Gang Green will need Xmas miracle vs. Pats

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The greatest moment in Jets history came when they were massive underdogs. Is there any chance they can pull off another shocker? A win over the Patriots on Christmas Eve would not compare to winning Super Bowl III in significance, but the Jets enter this game 16½-point underdogs, the biggest point spread in the NFL this season. When Joe Namath knocked off the Colts, the Jets were 18-point underdogs.

Can Bryce Petty become “Broadway Bryce?” OK, probably not. The Jets’ only hope in this game is that the Patriots take them lightly and are thinking more about what Santa Claus is going to bring them than what Gang Green is throwing at them.

The Jets head into this game at 4-10, missing four of their five offensive line starters and with Petty starting his fourth game at quarterback and facing a red-hot 12-2 Patriots team. That’s a tall order.

“It’s a tall order with a veteran quarterback so, either way we have to go up there and play them,” said coach Todd Bowles, who was hospitalized Friday and may not be on the sidelines. “We know they’re a good team. We know what they bring to the table. We understand what we have to do going up there and not make any mistakes and make some plays.”

That has been the message around the Jets this week. They know Tom Brady and the Patriots won’t make mistakes, and the Jets can’t either.

“They’re just an offense that doesn’t make a lot of mistakes,” rookie linebacker Jordan Jenkins said. “You really just have to come into the game with the right mindset. Brady’s getting rid of the ball quick. As a pass rusher, you can’t get deterred if you don’t get him the first time. Eventually you’re going to get through and get a sack. You just have to keep pounding on him and pounding on him. Just do your best to not make a mistake because that’s one thing that offense is good at. If you make a mistake, they’re going to capitalize on it.”

Jenkins, who played at Georgia in college, compared it to playing his old SEC rival Alabama. Jenkins got to see what Brady could do four weeks ago. The Jets had a 10-0 first half lead and a 17-13 fourth-quarter lead before Brady led the Patriots back for a 22-17 win.

“It’s going to be a four-quarter game,” Jenkins said. “You can’t take one play off. If you take your foot off the pedal, Brady’s going to be Brady and make something happen in the last four or five minutes of the game like he did last time.”