Some matchups are favorable. Some are simply bad matchups.
* The heart of the Yankees batting order against postseason pitching? Bad matchup for A-Rod, Cano, Granderson and Swisher.
* Friday afternoon Lincoln Tunnel traffic out of Manhattan? Bad matchup for you and your car.
* The Post versus the Daily News? Bad matchup for the News.
* The Jets defense against the Patriots’ explosive and relentless no-huddle offense? Bad matchup for the Jets defense.
The Jets and Patriots carry identical 3-3 records into their showdown for first place in the AFC East Sunday at 4:25 p.m. at Gillette Stadium, yet look into their respective statistics and how they got to those records and the teams seem worlds apart.
That explains the Patriots being 10 1/2-point favorites in Vegas.
So, too, does a New England offense that ranks at the top of the NFL in points scored (31.3 per game) and yards (445.3 per game) playing a Jets defense that has been inconsistent, pedestrian and injury-plagued.
Complicating matters for the Jets, who are allowing an average of 23.5 points and 359.8 yards (middle of the pack in the league rankings), is the improved no-huddle offense of the Patriots, which now features a running game that cannot be overlooked.
The Patriots are no longer the one-trick Tom Brady-led pony in the no-huddle offense with opponents knowing they were going to pass most of the time.
Sure, the Patriots bring their usual passing game talent — Wes Welker and his 48 catches and the two-headed tight end prowess of Rob Gronkowski (29 catches, three touchdowns) and Aaron Hernandez (12 catches, two touchdowns).
But of more significance, Stevan Ridley, their second-year running back, has emerged into a force, ranked fifth in the NFL with 524 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Throw all of those offensive ingredients into the bouillabaisse and you get the feeling the Jets defense will have trouble digesting it all.
With the Jets defense built more as a plodding and physical group than on speed and pursuit, you might be seeing the backs of defensive players’ jerseys chasing Patriots offensive players from late afternoon into the New England evening.
The Jets feel otherwise. At least they say they do.
“We’ve been repping it since OTAs, minicamp and training camp,’’ Jets safety LaRon Landry said Friday. “This is not the first time we’ve faced the hurry-up. So, as far as it being a challenge, who knows what they’re going to do out of it, and they don’t know what we’re capable of doing, either.’’
The Jets, anticipating a hearty dose of the no-huddle, have spent a bulk of practice time on it this week.
“We’re expecting a whole game of it,’’ defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said.
“It’s hard to simulate their tempo, their no-huddle, how precise Brady is, but we did our best,’’ coach Rex Ryan said. “[Tim] Tebow had a good grasp playing under [New England offensive coordinator] Josh McDaniels and being drafted by Josh, so he did a nice job at quarterback [on the scout team].
“I thought our preparation was good. We’re not going to shut them down. No one is going to shut them down. But we can’t let them go up and down the field like they have been [doing] on teams.’’
Illustrating how much the Patriots have dictated games on offense, through six games they’ve run 96 more offensive plays than their opponents, or 16 more per game on average. In their home win against Denver two weeks ago, the Patriots amassed a franchise-record 35 first downs.
These things are all direct by-products of how proficient they are out of the hurry-up offense.
“It was really dominant in Denver,’’ Pettine said. “I don’t think Denver handled it well. It’s a dosage thing. If somebody struggles with something, you’re going to keep with it, so they stayed with it.’’
So this is the Jets’ charge Sunday: Dictate on defense or be dictated to. Make the matchup favorable.