Here are five keys to Sunday’s game between the Patriots and Jets at the Meadowlands:
1. Brett Favre vs. Patriots secondary: The Patriots lost their best cornerback in the offseason when Asante Samuel signed with the Eagles. The Patriots signed veteran Lewis Sanders to play alongside Ellis Hobbs. The not-so-ferocious combination of Brodie Coyle and Damon Huard combined for 206 yards passing in the Chiefs’ 17-10 loss to the Patriots. And that game could have gone to overtime if not for a touchdown-saving tackle by Rodney Harrison and Deltha O’Neal on Devard Darling, who had taken a slant pass from Huard 68 yards before being taken down at the 5. Favre has a much stronger arm than Huard and Coyle and a more experienced and talented set of receivers led by Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery.
2. Randy Moss vs. Jets secondary: Even with Matt Cassel in the game, Randy Moss had a monster performance against the Chiefs. He pulled in six catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. The Jets have inexperience at the cornerback position with second-year player Darrelle Revis and fourth-round rookie Dwight Lowery as the starters. The Dolphins had 251 yards passing, but much of that came on the final two drives when the Jets were protecting a 13, then six-point, lead. Revis ended the game with a spectacular interception while covering Dolphins receiver Ted Ginn Jr. in the end zone.
3. Matt Cassel’s inexperience: Everyone knows Tom Brady is out for the season and in steps Matt Cassel making his first NFL start. Cassel was effective against the Chiefs throwing for 152 yards and a touchdown. He led an impressive 98-yard drive on his first possession and, most importantly, the Patriots won 17-10. Will Cassel make more of an impact knowing he will start and with a full week of practice with the first team, or will the Jets defense be able to slow him down with a full week to prepare for the little-used backup?
4. Jets Front Seven vs. Patriots Offensive Line: The Jets 3-4 defense will have to put pressure on Cassel and force him to make poor decisions. The Patriots yielded two sacks against the Chiefs and the Jets were able to sack the Dolphins’ Chad Pennington four times.
5. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington vs. Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris: The Patriots will have to rely more on the running game now that Brady is out. Maroney and Morris combined for 104 yards on the ground, splitting 20 carries evenly. Jones looks to have bounced back after a tough first season with the Jets. Against the Dolphins, Jones ran for 101 yards and a touchdown, matching his total from the entire 2007 season. Washington ran six times for 9 yards and had two catches for 17 yards. A strong running game can help set up Favre’s deep passing game.