Coming off a tight 27-20 win over the Cleveland Browns, the New York Jets are hoping to stretch their winning streak to three games when they head to Foxborough on Thursday night.
It won’t come easy, though. Drake Maye and the 8-2 New England Patriots await, and they’ve looked every bit like a Super Bowl contender.
Maye has played his way into early MVP conversations, transforming the Patriots’ offense and fueling their fast start, posing a challenge the Jets haven’t seen in weeks.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn had high praise for the UNC product and his success this year.
“To have all the talk of MVP candidate right now and the way he’s going about doing his business, he’s doing a good job,” said Glenn.
Through 10 weeks this year, Maye ranks second among quarterbacks in completion percentage (71.7%), third in passing yards (2,555), and third in passing touchdowns (19).
New York’s defense got off to a terrible start this season.
Through five games, New York was giving up 31.4 points per outing, the franchise’s fourth-worst defensive opening stretch, and opponents were scoring on more than half of their drives. It felt like every week they were playing from behind before the first quarter even ended.
It wasn’t just one area breaking down. They sat near the bottom in almost every major category: fourth-worst in passing touchdowns allowed, 27th in rushing yards surrendered, and 28th in defensive DVOA. Seven sacks in five games only added to the frustration. For a group that expected to set the tone, there just weren’t many bright spots to cling to.
However, the unit’s turnaround since Week 5 has been impressive.
After opening the season in a freefall, the Jets have allowed more than 30 points just once, Week 8 against the Bengals, a game they still won thanks to timely stops. Over that stretch, they’re giving up a much steadier 23 points per game, including dominant showings against the Broncos and Panthers, holding both to just 13 points.
The play calling has tightened up, the communication has improved, and the front seven finally looks alive. The Jets are coming off a six-sack performance against the Browns, a sign that this defense might be turning a corner.
Now comes the real test. After standing tall against struggling Browns rookie Dillon Gabriel, the Jets have to show they can stand toe-to-toe with a quarterback who has been elite all season.
