New England Patriots: Week 17 Wrap-up (New York Jets edition)
By Hal Bent
HENRY ANDERSON:
When the New York Jets sent a seventh-round draft pick to Indianapolis on draft day for 2015 third-round draft pick Henry Anderson, it barely registered around the league. Anderson was a capital-B bust for the Colts, amassing just 3 sacks in three injury-filled and unproductive seasons with Indianapolis.
But instead of being a camp body and potential Week 1 cutdown, Anderson somehow morphed into the Jets’ most productive pass rusher this season, and made Maccagnan and Jets ownership look smart by rolling the dice on him.
Anderson snagged 2.5 sacks in the first four weeks of the season, and continued to pressure quarterbacks throughout all of 2018. In addition, he blocked three kicks on special teams using his height (six-foot-six) and long arms to his advantage. Against Houston, he broke out with 3 sacks in Week 15 before adding another in Week 16, stepping in and playing a season-high 73 snaps on defense.
Anderson is set to cash in as his rookie deal expires this offseason, so expect the Jets to try and keep him from hitting free agency before then.
Surprisingly, Anderson did little against the Patriots in both of the Jets’ matchups this year. He was blanked from the stat sheet completely in Week 17, and registered just a single quarterback pressure against Tom Brady in Week 12. In fact, most attention was paid to his genitals that week, as wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson made national headlines for grabbing Anderson’s groin area in full view of the television cameras as Anderson sat on Patterson in a pile-up.
"Overall, the New York Jets didn’t prove to be much of a threat to the New England Patriots over the course of the 2018 season, dropping both games to their division rival by a combined score of 65-16. The Patriots finished 11-5 and are headed to the playoffs, while the Jets finished 4-12 and now head into the offseason without their head coach. Still, Gang Green figures to come back stronger next year with a fresh new mind at the helm. QB Sam Darnold is only going to get better, skill position players who missed time due to injuries will return, and the team will have another two chances during the course of the regular season to dethrone the Patriots atop the AFC East. It wouldn’t be a surprise if these three relatively-unheralded players – Andre Roberts, Elijah McGuire, and Henry Anderson – make bigger waves for the Jets next season. Patriots players, coaches, and fans would be wise to take note before the 2019 season begins. First though, they might as well win another Super Bowl."
-Hal Bent has been a Contributor at MusketFire.com for six years covering the New England Patriots. Follow him on Twitter @halbent01