The New England Patriots usually don’t have to spend much time worrying about the Jets.
For years, especially in the Bill Belichick era, a trip to MetLife Stadium or a game in Foxborough against New York came with a familiar feeling for Patriots fans: this one should be manageable. This time, though, the setup looks a lot different. The Jets come in with a defense that has held up well early, and that’s what makes this matchup feel like a trap.
At the center of it all is Geno Smith, a veteran quarterback who already showed what he can do against New England’s defense. Last season, while with the Las Vegas Raiders, Smith threw for 362 yards against the Patriots and finished with a win and a 102.8 quarterback rating.
Still, the bigger problem for New England may not be Smith piling up huge numbers. It may be the way New York’s defense can keep the whole game within reach.
Aaron Glenn’s group has put together an impressive statistical start: fourth in total defense at 293 yards allowed per game, fourth against the pass at 175 yards per game, fifth in points allowed at 19.2 per game and 10th in defensive EPA/play. There’s a fair case that some of those numbers have been helped by the schedule, since the Jets have already faced the Titans and Browns, two offenses that have had trouble moving the ball. But the defense has also held up against stronger opponents.
The Jets have matched up with the Lions, Packers and Bears, and there have been mixed results. Against Green Bay, they were sturdy, allowing just 199 total yards, 63 rushing yards and one conversion on nine third-down tries in a 20-17 overtime loss. Jordan Love finished with 145 passing yards, though he did throw two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Kevin Byard made sure New England is taking notice. “This team is going to present a lot of challenges, and I don't think we can take this lightly,” the Patriots safety said Wednesday.
Chicago, on the other hand, found plenty of room to work. The Bears put up 492 yards of offense and 232 rushing yards in a 23-12 win over New York. That’s the kind of opening the Patriots’ struggling ground game will be looking at closely.
Detroit offered another useful data point. The Lions scored 31 points, and the Jets tried to bother Jared Goff with pressure, blitzing him on 44.4% of his dropbacks.
Goff handled it cleanly, going 14-for-14 for 148 yards and a touchdown against the blitz. He also completed 11 of 13 play-action throws for 181 yards.
That play-action damage is a useful sign for the Patriots, especially for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as he looks to loosen things up for Drake Maye. New England’s run game has been struggling, but the Patriots have reason to believe the passing game can still find room if the Jets give them the right looks.
New York has leaned into zone coverage this season, using it 68.8% of the time rather than straight man. That could help keep eyes on Maye and limit his ability to escape when the pocket breaks down. The Jets may even use a spy at times to keep him contained.
But zone also comes with risk. If the Jets sit too deep, New England can pick at the underneath areas. If they have to rush more to bother Maye, they risk giving him the kind of clean pocket that made life easy for him against the Raiders last week.
Maye’s feel for the game has been growing, even if his patience has still been a work in progress since entering the league in 2024. McDaniels has plenty of answers for zone looks, from underneath concepts and crossing routes to throws into the soft spots near the sideline.
That puts a lot on New York’s linebackers and safeties. Step up too fast, and Maye can hit something behind them. Drift too far back, and the Patriots can take the easy throws or let Maye scramble for needed yards.
Glenn’s best play may be to keep New England guessing before the snap, showing pressure and then dropping bodies into coverage, while mixing in extra rushers when Maye is expecting a softer look.
If the Jets bring man coverage and Maye finds a lane up the middle, there may be nobody left to stop him once he gets free. If they stay in zone, the Patriots can work underneath until New York gets more aggressive.
That’s where this game lands: as a test of whether the Jets’ early defensive numbers are the real thing, or just the product of favorable matchups and a little early-season smoke and mirrors.
In Other News...
Patriots Offensive Line Is Giving Drake Maye A Reason For Concern
Former Patriots lineman Matt Light has had a familiar view of New Englands offensive front, and he did not dismiss the criticism that has followed the group early in the season. The line has been forced to work through injuries, with left tackle Will Campbell and right guard Mike Onwenu both affected, and the biggest issues have shown up in the run game. Even so, Light noted the unit still has enough talent to keep Drake Maye upright long enough for the offense to function.
Josh McDaniels has helped mask some of those problems with a scheme that keeps the attack moving, but the concern is how much strain the line can continue to absorb. The Patriots need stability up front not just for Mayes comfort in the pocket, but for an offense that has been able to stay productive without looking fully settled. With the middle of the line banged up and the blocking not yet consistent, the next stretch will say a lot about how real the improvement is. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots May Have One Deadline Fix For A Growing Pass Rush Problem
The Patriots pass rush has become a more urgent conversation as the trade deadline approaches, especially with the group still waiting on a clearer answer from Harold Landry. New England has some younger options worth watching, including Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder, but the idea of leaning on development alone is harder to sell when the need is immediate and the season is already taking shape.
That is why the teams search could extend beyond its own depth chart and into the veteran market, where a proven edge presence would make sense for a defense trying to keep pressure off the back end. The timing is delicate, though, because the longer Landry remains unavailable, the more this looks like a problem the Patriots may need to solve before the deadline rather than hope will fix itself later. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Get Encouraging Will Campbell News At A Crucial Time
Will Campbells knee injury could have put the Patriots in a far tougher spot, but the early signs have been more encouraging than the on-field reaction suggested. The rookie left tackle left Sundays game looking like a player who might be headed for a lengthy absence, only for the team to learn it was a knee sprain rather than something more serious, and he was back on the practice field in a limited role by Wednesday.
For New England, the timing matters as much as the diagnosis. The Patriots do have other options if Campbell cant go in the next stretch, but his availability still hangs over a position that can quickly affect everything else on offense. Campbell has sounded upbeat about where things stand, yet his status for upcoming games remains unsettled, which leaves the team waiting on one of its more important young pieces. [Read more 🡒]