Patriots Host Jets in Week 6 AFC East Clash as A.J. Brown Returns to Practice
The New England Patriots (3-2) will host the New York Jets (2-3) in Week 6 as New England aims to extend a two-game winning streak and move to 2-0 in the AFC East. The Jets enter Foxborough coming off a 17-12 win over the Cleveland Browns that snapped a three-game skid. The matchup will present a test for both clubs as personnel questions and tactical matchups take center stage.
The Patriots received a positive sign when A.J. Brown returned to practice this week, though his status for the game remains uncertain, Patriots.com reported. New England could be without starting left tackle Will Campbell, with rookie Caleb Lomu expected to get the start in his place. Lomu has seen in-game duty this season and would make his first projected start at left tackle if he opens the game on the left side.
Running back TreVeyon Henderson is likely to miss multiple weeks with a reported high-ankle sprain, Patriots.com reported, leaving the backfield workload to Rhamondre Stevenson, Corey Kiner and a potential practice squad elevation of Lan Larison. Sustaining an effective ground game will be important to avoid extended third-and-long situations that expose the offensive line and quarterback Drake Maye. Maye, coming off his best game of the season against the Las Vegas Raiders, figures to be a focal point for the Jets defense.
The Jets have shown an uptick under second-year coach Aaron Glenn, and their defense has played aggressively this season, ranking 14th in man-coverage rate and fifth in blitz rate, according to Patriots.com. Against Cleveland, the Jets posted their highest man-coverage rate of the year at 40.9 percent. Veteran quarterback Geno Smith has not thrown an interception this season and is 3-3 in six career games against New England, including two wins in Foxborough in which he completed more than 70 percent of his passes and combined for nearly 700 yards, according to the Patriots’ report.
New York also fields a dangerous group of edge rushers that includes rookie David Bailey, who had a three-sack game and carries five sacks on the season, along with Will McDonald and Kinsley Enagbare. The Jets present a particular threat when they force third-and-long, ranking eighth on third down and sixth in the red zone, per Patriots.com. Their rush defense has been inconsistent, ranking 26th in rushing DVOA but eighth in rush EPA, a split New England may try to exploit.
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The matchup will come down to protection and balance. If A.J. Brown is cleared to play, the Patriots’ passing attack gains a significant weapon that could stretch the Jets’ aggressive coverage and blitz packages. If Lomu opens at left tackle, New England will need a steady running game from Stevenson, Kiner or Larison to prevent early passing downs that favor the Jets’ pass rush and third-down defense. Controlling the line of scrimmage and sustaining drives will be the clearest path for the Patriots to keep Drake Maye clean and secure a third straight win.