The Patriots clinched a playoff berth last week with a thrilling comeback win over the Ravens, powered by Drake Maye's first 300-yard passing game and his first fourth-quarter comeback.
At 12-3, New England controls its AFC East destiny and still has a shot at the No. 1 seed if they win out and Denver slips up. The 3-12 Jets, meanwhile, have dropped three straight blowout losses behind backup QB Brady Cook, and their offense has sputtered. This game offers the Patriots a chance to finish the regular season 8-0 on the road and keep their momentum rolling into January.
Here are three key areas to watch!
1. Drake Maye: Keep the MVP Play
Maye has been sensational this season, leading the NFL in completion percentage (70.9%) and QBR (73.4), ranking top five in passing yards (3,947), and posting 25 touchdowns to eight interceptions with a 108.5 passer rating. Last week, he delivered his first 300-yard game and engineered a clutch comeback to get the Patriots back on track after they dropped their first game out of the bye week vs. the Bills.
Against a Jets defense that ranks 26th in passing touchdowns allowed and has zero interceptions all season, Maye should have every opportunity to light it up again. If the offensive line holds against Will McDonald (team-high eight sacks), expect Maye to stay hot.
2. Depth Must Step Up
Injuries are mounting. TreVeyon Henderson, Khyiris Tonga, and Morgan Moses are all question marks after leaving the Ravens game, though Milton Williams could return, which would be a huge boost for the defensive front. Leading tackler Robert Spillane has missed the last two games and also remains a question mark.
Defensively, this group must stop the Jets only real offensive threat: the run game with Breece Hall. Hall has 954 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and remains dangerous as a receiver (34 receptions, 334 yards). The Patriots run defense, once elite, has allowed 100-plus yards in six straight games, so depth players like Jack Gibbens and Corey Durden will be critical to plugging gaps and making sure Hall doesn't get loose.
3. Championship Mettle
It's late December, and the Patriots need to start playing their best football regardless of injuries. Two wins to close the season would lock up the division and keep them in the hunt for the top seed. This is about focus, energy, and execution, on the road, in cold weather, against a rival with nothing to lose. The Patriots have shown resilience all year, now it's time to hammer down and take what's theirs.
