New England Patriots vs New York Jets: 5 Biggest Takeaways

1. We’re Number One:

The Patriots did not fall into the trap of 2015 where they limped down the stretch as injuries ravaged the team and they seemed more focused on keeping as many players healthy as possible. Ending the season by declining rather than growing stronger saw home-field advantage slip from their grasp as they lost to the Jets and Miami in the final weeks of the 2015 season.

New England took care of business against the Jets looking once more like a Bill Belichick Patriots squad that improves as the season goes along rather than the team that peaked in October and limped to the finish line.

Last year the Patriots had LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis on injured reserve, they were running Brandon Bolden and Steven Jackson out there behind an offensive line that had multiple rookies, five different left tackles, and Marcus Cannon trying to block Von Miller with just one healthy leg. While they had tight end Rob Gronkowski healthy, at wide receiver Julian Edelman’s foot was not healthy, Danny Amendola was still hurt, and the only other receivers were Brandon LaFell and Keshawn Martin.

Rookie wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell and free agent Chris Hogan have given Brady two outside receivers who can stretch the field, work outside the numbers, line up anywhere on the field, and are bigger targets in the red zone. Free agent tight end Martellus Bennett has been the Gronk Insurance he was signed to be and surpasses 2015 tight end Scott Chandler (who had no business playing through his knee injury that forced him to retire).  

Second year center David Andrews has been an upgrade over Bryan Stork and rookie Joe Thuney has surpassed Josh Kline. Cannon and left tackle Nate Solder are healthy and make a huge difference running the ball and in pass protection.

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On defense the Patriots are very similar other than the departures of Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones. Adding Eric Rowe at cornerback gives them desperately needed size at the position. Shea McClellin and Kyle Van Noy have more than adequately replaced Collins (who was burnt twice by Owen Daniels on the same route for touchdowns in the AFC Championship game) and Chris Long and Trey Flowers have seamlessly replaced Jones.

One criticism of Chandler Jones has always been his inability to make big plays in big games. Last year Jones was actually leading the NFL in sacks at midseason, but just like every year in New England he faltered down the stretch. Even this year in Arizona, before last week’s game versus Seattle, he had gone four straight games without a sack after having eight sacks in his first ten games with the Cardinals.

In New England, Jones was injured in 2012 in the playoffs missing much of the AFC Championship game and finishing with just one tackle. In 2013 he was shut out in the playoffs with just two tackles and no sacks in two games. In 2014, he got his first sack in the postseason in the Super Bowl after having four tackles and no sacks in the two prior games. Last year he had a sack versus Kansas City but had no sacks, no tackles, and no impact against Denver in the AFC Championship game.

Not to disparage Jones who had four very good years in New England, but the lack of depth behind him forced the Patriots’ defensive coaches to keep him on the field and leading defensive linemen in snaps played each season explains why he wore down in the second half and lacked explosion and big plays in the playoffs.

Next: Ranking the Possible AFC Playoff Opponents

This season the Patriots can cycle a rejuvenated Jabaal Sheard, a motivated Chris Long, an ageless Rob Ninkovich, and explosive young pass rusher Trey Flowers throughout the game. It has kept all four fresh and has played a key role in keeping pressure on opposing quarterbacks throughout the game and finishing strong in the fourth quarter.

This is not the same Patriots team that limped into the playoffs and was a two-point conversion from forcing overtime on the road in the AFC Championship game. Along with Dallas in the NFC, they have been one of the few dominant teams in the league this season.

This team seems capable of taking care of business and securing the top spot to earn home-field advantage through the playoffs. They looked strong, motivated, and hungry all season long and should be ready for another playoff run.