by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Oct 20, 2021
Game time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
Where to watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Patriots -7
BetMGM: Patriots -7
Caesars: Patriots -7
Season record
Jets: 1-4 (3rd place, AFC East)
Patriots: 2-4 (2nd place, AFC East)
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Jets - Patriots preview and analysis
Last week
Jets: Bye (lost 27-20 vs. Falcons in London in Week 5)
Patriots: lost 35-29 (OT) vs. Cowboys in Week 6
I’m convinced we’re in some multiverse setting where the New York Jets and New England Patriots are not that far off from each other in the AFC East standings.
The winner gets to hang around and have bragging rights for at least a week. The loser is in trouble, but that’s what you expect any time a professional football contest involves the Jets.
The Patriots are coming off an overtime loss at home against the Dallas Cowboys that saw them go blow for blow with that high-octane Dallas offense. Unfortunately, the Patriots couldn’t stop Dak Prescott when they needed to.
New England has lost three of four, but two of those losses came by one score to two of the NFC’s best teams. Strike that 15-point loss to the New Orleans Saints from the record, and things seem a whole lot better for the Patriots in the Mac Jones era.
The Patriots took the first meeting back in Week 2, a 25-6 win at MetLife Stadium that has not helped matters for the Jets at all. To be fair, it was expected for the Jets to put all their chips in the middle of the table in their No. 2 overall pick starting every game. The growing pains New York is going through has now been magnified to the nth degree.
But the Jets have had two promising weeks in a row. Following their shocking win over the banged-up Tennessee Titans, the Jets lost by only seven in London against the Atlanta Falcons two weeks ago.
But it was not Zach Wilson that led such a near-comeback with his 192 yards and an interception. The rookie quarterback threw for 210 yards and had those epic four interceptions in that Week 2 matchup that didn’t take much out of Bill Belichick and the Pats on that Sunday afternoon in New York.
The ghost of Sam Darnold lives on, even if his current team hasn’t won in a month or so.
Prediction
Somehow neither of these teams are worse than the Miami Dolphins in the standings at this current point in time. Touchdowns will be scored by both teams, as opposed to the matchup in September, but the Patriots will still dominate in this one. The Jets need more than one bye week to get things back in order, because field goals will not save them this day. Patriots by 20
Betting trends
The Jets are 59-123 straight up since 1992 as a road underdog.
The Patriots are 13-16 ATS as a favorite the past three seasons.
New England is 49-23 ATS since 1992 after allowing 30 points or more in its previous game.
Players to watch
Jets: Corey Davis needs to have a better game for the Jets to stand a chance. He had four receptions for 45 yards and is aiming for his fourth straight game with at least 40 yards.
Patriots: Damien Harris had 101 yards and a touchdown against Dallas, and you remember the wrecking ball run he had in Week 2. Expect another big week for him.
Statistical leaders
Jets:
Passing: Zach Wilson -- 1,117 yards, 4 TD, 9 INT
Rushing: Michael Carter -- 165 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Corey Davis -- 302 yards, 3 TD
Defense: Quinnen Williams -- 3.5 sacks
Patriots:
Passing: Mac Jones -- 1,472 yards, 7 TD, 6 INT
Rushing: Damien Harris -- 331 yards, 3 TD
Receiving: Jakobi Meyers -- 346 yards
Defense: Matt Judon -- 6 sacks
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
