New England Patriots vs New York Jets: Game Six Preview and Prediction
By Hal Bent
HOW THE PATRIOTS COULD LOSE:
A lot of ink has been used to determine why the Jets have not folded-up their tents and lost every game this season. In reality, there is a simple reason that many overlooked: players play the game, not executives and coaches. As much as the franchise may want to finish with a top draft pick and land their quarterback of the future, no coach or player wants to lose.
The Jets actually never went all in on the tear-down and rebuild. Maybe that was a miscalculation, maybe it was a smart move to infuse their young players with a winning environment no matter what external parties may desire. Despite expectations that only young players would receive playing time in a rebuilding season, the Jets may have rid themselves of some expensive veterans such as Brandon Marshall, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Eric Decker, they still have a veteran core who knows how to win the NFL.
On offense the Jets have leaned on veteran quarterback Josh McCown who is playing like he knows this is final chance to be a starter in the NFL. He is playing smart and with passion. Veteran running backs Bilal Powell and Matt Forte have carried the load although both are fighting injuries.
At wide receiver the Jets traded for Jermaine Kearse from Seattle and brought back old friend Jeremy Kerley from the scrap heap. In free agency the Jets signed left tackle Kelvin Beachum after he flamed out in Jacksonville and retained guard James Carpenter to anchor the offensive line..
On defense, they brought back linebacker Demario Davis while signing cornerback Morris Claiborne in free agency to team with holdover veteran Buster Skrine in the secondary. They retained defensive tackle Steve McLendon and still have defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson in the prime of his career.
The Jets have drafted well on defense and have a young core with linebacker Darron Lee, safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, defensive end Leonard Williams and outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins, They are fast, aggressive and fearless. Teaming up with the veteran core, they actually have improved a unit that had grown old and stale.
The offense may not be able to score enough points to keep the team winning as they enter a tougher stretch of their schedule. However, this Jets defense is a mix of youngsters and solid veterans and is playing with a ton of confidence right now. That makes them dangerous.