PLAYER NOTES
–CB J.C. Jackson: Jackson continues to impress with an interception on Sunday. Jackson is a physical corner who has established himself as a strong second corner after nearly shutting down JuJu Smith-Schuster two weeks ago against Pittsburgh. Jackson has learned to use his hands in recent weeks without drawing penalties like he did earlier in the season. Hard not to think the Patriots have found a steal (given that Jackson was undrafted out of Maryland) who will play a long time.
–TE Rob Gronkowski: Gronkowski had no catches Sunday against the Bills and only two catches the week before against Pittsburgh. He had his best game of the year in Miami when he had eight catches. The Patriots want to make Gronkowski feel involved before the playoffs start.
–CB Stephon Gilmore: Per the great Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal who charts every throw, Gilmore is having a year in 2018 similar to that of Darrelle Revis in 2014. Hard to argue. Other than the Titans game where Gilmore struggled against Corey Davis and allowing Brice Butler to catch a touchdown pass two weeks ago in Miami, Gilmore has been a shutdown corner this season. Gilmore is probably the best Patriots corner since Ty Law. On a defense where the linebacker and defensive line play has been suspect, Gilmore has been reliably excellent.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: G Joe Thuney. The left guard has played every offensive snap this season. Thuney has helped left tackle Trent Brown in his first year in New England adjust to a new team and new position. Brown had been a right tackle in San Francisco. Thuney understands the left tackle position because he played left tackle in college.
GAME PLAN: Offensively, the Patriots face a Jets defense that has two talented cornerbacks in Trumaine Johnson and Morris Claiborne. The Patriots needs to get Chris Hogan and Phillip Dorsett involved before the playoffs start. The Patriots might try some bunch formations (with three wide receivers on the same side) to get some open looks for Hogan and Dorsett. The Patriots should keep running the ball and build off their success last week as the Jets run defense is below average – giving up 4.6 yards per carry.
Defensively, the Patriots must take away Jermaine Kearse (who played against the Patriots in the Super Bowl when he was with Seattle). Kearse had a good game the last time these two teams played and he is a shifty and smart player. Stephon Gilmore should have little trouble against Robby Anderson. The Patriots must be physical against Jets tight end Chris Herndon and the Jets are good at catching the ball out of the backfield so the linebackers must be fast in pursuit.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
–Patriots LT Trent Brown vs. Jets DE Leonard Williams. Whether it’s Brown or Cannon matched up against Williams, the Patriots must prevent Williams from disrupting the passing game. Williams has four sacks this season.
–Patriots WR Julian Edelman vs. Jets CB Trumaine Johnson. Edelman will need to get open when he faces Johnson, who is having a disappointing season after receiving a big contract.
