Game capsule
Opening line: Patriots by 8 Series record: Patriots lead 63-54-1 Last meeting: Patriots beat Jets 26-6, Dec. 31, 2017
Streaks, stats, notes: Patriots look for fifth straight win in series vs. AFC East-rival Jets. With win, Patriots would clinch 18th straight season with .500 record or better, second in NFL history to only Dallas (21, 1965-85). New England tries to avoid second two-game losing streak of season. Last time Patriots had two two-game skids in same season was 2015, when they went 12-4 and lost to Denver in AFC championship game. QB Tom Brady has won seven of last eight starts vs. Jets, with lone loss coming Dec. 27, 2015, when New York won 26-20 in OT in Todd Bowles’ first season as coach. Brady needs four TD passes to top Peyton Manning (579) for most in NFL history, including postseason games. He’s thrown at least two TD passes in each of last four games vs. Jets. Also needs 147 yards passing to top Manning (79,279). With 252 yards passing, Brady would reach 3,000 for 16th straight season to tie Manning for second most behind only Brett Favre (18). RB James White has four TD runs and six TD catches, making him one of just six players with at least four in each category. White leads Patriots with 66 catches, 562 yards receiving and six TD receptions. He needs 12 catches to break Tony Collins’ team record for RBs of 77 set in 1986. TE Rob Gronkowski expected to return from back injury after sitting out last two games, and three of last four. Brady has just one TD pass in last three games, so Gronkowski could be huge boost to passing offense. WR Josh Gordon has 26 catches for 477 yards and two TDs since joining Patriots. LB Kyle Van Noy led New England with 12 tackles vs. Titans and has three straight games with eight or more. K Stephen Gostkowski has made 32 straight FGs from under 50 yards in regular season, tying longest such streak of career. Jets look to snap four-game skid and avoid first five-game losing streak since dropping eight straight during Rex Ryan’s final season as coach in 2014. Bowles 1-6 as head coach vs. Patriots.