The Patriots will be facing a different Jets team than they saw a month ago, as New York has built its confidence back up with the return of star quarterback Sam Darnold.
The Jets are also expected to get their top defensive player back in linebacker CJ Mosley.
Much has been made about Sam Darnold’s excellent outing last Sunday against the Cowboys in which he threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-22 New York victory. But facing a Patriots defense that is second in the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed per game (161.0), and one coached by Belichick instead of Jason Garrett should prove to be much more difficult for the second-year QB.
Spread: Patriots -9.5 (-105), Jets +9.5 (-115)
Money line: Patriots -420, Jets +340
Over Under: Total Over 43.5 (-105), Total Under 43.5 (-115)
Before Darnold was diagnosed with mononucleosis this season, he played in the Jets’ opening day loss to the Bills at home. Buffalo’s defense, which is on par with the Patriots’, held Darnold to just 175 yards of passing and New York was only able to manage 16 points on the day.
Darnold is often-times reckless with the football as he threw a whopping 15 interceptions in just 13 games last season (second in the NFL). The Cowboys defense also managed to pick him off last week.
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Gotta imagine Devin McCourty is salivating over the possibility of adding to his league-leading interception total (4) tonight.
Meanwhile, Tom Brady has now thrown interceptions in his last three games after not throwing a pick in the team’s first three games of the year. Brady needs to get back in the groove of things, even though he will throwing to a depleted receiving corps (Josh Gordon has been ruled out for Monday night with knee and ankle issues).
The good news for Brady is that he will facing a Gregg Williams defense as Brady has owned Williams over the years. Brady and the Pats are 9-2 all-time when facing a defense that has Williams on the staff.
The Pats also typically do a good job when there is a large spread. They are 4-2 this year with mostly massive spreads and the only two exceptions (30-14 vs. Jets, 16-10 vs. Bills) narrowly missed on fluke plays.
