After he returned from a meniscus harm that sidelined him for seven weeks, Zach Wilson was undefeated because the Jets beginning quarterback this season.
That was till Wilson bumped into Bill Belichick and the Patriots protection three weeks in the past.
Not solely did the Jets lose to New England 22-17, however Wilson had his worst outing of the season. Now the 2 groups will meet once more this Sunday in a pivotal AFC matchup.
“I’m excited because it’s another challenge,” Wilson stated. “This is a giant divisional recreation for us, clearly.
“Not necessarily that I feel like I have to prove anything because last game didn’t go so great and I have to do something different this time. But just the progress we won a big game last week and it’s on to the next. This is our next challenge and these guys are a great team, they do a great job defensively, so I am looking at it that way and I’m super excited for this game.”
Wilson threw for career-high 355 yards towards the Patriots on Oct. 30, together with two touchdowns. However, he additionally threw three interceptions that translated into 10 factors for the Patriots, which was the distinction in a five-point recreation.
In his three profession begins towards the Patriots, Wilson has thrown for 616 yards, two touchdowns, seven interceptions and has a passer ranking of fifty.5. He can be finishing simply 53.6% of his throws throughout these three video games.
New England has not solely been a thorn within the aspect of Wilson but additionally to Gang Green over the last seven seasons. The Patriots have received 13 consecutive video games towards the Jets relationship again to 2015.
Gang Green will face a Patriots protection that’s been among the finest within the league in current weeks. New England is seventh in factors towards, second in takeaways, and third total in Defense-adjusted Value Over (15.9%). They even have the league chief in sacks in Matthew Judon, who has registered 11.5 in 9 video games.
Wilson is coming off one of many higher performances of his profession towards the Bills. In that recreation, he accomplished 18 of 25 passes for 154 yards and a landing.
As he did towards the Bills, Wilson must restrict his errors. But the remainder of the Jets gamers might want to do the identical throughout Sunday’s rematch.
“We have to be aggressive in all facets,” Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur stated. “I’m not simply speaking in regards to the quarterback, that’s our left guard, proper sort out, everybody must be aggressive of their mindset and the way they strategy what their job is.
“[Robert] Saleh has been saying all of it week — you don’t should make a play, it’s a must to make your play. Your play as a left guard goes to be a lot completely different than the receivers, however that’s your play to make on that specific play.
“We never want to be reckless, we never want to be careless at all for 60 minutes, for 17 games, mistakes are going to happen. But our mindset is we gotta go attack, but attack doesn’t mean we are going to throw the ball 70 times, it means attack within your fundamentals, be aggressive, be confident in what you’re doing and you do that by going out there Wednesday, Thursday, Friday attacking the game plan, going through the practices so when you’re out there on Sunday, you are able to execute to the best of your ability.”
Both the Jets and the Patriots can be within the postseason if it began right this moment. However, with a win Sunday, Gang Green would declare first place within the AFC East after earlier wins over the Dolphins and the Bills.
Coming into Week 11, the AFC East is the one division within the league that includes all 4 groups with data above .500 and would qualify for the playoffs. At 5-4, New England is in final place as they presently maintain the ultimate Wild Card spot within the AFC.
The Jets are 6-3 and solely path the division-leading Dolphins by half a recreation within the division. Not solely would the Jets be on prime the AFC East with a win, however that might enhance to 3-1 towards divisional opponents.
“Divisional games are always important because there are ramifications way down the line from a scenario standpoint, but it really is just another championship opportunity,” Saleh stated.
“I get it’s the Patriots and I get it’s big for the fans and some of the people upstairs in the business department, our ownership and all that stuff, but for us as coaches, players, you’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing, and that this is another championship opportunity versus another championship football team, and we’ve got to play at a championship level.”
JETS ADD DUVERNAY-TARDIF
A day after working him out, the Jets determined so as to add a well-known face to their apply squad.
On Thursday, the Jets signed Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to their apply squad. Last 12 months, Duvernay-Tardif began seven video games on the Jets offensive line after he was traded from the Chiefs.
He put his NFL profession on maintain through the summer time after beginning a medical residency program in Montreal. The Jets have had a variety of accidents on their offensive line together with tackles George Fant (knee) and Max Mitchell (knee). Earlier this week, the Jets activated Mitchell’s apply window because the staff has 21 days to put him on the energetic roster, or he’ll revert again to injured reserve and miss the remainder of the 2022 season.
INJURY REPORT
It seems extra probably that the Jets may very well be with out extensive receiver Corey Davis for the third consecutive recreation. Davis didn’t apply on Thursday as he’s nonetheless attempting to get better from the knee harm he suffered towards the Broncos on Oct. 23.
Davis has missed the final two video games towards the Patriots and Bills. He has caught 19 receptions for 351 yards and two touchdowns in seven video games.
Starting proper guard Nate Herbig additionally missed apply once more Thursday due to a shin harm. Saleh stated on Wednesday that he wasn’t “really concerned” about Herbig’s harm, however it seems he may not play towards the Patriots Sunday.
Defensive sort out Sheldon Rankins, who injured his elbow towards the Bills on Nov. 6, additionally didn’t apply as he is not going to play Sunday towards the Patriots.
Left sort out Duane Brown was restricted as soon as once more, as he often is on Wednesdays and Thursdays. But the veteran left sort out ought to have the ability to play this weekend.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com