Patriots (3-4) at Jets (5-2)
Time/TV: 1 p.m., CBS Opening line: Patriots by
2 ½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Patriots lead 71-54-1.
Last meeting: Patriots beat Jets 54-13 on Oct. 24, 2021, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Last week: Patriots lost to Bears 33-14; Jets beat Broncos 16-9.
Patriots player to watch:
LB Matt Judon. He has easily been New England’s most explosive defensive player and is coming off a season-high 2 ½-sack performance against Chicago.
Jets player to watch: WR Elijah Moore. The second-year wide receiver returned to the Jets this week after requesting a trade last week because of frustration over a lack of playmaking opportunities.
Key matchup: Patriots run game vs. Jets D-line.
Game notes: The Patriots have won 12 consecutive meetings, with the Jets’ previous victory coming in Week 16 of the 2015 season, when New York won 26-20 in overtime at home. ... With 324 total wins, including the playoffs, Belichick is tied with Bears founder and former coach George Halas for the second-most wins by a head coach in NFL history, trailing only Don Shula (347). Belichick can claim sole possession of second place with a victory. ... Second-year QB Mac Jones is expected to start after struggling in his return to the lineup Monday night when he played only three series, threw an interception and got benched in favor of backup Bailey Zappe. It was Jones’ first game action since he sprained his left ankle late in New England’s loss to Baltimore on Sept. 25. ... DL Deatrich Wise has five sacks, tying a career high. ... S Devin McCourty is one of four active players with at least 30 INTs. ... At 5-2, the Jets are off to their best start since 2010 — the most recent time they made the playoffs. Their previous 6-2 start also came that season. ... QB
Zach Wilson has not thrown a TD pass in any of the Jets’ past three wins. New York has focused on a run-heavy offense, which has scored eight TDs on the ground during that span. ... Rookie CB Sauce Gardner leads the NFL with 12 passes defensed, including three against the Broncos. He was selected the AFC defensive player of the week for his performance at Denver. Gardner is the only rookie since 2000 to have at least one pass defensed in each of his first seven games. ... DE Carl Lawson is tied with Judon for second in the league with 15 quarterback hits, trailing only San Francisco’s Nick Bosa (17).
Fantasy tip: This could be the week to reinsert Jets RB Michael Carter into your lineup. He’ll likely see an increase in touches with rookie Breece Hall out for the season.