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The NFL season is kicking into full gear. In Week 3, two AFC East rivals face off in what should be a great matchup. The Patriots are fresh off a heart-breaking overtime loss to the Seahawks and are looking to get back into the win column. The Jets and QB Aaron Rodgers want to establish themselves as true contenders in the team’s home opener. Which 1-1 squad will prevail? We have the answer to that question plus four other bold predictions for Thursday night’s showdown:
New England’s Backfield Sets The Tone Early
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The run game has been dominant for the Patriots through two weeks. Rhamondre Stevenson has been excellent thus far, rushing for 201 yards and 2 TDs. Backup Antonio Gibson saw increased usage against Seattle, and turned 11 carries into 96 yards. The Patriots know they need to lean on the rushing attack to win games. Limit turnovers, control the clock, and keep their defense out of unenviable situations. We’ll see a heavy dosage of Stevenson early to establish the tempo of the game.
Garrett Wilson Is Kept In Check
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It’s been a bit of a quiet start for star WR Garrett Wilson in ’24. And, that’s been a major factor for why New York’s offense has looked underwhelming through two weeks. Most of Wilson’s receptions have been for short gains, and he’s yet to score. Things don’t get much easier against a stingy New England secondary. He’s going to see a lot of Christian Gonzalez, who held Wilson to just 48 yards on 9 targets in their lone matchup last season.
Mike Williams Has First Big Game With Jets
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With Garrett Wilson drawing the most difficult matchup, Aaron Rodgers should look elsewhere for production. As a result, Mike Williams is in line for his first, breakout performance as a New York Jet. Williams saw a meaningful bump in playing time last week. Williams was on the field for just 18-percent of snaps in his debut. In Week 2, that number increased to 65-percent as he caught his lone target for 19 yards. His ability to make contested catches is a perfect match for Rodgers’ precise accuracy.
Keion White Becomes A Household Name
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It looked like this New England defense was headed for regression in ’24. They traded Matthew Judon in the offseason. Christian Barmore could miss the entire year with blood clots. Not to mention, Bill Belichick leaving was sure to make a negative impact. Through two weeks, the Patriots haven’t missed a beat defensively. Breakout stars like Keion White have helped ease the transition. He’s been an all-out disruptor for opposing offenses and has collected 4.0 sacks through two games. If he adds two more sacks in Week 3, he’ll be the league leader and become the face of one of the league’s top defenses.
Jerod Mayo Gets His First Win Over Rival
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First-year coach Jerod Mayo got off to an impressive start with an upset win on the road over the Bengals. He kept it close against a more talented Seahawks team and nearly pulled off a win in overtime. Their upcoming schedule looks a bit less daunting due to key injuries — Week 4 is a matchup against a banged-up 49ers team before they host the Dolphins who will be without starting QB Tua Tagovailoa. A win here could be huge for a New England team looking to smash expectations. The Jets have plenty of talent on both ends but look susceptible in this matchup. New England won’t ask much out of QB Jacoby Brissett in this one and will rely on a solid rushing attack plus a stout defense to pull off another upset.
