With Sam healthy, Jets out to ‘shock the world’

Minutes after notching their first win of the season last week over the Cowboys, the Jets already were looking ahead to Monday’s matchup with the Patriots. The 1-4 Jets knew they did not have much time to celebrate with the defending Super Bowl champions coming to MetLife Stadium this week.

These teams played just four weeks ago and the Patriots manhandled the Jets in a 30-14 win. But this Jets team looks different than the one they saw in Foxborough. Quarterback Sam Darnold is back and so is the Jets’ confidence.

“I think we have a great opportunity to shock the world,” running back Le’Veon Bell said this week.

A Jets win would be shocking. The 6-0 Patriots have looked incredible on defense. They are the No. 1-ranked defense in the NFL. They have allowed just 48 points through six games and are on pace to set an NFL record in that department. They have allowed just one passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns.

“Their defense is good; they have been all year,” Darnold said. “But, just like any other team, they’re not unbeatable, so we just go out there, find the weakness in the defense and keep working it. That’s what we’re going to do on Monday night.”

On offense, the Patriots have not looked like vintage Tom Brady and Co., but No. 12 is still playing at a high level and they are the No. 8 offense in football.

The Jets have not toppled the Patriots since 2015, a losing streak of seven games. This would be a statement win if the Jets can pull off the upset.

“I think for us, when you get locked in on trying to break the dynasty or tear them down, that’s when you start losing control of yourself and losing control of your emotions during the game,” Darnold said. “For us, it’s continuing to take it one game at a time and just focus on this game plan, what we need to do, the certain looks that we get, how we’re going to adjust to those and go about the game that way. Because if we get outside of ourselves and try to take down Tom Brady, take down [Bill] Belichick — those are all legit things — but for us, it’s really just about focusing on what we need to do and how we need to execute.”