The Jets are asking for their fans to create a “Green Out” at MetLife Stadium by showing up clad in green. They need to hope the Patriots don’t provide a blackout for their season.
The Jets open a brutal three-game stretch of games Sunday against the rival Patriots. They face the Bengals and Saints after that. If they’re not careful, they could fall from 3-3 to 3-6 in a flash.
It starts with the 5-1 Patriots, who are coming off an amazing comeback win over the Saints. The Jets nearly beat New England in Week 2, but rookie quarterback Geno Smith had three fourth-quarter interceptions and the Pats escaped with a 13-10 win.
Now, they get a rematch.
“They know us and we know them pretty good,” Jets linebacker Calvin Pace said. “It comes down to execution. There are not going to be any surprises.”
No, there won’t be. The Jets know what to expect when Bill Belichick and Tom Brady come to town. The Jets have lost five straight to the Patriots, their last win coming in the January 2011 playoff game.
“There’s a lot to play for,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “First, you’re playing your biggest rival in your division. You’re already down a game to them that you played head-to-head. Certainly in the standings we’re well down. Obviously, it’s big that way for sure. … With that being said, it’s game seven, so that’s a little unusual. If it was game 15 or 16 and it meant more, then obviously I’d say so. Clearly, with all that being said, you still want to win it in the worst way, and certainly that’s our feeling.”
The Patriots are beat up with key pieces of their defense — Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo — done for the season and wide receiver Danny Amendola out this week with a concussion.
The Jets have alternated wins and losses this season. Can they keep that trend alive with a win this week?
A look inside the game:
MARQUEE MATCHUP
Jets safeties Dawan Landry and Antonio Allen vs. Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski
The Return of Gronk has arrived just in time for the Jets. What a coincidence. Gronkowski will play his first game of the season after undergoing back and forearm surgeries this offseason. Gronkowski has been practicing since Sept. 2, so he should not be too rusty, but he has not been hit since last season.
Jets coach Rex Ryan likely will have a multi-layered plan for Gronkowski, but the safeties figure to draw the assignment quite often. The Jets could even use three safeties with Jaiquawn Jarrett getting in the game.
“He’s a playmaker, you have to respect that,” linebacker Quinton Coples said. “We’ve got things for him, we got defenses that can protect us and make sure that we take care of him and we’ll move forward from there.”
BAD ENCORES
Ryan has beaten the Patriots three times in his five years as Jets coach, but he has lost the second meeting in each of his first four seasons. They have included some of his most lopsided losses as Jets coach. The Patriots beat the Jets 49-19 last year in the second meeting, the most points the Jets have allowed under Ryan. It was 37-16 two years ago, 45-3 in 2010 and 31-14 in 2009.
“Their team, historically in that second half of the season, they don’t lose much,” Ryan said. “Whatever it is, they’ve obviously done a better job than we have.”
The rematch comes earlier in the season than usual this year. Maybe that will help the Jets.
TARGET TOM
When the Jets have had good games against the Patriots, they have pressured Tom Brady and hit him. It is no secret the Jets want to do this again Sunday. Ryan has been able to pressure the quarterback this season without a lot of blitzing, thanks to the play of the defensive line. Muhammad Wilkerson leads the team with five sacks and the team is tied for fourth in the NFL with 20.
Brady is having a down year for him statistically, but he showed what he can do last week against the Saints with the stunning comeback.
“Brady looks like he’s getting better and better each week,” Jets guard Willie Colon said. “That’s the scary part. Brady looks surgical. In that Saints game, he looked scary.”
MARTY BALL NEEDS A NEW PAGE
The Jets averaged 4.2 yards per carry rushing the ball last week against the Steelers, but ran it just 20 times. Running back Chris Ivory said he wants the Jets to run the ball more, but the question is: Will offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg listen?
This seems like the perfect week to do it. The Patriots are 24th in the NFL versus the run, allowing 118.8 yards per game. They are missing Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo in the middle of their defense. And it would limit what you’re asking Smith to do against Bill Belichick’s defense.
COUNTING ON CRIBBS
The Jets signed Josh Cribbs this week to replace the injured Clyde Gates as their kick returner with the hope he can give them a spark in special teams. Cribbs is tied with Leon Washington for the most kickoff returns for touchdowns in NFL history with eight, but he has not brought one back since 2009. The Jets hope Cribbs has something left, and maybe he gives them a big return today. Also, watch for him to have a role in the Wildcat offense, replacing Mike Goodson.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
38 -Fourth-quarter comeback wins for Tom Brady, after the Patriots quarterback brought his team back last week against the Saints.
12 -Consecutive divisional wins by the Patriots, the longest active streak and three shy of the NFL record since the merger. The Patriots have not lost to an AFC East team since 2011 when they lost to the Bills.
1 -Interception by the Jets this season, the fewest in the NFL. Dawan Landry picked off Josh Freeman in Week 1. Since then, nada.
COSTELLO’S CALL
The Jets have a good chance in this one. The Patriots are banged up, the Jets are catching them early in the year and nearly won in Week 2. But Tom Brady is still Tom Brady. This one is close until the fourth quarter.
PATRIOTS 31, JETS 17