Three key matchups for the Patriots as they take on the Jets

Key matchups for the Patriots in week eight

Patriots front seven vs. the run

Woof. It looked like the Patriots had fixed their issues with stopping the run but then the Chicago Bears come in and run for an easy 243 yards in their blowout win. You’d have thought that maybe they’d make an adjustment or two after seeing designed quarterback runs but that never seemed to be the case for Steve Belichick and his defensive unit. Of course, it did not help losing Kyle Dugger to an injury, but they were getting run over even with him in there. This matchup with the Jets would have been tough with Hall in there as he has 285 yards and three touchdowns in his last three games while averaging almost seven yards per rush.

The Jets don’t have the running threat at quarterback like the Bears but they do have Michael Carter and now James Robinson to run the ball. Carter is a tough back to bring down, leading the Jets with five broken tackles on his 66 rushes, and is a threat down by the goal line. It remains to be seen how much Robinson will play but he proved to be a threat as both a runner and a receiver during his time in Jacksonville. The Patriots need to be able to stop the run and force the Jets to beat them in the air without their leading receiver.