Where to watch Jets vs Patriots: Live stream, spread, odds, prediction, pick for ‘Thursday Night Football’
Week 3 in the National Football League (NFL) The game kicks off at MetLife Stadium, where the New York Jets will host the New England Patriots in an AFC East matchup. This is the first of two matchups these division rivals will have this season. New York snapped its 15-game losing streak against the Patriots in Week 18 to close out the 2023 campaign and will look to start a streak of its own heading into Thursday night.
Both clubs are 1-1 on the year. The Patriots opened the year with an upset win at Cincinnati, but then fell to the Seattle Seahawks in their home opener on Sunday. As for the Jets, they began the year on the road for the first two weeks and open MetLife Stadium after notching their first win, a 24-17 victory over Tennessee, in Week 2.
New York is a six-point favorite in this matchup. As long as that holds, it will be the first time they’ve been favored against New England since 2011. How does this matchup play out? Let’s break it down.
How to see
- Date: Thursday, September 19 | Time: 8:15 pm Eastern Time
- Location: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
- Stream: Main video
- Odd: Jets -6 | Over/Under 38.5 (SportsLine Consensus)
When the Patriots have the ball
New England has shown over the first few weeks that it wants to be a run-based offense led by Rhamondre Stevenson. The running back is averaging 23 carries per game this season, 10 more than his previous career-high of 13 carries per game set in 2023. He has found the end zone in each of the previous two games and has recorded at least 80 rushing yards.
While the offense flowing through Stevenson will be the Patriots’ preference, they’ll need to do a better job of attacking defenses through the air. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett has passed for fewer than 150 yards in both games this season. Hunter Henry was able to make an impact in the Week 2 loss to Seattle with 109 yards on eight receptions, but every other pass-catcher has been a relatively non-factor. Specifically, wide receivers haven’t exactly been a part of New England’s offense so far. Wide receivers recorded just three catches for 19 yards in Week 2. The team’s top receiver, DeMario Douglas, didn’t make any catches.
Part of that lack of action the Patriots’ receivers are seeing may be due to the team’s offensive line issues. The club has had trouble keeping Brissett upright this season as they’ve patched up their line, specifically on the left side. Chukwuma Okorafor began the year as the team’s starting left tackle, but was benched at the start of the opener for Vederian Lowe and has been on the bench ever since. Has been placed on the team’s exempt/released listThen Lowe suffered a knee injury in Week 2, meaning rookie Caedan Wallace is slated to start on the left side in this matchup. So far, the Patriots are allowing a 44.3% pressure rate this season, third-worst in history. National Football League (NFL).
When the Jets have the ball
Of course, Aaron Rodgers is the central figure and the straw that will break the camel’s back for New York’s offense. He gives the Jets the best quarterback play the franchise has seen in decades, and while they’ve been up and down through the first two weeks, they may be starting to find their footing. Breece Hall will be a key piece for Rodgers, as the running back has been a factor both on the ground and in the passing game this season. In the Week 2 win over Tennessee, Hall totaled 114 yards from scrimmage and a receiving touchdown. He’s been responsible for 32.2% of the team’s offense dating back to last season. With New England missing senior linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (torn pectoral muscle) for the season, New York can double down on the star running back. And when Hall needs a breather, rookie Braelon Allen proved in Week 2 that he can be more than capable of carrying the load. He had 56 yards from scrimmage against the Titans and found the end zone twice.
When Rodgers decides to drop back and look outside, Garrett Wilson will be his first read — more often than not. Wilson is one of the best receivers in the NFL, but he has yet to truly explode early in 2024. He recorded 57 receiving yards in Week 1 and then 60 in Week 2. While he could be matched up against former first-round cornerback Christian Gonzalez in this game against the Patriots, New England just allowed both DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to top 110 receiving yards on Sunday.
Key match between Patriots and Jets
You could say the Patriots’ strength is their ability to pressure the quarterback, led by second-year defensive lineman Keion White, who already has four sacks on the season. While getting Rodgers out of his spot would go a long way toward New England pulling off an upset, they might not get the chance to do so. The Jets are allowing a 20.3% pressure rate this season, which is tops in the NFL. That’s due, in part, to Rodgers getting the ball out in 2.4 seconds, which is the fastest time in the NFL through two weeks. If that continues and the Jets’ offense can get quickly down the field to build a lead, the Patriots could be behind the eight-ball in no time.
Prediction
New England’s struggles on offense, headlined by an ineffective passing attack and the deteriorating health of the offensive line, are enough to make us rule them out at this position. That’s not to mention the loss of starting off-ball linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley on defense. The Jets’ offense has the ability to get going early in this game, and the way the Patriots are currently constructed, it’s hard to imagine them charging back.
Projected Score:Jets 27, Patriots 17
The choice: Jets -6
SportsLine’s Emory Hunt knows the game from a player’s perspective and has a solid take on the Patriots. He’s 18-5 (+1244) in his last 23 games. NFL Picks In the games that New England is involved in, anyone who has followed them is way up there. Visit SportsLine to see which way the odds lean on Thursday night.
