TE Keller all hovered around 100 yds receiving each. The pats wont be able to completely discount the passing game and focus all in on the run.
thoughts?