This Week
The New England Patriots visit their AFC East Rival New York Jets at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford NJ on Sunday at 8:20 p.m.
The Patriots (5-3) are 2-2 on the road, 2-1 against the AFC East and 4-2 in the conference. The Jets (5-3) are 4-0 at home, 2-1 vs. the AFC East and 4-3 against the conference.
The Line/Prediction
As of Thursday the line on the game from Yahoo! Sports has the game as a PICK ‘EM. The over under is 47 1/2.
My Prediction is Patriots 27, Jets, 24 in OT. Take the Patriots and the PICK ‘EM and take the over. I am 5-2-1 against the spread and 5 of 8 on calling the over/under in 2011.
Tickets
The Jets are reporting the game as a sell out.
Tickets to the game, if available, can be purchased through Ticketmaster. You can check the availability here.
Getting to the Game
If you’re lucky enough to be going to the game in the Meadowland’s make sure you check out the links.
Here is the up to date weather forecast from the Weather Channel for the Meadowland’s Stadium.
Click for all the game day information including stadium directions and parking information, parking map and a Meadowland’s Stadium seating chart.
Tailgating
Here’s a bunch of different tailgating recipes from Tailgating.com. There’s something there for everyone and every type of meal or snack. I’ve tried some of the recipes and they’re very good.
And with tailgating many people enjoy some adult beverages. With that in mind check out Drink Nation for how to make all sorts of great drinks. You can look things up by name, ingredient(s) or theme.
Whether it’s at the game, a bar or a friend’s house moderation is always the key to a great time. Please don’t drink and drive and designate a sober driver. Remember You Drink, You Drive, You Lose.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television
NBC in televising the game nationally and Al Michaels will do play by play while Cris Collinsworth will provide the game analysis. You can look here for your local affiliate.
Here are all the rules on NFL TV broadcasts including explaining the blackout rules, flex scheduling and commercial breaks.
Radio
The Patriots Radio Network broadcasts the game from flagship station WBZ-FM, 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston. Gil Santos handles the play-by-play, former Patriot Gino Cappelletti does the color and new this year Scott Zolak will man the sidelines. It all starts with Gary Tanguay, Andy Gresh and Zolak with the pregame show at 4 p.m. along the network. The post game starts after the final gun and continues for three hours along the network.
If you are outside the broadcast are of the stations on the Patriots Radio Network you can purchase NFL Field Pass, which allows you to listen to any game live. You can also pick which teams broadcasters you want to listen to.
All NFL Games are also available on Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio also carries all the NFL games under a special additional package. They usually only carry the home team feed.
The Patriots radio network call is available on Sirius Channel 92, XM Channel 225 and on SiriusXM Internet Channel 879.
The Jets Radio network has Bob Wischusen calling play by play and former Jet Marty Lions doing the color via their flagship station WEPN. Their call is available on Sirius Channel 93, XM Channel 226 and SiriusXM Internet Channel 882.
Westwood One will carry the game to a national audience along its affiliated network with Dave Sims and James Lofton calling the game. You can also hear their feed on Sirius Channel 94 and SiriusXM Internet Channel 861
Patriots All Access
Patriots All-Access features behind the scenes looks, interviews and breakdowns with head coach Bill Belichick and in depth features on the team. It’s hosted by Steve Burton of WBZ-TV (Boston) and airs weekly in most New England television markets.
- Boston MA on TV 38 Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
- Providence RI on WNAC Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
- Manchester NH on WMUR Saturday at midnight
- Portland ME on WMTW Sunday at 5 a.m.
- Hartford CT on WCTX Saturday at 5 p.m.
- Springfield MA on WFXQ Saturday at 7 p.m.
- Bangor ME on WVII Sunday at 11 a.m.
You can also watch it anytime on the teams website in the media section.
To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
Last Week
The Patriots lost to the Giants at home 24-20; while the Jets beat the Bills, 27-11 in Buffalo.
History
- The all-time series is tied 52-52-1 including playoffs.
- The Jets are 27-24 as the home team in the series.
- The lone tie in the series (24-24) came on October 2, 1966 when both clubs were part of the AFL.
- This is the second meeting between the two teams at the new Meadowland’s Stadium.
- The home team has won the last five regular season meeting between the teams.
- The two teams last met in Week 5 at Foxboro the Patriots won, 30-21
Patriots Team Notes
Here is the Patriots roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.
2011 Patriots Schedule/Results
The Patriots overall franchise record is 406-366-9. They have won three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) in six appearances. They last appeared in the playoffs in 2010 when they lost at home to the New York Jets in the AFC Divisional Playoff, 28-21. They last appeared in a Super Bowl in 2007 losing to the New York Giants 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII. They won the AFC Conference championship that season with playoff wins over Jacksonville and San Diego.
The Patriots are the defending two-time AFC East Champions; they have won the division 8 times since 2000.
The Patriots are dedicating the 2011 season to the memory of Myra Hiatt Kraft, the late wife of owner Robert Kraft. Every Patriots player and coach will honor Myra’s memory by wearing a patch with her initials on it in recognition of her lifelong contributions to the local and global community and her influence on the charitable mission of the entire Patriots organization. The patch will be worn on the left chest of every player throughout the season.
Since 2003 New England is 26-3 following a loss and have lost back-to-back games only three times; once in 2006, once in 2009 and this season.
Since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994 the Patriots are 23-14 vs. the Jets.
The Patriots are 52-16 vs. the AFC East since 2001.
Since 2000 have the Patriots the second best road record in the NFL at 59-33 only Philadelphia is better 58-32-1.
The Patriots are 17-14 all-time on Sunday Night Football.
New England three times has had a season high of four turnovers in a game (at Buffalo, Week 3; vs. Dallas, Week 6 and vs. New York Giants, Week 9).
The Patriots have swept the Jets 13 times in the series the last time was in 2007.
The Patriots defense has allowed opponents to convert 43.7% (45 of 103) of the time on 3rd down, while the offense has a 3rd down conversion rate of 47.9% (45 of 94).
The New England defense has sacked the opponents quarterback 15 times in 8 games.
The Patriots are tied for 4th in the NFL in points per game with 27.8. While they allow 23.0 points per game good for a tie for 20th in the NFL.
New England is now EVEN in turnover differential, tied for 15th best in the NFL. The offense has given up 10 INT and 4 fumbles, while the defense has 10 INT and 4 fumble recoveries.
Patriots Staff Notes
This is the link to head coach Bill Belichick’s Wednesday press conference on the Jets.
Bill Belichick is 17-10 vs. the Jets in his career. He is 16-9 against them as the head coach in New England and that includes two playoff games (1-1).
Overall in his NFL career Belichick is 167-96 in 16 NFL seasons. He is 129-53 with New England and 36-44 with Cleveland. He is 15-6 in the playoffs, 14-5 as head coach of the Patriots in the post season. When you combine his regular season and post season records he is 182-102.
Belichick’s 182 wins are good for 10th all-time. Bill Parcells is 9th with 183 wins.
He was named NFL Coach of the Year for the 3rd time in 2010.
Patriots Possible Starters
Offense:
- LT: Light
- LG: Mankins
- C: Connolly
- RG: Waters
- RT: Vollmer
- TE: R. Gronkowski
- TE: Hernandez
- WR: Branch
- WR: Welker
- QB: Brady
- RB: Green-Ellis
Defense:
- DE: Ellis
- DT: Wilfork
- DT: Love
- DE: Carter
- OLB: Mayo
- ILB: Guyton
- OLB: Ninkovich
- LCB: McCourty
- RCB: Arrington
- S: Chung
- S: Ihedigbo
Patriots Players Notes
This Tom Brady’s 12th NFL season he is 15-5 vs. the Jets including 1-1 in the playoffs.
Overall Brady is 116-34 as a starting QB and is 14-5 in the playoffs for an overall record of 130-39. Brady is a 6 time Pro Bowl QB; two time NFL MVP and has won 3 Super Bowls while twice being named the games MVP. He is also listed as the 21st Greatest Player in the History of the NFL according to the NFL Network.
In 2010 Brady won his second NFL MVP and he was the first unanimous winner in league history.
Brady has thrown 20 TD’s and 10 INT’s while being sacked 16 times in 8 games.
Brady has 281 TD passes in his career he is now 8th all-time. Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas is 7th with 290.
With a win on Sunday Brady and Belichick will break the record they share with Dan Marino and Don Shula as the winningest quarterback-coach combination in the Super Bowl era with 116 wins.
WR Wes Welker now has catches in 90 consecutive games including playoffs, 73 as a Patriot. The last time Welker did not have a catch in a game was 12/24/05 as a Dolphin.
CB Kyle Arrington has a team leading 5 INT’s in 2011, DT Vince Wilfork is 2nd with 2.
Arrington is tied for the NFL lead in INT’s with Green Bay’s Charles Woodson and Seattle’s Eric Weddle.
CB Devin McCourty leads the team in tackles with 58, S Patrick Chung is 2nd with 57.
DE Mark Anderson and DE Andre Carter lead the team with 4.5 sacks apiece. Carter also leads the team with 8 quarterback hits while Anderson has 6.
Anderson, Wilfork, Carter and LB Jerod Mayo have each forced a fumble this season while LB Rob Ninkovich has recovered 2 opponents fumbles.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have claimed former Patriots DT Albert Haynesworth off of waivers.
Rookie RB Stevan Ridley has seen his chances reduced the last few weeks.
Special Teamer Tracy White is ready for the challenge of playing the Jets.
There’s a whole lotta Love for a quiet contributor on the defensive line.
Vince Wilfork believes in his teammates even if no one else does.
S Patrick Chung (foot), LB Brandon Spikes (knee), OL Ryan Wendell (concussion) and LB Dane Fletcher (thumb) did not participate in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. 9 other players were limited due to lingering injuries. Based on what’s been said during the week Spikes, Wendell and Fletcher should be doubtful, while Chung and WR Taylor Price (hamstring) will be most likely be questionable. DE Shaun Ellis (ribs), CB Kyle Arrington (foot) and Kevin Faulk (knee) will probably be game time decisions, while LB Jerod Mayo (knee), WR Wes Welker (ribs), T Sebastian Vollmer (back), LB Gary Guyton (shoulder) and RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (toe) should all play.
The Patriots have four New England natives on the roster they are: TE Aaron Hernandez (Bristol CT); OL Donald Thomas (New Haven CT); S James Ihedigbo (Northampton MA) and DE Ron Brace (Worcester MA). They have 8 players who played for a New England school or a Big East Conference member. They are: WR Deion Branch (Louisville); S James Ihedigbo (UMass); C Dan Koppen (Boston College – IR); CB Devin McCourty (Rutgers); NT Vince Wilfork (Miami), OL Donald Thomas (UConn); DE Mike Wright (Cincinnati – IR) and DE Ron Brace (Boston College).
The Patriots have 7 retired numbers: 20 – Gino Cappelletti, 40 – Mike Haynes, 73 – John Hannah, 78 – Bruce Armstrong, 79 – Jim Lee Hunt and 89 – Bob Dee.
Pro Bowl voting is open feel free to cast your votes for deserving players.
Jets Team Notes
Here is the Jets roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.
The Jets all-time record is 357-417-8 and they are 12-13 in the playoffs with their last playoff appearance coming in 2010. Last season the Jets lost on the road to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game, after having beaten Indianapolis and New England on the road to get there. The Jets last appeared in a Super Bowl following the 1968 season and defeated the Baltimore Colts 16-7 to win Super Bowl III. At that time was considered the biggest upset in sports history. They were the first AFL team to win the Super Bowl.
The Jets also won the 1968 AFL Championship when they beat the Oakland Raiders, 27-23 at Shea Stadium.
New York has lost 14 of the last 19 meetings with New England including playoffs.
The Jets have beaten the Patriots in their only meeting at the new Meadowland’s Stadium.
The Jets have won their last two home games against New England.
New York is 33-32 vs. the AFC East since 2001.
The Jets and Giants new stadium, which was called the New Meadowland’s Stadium in 2010, now has a name after the naming rights were sold. It is now known as Met Life Stadium.
The New York defense has allowed opponents to convert 31.4% (32 of 102) of the time on 3rd down, while the offense has a 3rd down conversion rate of 40.0% (42 of 105).
The New York defense has sacked the opponents quarterback 18 times in 8 games.
The Jets are tied for 10th in the NFL in points per game with 24.9. While they allow 20.4 points per game good for 8th in the NFL.
New York is PLUS 4 in turnover differential, tied for 7th best in the NFL. The offense has given up 7 INT and 8 fumbles, while the defense has 13 INT and 6 fumble recoveries.
Jets Staff Notes
Read what New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan had to say to the New England media about the match up.
Rex Ryan is 25-15 in his third season as a head coach. He is 4-2 in the playoffs for an overall record of 29-17.
He is 3-3 vs. New England in his career including playoffs.
Ryan and Company are cooling their Jets when it comes to the Patriots.
Jets Players Notes
Mark Sanchez is 23-15 as a starting QB and is 4-2 in the playoffs for an overall record of 27-17. Sanchez was the Jets 1st round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft out of the University of Southern California.
Sanchez is 3-3 vs. the Patriots including 1-0 in the playoffs.
Sanchez has thrown 13 TD passes and 7 INT’s while being sacked 17 times in 8 games.
It’s time for Sanchez to raise his game.
LB Bart Scott is imploring Jets fans this season to stay off their iPads and Twitter while at the game and bring the noise to help make Met Life Stadium a real home field advantage for the team. So far it’s worked they’re 4-0 at home.
S Jim Leonard says the Patriots are not invincible.
C Nick Mangold is the Jets second quarterback on the field.
CB Antonio Cromartie knows the key to stopping Wes Welker.
WR Plaxico Burress (back), S Brodney Pool ((knee) and RB Joe McKnight (toe) did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. DL Mike DeVito (knee), TE Dustin Keller (head) and RB Shonn Green (head) all had full practices on Wednesday and Thursday after missing the game Sunday against Buffalo.
New York’s captains for 2011 are Sanchez, WR Santonio Holmes, CB Darrelle Revis, S Eric Smith and DL Sione Pouha. This is the first time in 3 seasons that Ryan has named permanent captains having done them before on a game by game basis.
The Jets have 7 players who played for a New England school or a Big East Conference member. They are: OL Vladimir Ducasse (UMass); CB Darrelle Revis (Pittsburgh); RB Bilal Powell (Louisville); TE Matthew Mulligan (Maine); DE Mike DeVito (Maine); Jamaal Westerman (Rutgers) and Muhammad Wilkerson (Temple).
New York has 3 retired numbers they are: 12 – Joe Namath, 13 – Don Maynard and 73 – Joe Klecko.
Next Week
The Patriots host the Kansas City Chiefs next Monday at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro MA. Kick off is at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem
