Idle thoughts: Jets week edition

[goheels22002]

Let me see...IF both the Jets & the Bills have better "talent" than the Patriots, then what is our GM doing wrong managing the talent vs the competition?

When you're drafting in the top half or better in every round of every draft for the past 15 years, it's not hard to pick up loads of talented players. By comparison, Belichick is picking in the 29-32 slot of every round of every draft AND having a commissioner stop by occasionally to fraudulently take away draft selections.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

My take on this game is that neither team has really "played anybody," and it's difficult to know what to expect. Yeah, the Jets are the No. 1 defense, but who have they played? Nobody good (and don't try to tell me Andrew Luck, week 1, was good). Yeah, we have the No. 1 offense, but who have we played? Nobody good either, really. Maybe Dallas (on D) and it was good that after a tough start the Pats got it figured out and went on their merry offensive way, but I don't know whether that was a good test against a good D. Yes, we have an untested, patchwork O line, but we've had that pretty much from the beginning of this season and we've been able to put up our usual good numbers on O.

I think what's going to happen on Sunday is the Jets D won't be as good as everybody thinks against tough competition, and the Pats O won't be as good as everybody thinks against tough competition. But, we are at home and BB always has extra motivation to beat the Jets, so I bet we squeak out another win against them. Could we lose a squeaker? Yes we could. Could we win in a blowout? Yes we could. I don't think those will happen though. Go Patriots.

Jets:
Home vs Washington - Win
Home vs Cleveland - Win
At Miami - Win
Home vs Eagles* - Loss
(* indicates only team to possess a positive point differential/statistically best team that was played)


Pats:
Home vs Pittsburgh - Win
At Dallas - Win
At Buffalo - Win
Home vs Jacksonville - Win

(I left out Indy as it is a wash)

Don't get me wrong, the difference isn't stark. However, factoring in the home/away and that the Patriots have won all of their games while Jets lost at home to their statistically toughest opponent, I think the Patriots' completed schedule is sufficiently more difficult than the Jets to point it out 'on paper', and to say the jets are measurably less tested than the Patriots.
What that all means will be identified at the conclusion of tomorrow's game .

 

[PatsDeb]

Jets:
Home vs Washington - Win
Home vs Cleveland - Win
At Miami - Win
Home vs Eagles* - Loss
(* indicates only team to possess a positive point differential/statistically best team that was played)


Pats:
Home vs Pittsburgh - Win
At Dallas - Win
At Buffalo - Win
Home vs Jacksonville - Win

(I left out Indy as it is a wash)

Don't get me wrong, the difference isn't stark. However, factoring in the home/away and that the Patriots have won all of their games while Jets lost at home to their statistically toughest opponent, I think the Patriots' completed schedule is sufficiently more difficult than the Jets to point it out 'on paper', and to say the jets are measurably less tested than the Patriots.
What that all means will be identified at the conclusion of tomorrow's game .

Would your analysis change if you knew that both Decker and Ivory missed the Eagles game? Plus, the Eagles have been wildly inconsistent, even within game. As you say, all will be revealed by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday!

 

[1960Pats]

.....and back to football. The news on the injury front keeps on getting worse as each day goes on. Being without Sheard, Cannon, and the EIGHT other "questionables" is starting to get me down. I'm not even sure if I even want Hightower and Lewis to play. This is a long season and I don't fear playing from behind for a bit this year. The Jets time to get banged up is inevitable, just like our time to get more healthy is as well.

Yet still the news media takes much account of it. IMHO a win on Sunday would be a lot bigger accomplishment than they are making out. As of tonight most are still acting as if a win is assured, even if it looks to be closer than expected. However having so many down this week BOTH on offense and defense is definitely daunting. What I hate is that if we manage to survive this week with a win, they aren't going to get the full credit for what they have done.

I used to worry about injuries so much that it hurt. But then the Pats would win anyway. They went 11-5 without Tom Brady and even won a SB with injuries, maybe even a record amount.

But Ken, if you have to worry about something, I would suggest something that's a real threat. Worry about the game being stolen by a behind the scenes ruling from some NYJFL flunkie.

 

[1960Pats]

Jets:
Home vs Washington - Win
Home vs Cleveland - Win
At Miami - Win
Home vs Eagles* - Loss
(* indicates only team to possess a positive point differential/statistically best team that was played)


Pats:
Home vs Pittsburgh - Win
At Dallas - Win
At Buffalo - Win
Home vs Jacksonville - Win

(I left out Indy as it is a wash)

Don't get me wrong, the difference isn't stark. However, factoring in the home/away and that the Patriots have won all of their games while Jets lost at home to their statistically toughest opponent, I think the Patriots' completed schedule is sufficiently more difficult than the Jets to point it out 'on paper', and to say the jets are measurably less tested than the Patriots.
What that all means will be identified at the conclusion of tomorrow's game .

One of the things I like about the similar schedules that the Pats and Jets play, is that it makes it easier for Jets fans to undestand that they aren't playing a tougher schedule.

All of the 14 games they play against other opponents are exactly the same, including home and away, except for 2 games. The Jets have the 4th place Browns and Raiders and we get 1st place Pitt and Denver. If you count the Pats as tougher than the Jets then even that difference get's evened out a bit.

So far the Jets have played Miami and we have not, we played Buffalo and they have not, plus we played the Jags and Dallas and they played Philly and the Redskins.

 

[rochrist]

you're showin' yur age ,Granpa...

Watch it, or I'll start in on Babe Parilli.

 

[Lavictoire]

Hightower is a tough SOB. With a shoulder injury he tackled Lynch saving a TD at the end of the Super Bowl and it was a storybook ending after that. He and Butler desere co-honors for that finish. Hopefully he can fight through this injury too.

 

[Lavictoire]

Among many interesting matchups Sunday I would say one of them that has peaked my interest is whether Brady will avoid Revis altogether or he will pick his spots.

They practiced against one another for a year so the familiarity is there. Not really sure who got the best of who during all those practices?

Revis is great but we have seen inconsistencies in his game. Not many, but a few hiccups Here and there.

I would expect a back and forth battle between Revis and Edelman if they were matched up together and I'm not sure who would come out the clear winner. But if anyone has a chance to have success it would be the fast shift guy.

I would laugh if they put Revis on Gronkowski, that would be suicide in my opinion unless they dedicated a chip from a LB and safety help over the top. Even then, it just opens up other options for Lewis and the other Pats weapons.

I'm pretty confident the Pats are going to score more points than the Jets. At the end of the day we are not Cleveland,Miami or Washington. Although this is the game the Jets can prove they can play with the big boys. Bring it.

Remember Moss burned Revis? I hope we go after Him again for a TD and watch Revis pull up lame.

 

[rochrist]

Remember Moss burned Revis? I hope we go after Him again for a TD and watch Revis pull up lame.

Yeah, but most of the time, Revis had Moss talking to himself.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Would your analysis change if you knew that both Decker and Ivory missed the Eagles game? Plus, the Eagles have been wildly inconsistent, even within game. As you say, all will be revealed by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday!

Yes. Further, if you want to get granular it may get even closer. We could check score differential, points per possession, opposition points, 3rd down success etc etc.
Take it to that level and I will listen/keep an open mind. But from raw schedule, home/away factor, W/L the Patriots have accomplished more. As mentioned I am not saying it is a stark difference -- it isn't -- but it is tangible enough to note.

 

[DaBruinz]

I'd love if the Pats put Lafell, Dobson, and Martin on the field with Gronk and williams staying in to block and sent the 3 of them on deep routes.. It would be fun watching the Jets not know what to do..

 

[PatsDeb]

I'd love if the Pats put Lafell, Dobson, and Martin on the field with Gronk and williams staying in to block and sent the 3 of them on deep routes.. It would be fun watching the Jets not know what to do..

Shhh. Maybe that's the game plan! Don't give it away!

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Shhh. Maybe that's the game plan! Don't give it away!

To be fair, with BB and this team, we probably have 2-4 difference offensive plans worked into the game plan this week.

 

[everlong]

Sheard is out but as far as starters go Jones, Nink and Sheard are all better than Pace and Couples. Also the Patriots would have the starting kickers and top special teams player.

Decker may be more physically talented than Edelman but Edelman is the superior player with the superior toughness. Decker turtled vs the Seahawks and Edelman was a strong canidate for MVP.

If Lewis is out that's a huge loss. He has been such a catalyst and if the Jets decide to double both Gronk and Edelman he's the guy I was expecting to go off.

 

[FCB02062]

I wish PatsFans would stop citing 04 as an example of overcoming injuries. It's a much different league now & the emphasis on offense post Polian intervention has made it much harder to overcome injuries, especially on D....

 

[n1997y]

Sheard is out but as far as starters go Jones, Nink and Sheard are all better than Pace and Couples. Also the Patriots would have the starting kickers and top special teams player.

Decker may be more physically talented than Edelman but Edelman is the superior player with the superior toughness. Decker turtled vs the Seahawks and Edelman was a strong canidate for MVP.

If Lewis is out that's a huge loss. He has been such a catalyst and if the Jets decide to double both Gronk and Edelman he's the guy I was expecting to go off.

If Lewis is out maybe Blount gets to play more of that role. I loved his catch for a TD, want to see more of those. Would really like to see him turn into a receiving threat too.

 

[patfanken]

I have never been a fan of White. Never. In fact I have always wondered why he was still on the roster. He HAS looked better catching the ball in that small space of time he got in the Jags game. But I don't think he's ever gotten a yard after the first hit yet. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but much of one.

I hope he has a game that shuts me up.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Well we won't have Lewis for this game, so White will need to step up.

As far as your comparison of individual talent. I wouldn't say the Jets are more talented overall. I feel that outside of Revis and Richardson on defense, they don't have a lot of gamechangers. And we will gameplan a way to get around those 2 guys. But it will certainly be a big challenge for our OL and offensive unit.

This game is often-times about matchups and the Pats are masters of exploiting matchups. They have "unfair" matchups based on Gronk's sheer athleticism/beastliness, and Edelman/Amendola's quickness and they have constantly hurt teams with it. We're also getting back Lafell which will be another arrow in Brady's quiver.

The Patriots have traditionally been very TOUGH playing at home in Foxboro. I expect to see that trend continue. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if we saw the Jets D exposed today. The Pats offense finds ways to score on excellent defenses, and I'll go on a limb and say right now they will score 30+ points again.