The 2025 New England Patriots rallied behind a strong and well-balanced defense. Zak Kuhr did a great job filling in for Terrell Williams, to the point where he earned a promotion to full-time defensive coordinator for the upcoming season.
However, with Khyiris Tonga and Anferenee Jennings leaving in free agency, this team may not be as efficient at stopping the run in 2026. They gave up just 101.7 rushing yards per game last season, which was good for sixth in the league.
To add insult to injury, the New York Jets might be brewing a dominant rushing attack. With Breece Hall landing a big contract extension, a strong offensive line, and Frank Reich now calling the shots as offensive coordinator, Bleacher Report's Moe Moton believes Hall can be a problem in the division.
The Patriots have to figure out how to stop Breece Hall
"Although the New York Jets have struggled offensively in recent years, Breece Hall's supporting cast can help him claim this year's rushing title," Argued Moton. "...The Jets' new offensive coordinator, Frank Reich, had a rushing champion lead his offense in 2021, when Jonathan Taylor ran for 1,811 yards. Since 2017, the 64-year-old play-caller has fielded three top-seven ground attacks in seven seasons."
The Patriots swept the season series vs. the Jets last season. They did a great job of keeping Hall in check in the first matchup, but not so much in the second. He turned 14 carries into 58 rushing yards with two receptions for six yards at Gillette Stadium, and then broke out for 111 rushing yards and one touchdown on 14 carries, adding 2 catches for 18 yards.
That said, the game was out of reach in the second quarter, and it was the regular-season finale, so that game may have been an outlier. He's a talented guy and will be in a better situation against the Patriots' new-look defense, but history is clearly on Mike Vrabel's team's side.
All in all, Hall has logged 109 carries for 499 yards and has scored 3 touchdowns in six career games vs. the Patriots. That's an average of 83.2 rushing yards and 4.6 yards per carry, but he's only topped 100 rushing yards twice, and the bulk of that production comes from a 178-rushing-yard effort back in 2024.
The Jets invested heavily in their offense in the 2026 NFL Draft, and although the bar isn't particularly high, they should be better than they were last season. Still, with three wins in a row and 17 in their last 20 meetings, the Pats should love their chances against their ever-struggling AFC East foes again next season.
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