Southside Story

The Patriots will be without two starting wide receivers, both starting safeties, their offensive line is still a work in progress and their leading rusher is on IR.

The Jets playoff existence is on the line. And they're playing at home.

The pigskin math is pretty in this one, isn't it?

 

New England does have Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and a top tier defense so there's that. I actually like the Patriots chances better in a 12-9 game than a 35-31 game. I do know this. Even though Tom Terrific will be throwing passes to Brandon LaFell, Keshawn Martin and Chris Harper today while Rob Gronkowski is triple-teamed, Bill Belichick still expects his team to perform, to compete and to win today.

How sweet would that be? A short-handed Patriots team travels to the Meadowlands and effectively knocks the J-E-T-S out of the playoffs.

What will it take?

The Front Seven Makes Ryan Fitzpatrick Question His Life Choices

So far, Fitzpatrick's choice to throw away his Harvard education for the life of a gypsy quarterback hasn't really hurt him. His latest stop has done nothing to make the decision to forego investment banking look like a mistake. The Patriots must change all of that Sunday afternoon. Personally, I'll be playing a Jamie Collins drinking game; every time Collins makes a play, I drink. I'm looking forward to a game I won't be able to remember tomorrow.

Butler and Ryan shutdown Marshall and Decker

Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan have been well above average this year and they will need to come up big (figuratively and literally) against the tall and talented Jets pass catching duo. Brandon Marshall has been almost as good as he thinks he is while Eric Decker has thrived as a WR2. The front seven will help, of course, but Butler and Ryan won't have Devin McCourty helping over the top. Butler and Ryan need to win their matchups today, especially on 3rd down.

The Offensive Line Plays Their Best Game of the Season

They will need to against the Jets front. Will the Pats try to run the ball with Steven Jackson? Probably. After Jackson averages 1.3 yards per carry there will be lots of talk in the post-game of rust and the knocking off of same. Given there will be a fair number of 2nd and 9s and 3rd and 8s, keeping Brady upright will be a challenge against the Todd Bowles blitz-happy defense.

Tom Brady Being Tom Brady

TB12 gets to prove that he actually can take someone off the street and still win. It's not quite that bad, of course. He still has JoJo LaFell at WR and James White to catch passes out of the backfield. Keshawn Martin and Chris Harper weren't exactly in the Patriots' plans for 2015 back in August – nor are they literally "off the street" – but Brady will be counting on them today. With three NYJ defenders attached like remoras to Gronk, one of these guys is going to be open. Just catch the ball and fall to the turf in a fetal position guys. Thank you.

Bill Belichick Outsmarts Todd Bowles

Just once.

Let's goooooooo!