Jesse Moskowitz ’13: If the New York Jets played the New England Patriots today, the Jets would win by a final score of 20-17. New York’s ball control, defense and coaching put them in the driver’s seat for their second straight win against the Pats.
Dan Moorin ’13: No way. There’s not a team in the league that can keep up with the Pats’ offense right now. The Tom Brady we’re seeing now is completely unstoppable. They can put up forty points per game at will. Not to mention, the Jets’ offense is nothing to write home about.
JM: Maybe not, but they still have all of the essential tools to grind out a win. New England’s secondary was scorched by the last two number one wide receivers they faced in Brandon Marshall and Vincent Jackson. Mark Sanchez’s favorite target, Santonio Holmes, would be no different. Also, against running backs, the Pats can’t stop a nosebleed. They’re giving up more than 150 total yards per game against the position that the Jets are quite strong in.
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DM: None of that matters if Brady puts thirty-five or thirty-eight points on the board. We can let your offense hang around and control the ball all they want. I don’t care who their opponent is: the Jets, the Steelers, the 1985 Bears, this team scores whenever they want to. Brady’s completing an unheard of seventy-something percent of his passes, they attack with so many unique weapons, and (Head Coach Bill) Belichick never takes his foot off the gas. The Jets would get dominated.
JM: I’m sick of hearing about everyone’s crush on Brady and Belichick. Rex Ryan would out-coach old Billy hands down. Look at last year’s playoff game between the two. Ryan’s defensive game plan left Belichick flustered. You think that wouldn’t happen again this year?
DM: No, it wouldn’t and here’s why. This is the most dynamic offensive team New England has sported in the last ten years. The innovative thought to use two incredibly talented tight ends in (Rob) Gronkowski and (Aaron) Hernandez is stunning. Wes Welker and Deion Branch have incredible chemistry and familiarity with the offense. They come at you with two backs that have polar playing styles. And if you don’t think Chad Ochocinco wants to shine in a big game against New York, you’re crazy. It’s one thing to game plan against a static offensive team; it’s a whole other beast planning to stop these guys. 35-17, Pats in a blowout.
JM: Alright. I’ll give you that point. All I’m saying is don’t discount the quality of the Jets D. It’s tough to drop thirty-five on a team with as much talent as the Jets have. I’m sticking with my prediction. Meet you in Foxborough on October 9 and we’ll settle this score?
DM: Can’t wait. •
