On the beat: 5 questions with Jets writer Manish Mehta

In what will be a weekly feature here at BSJ, we’ll chat with a writer for the other team that knows their stuff where we throw five questions at them to get a better feel for the Patriots’ opponent. For the Jets, we check in with Manish Mehta, the NFL columnist for the New York Daily News. Check him out on Twitter here. His Facebook page is here.

1. In a season where they were expected to Suck for Sam (Darnold), how have the Jets made it to 3-2 to start the year?


It’s a Festivus Miracle! OK, maybe that’s a stretch, but Todd Bowles deserves credit for galvanizing a team with a less-than-stellar roster through the first five weeks of the season. This group is playing with maximum effort. They’re “riding the unity wave,” as Leonard Williams put it recently. More than anything, the Jets are making important plays in critical stretches. They’re statistically one of the worst teams on both sides of the ball, but there’s something to be said about coming up big in pivotal moments (and maybe even getting a bit lucky).

2. Is there someone on the Jets roster who isn’t a household name who we could be talking about by the time the ballgame is over?

I’ll forgive you if you’ve never heard of Elijah McGuire, but the rookie sixth-round running back from Louisiana-Lafayette could be in store for a big role on Sunday. Truth be told, he’s probably the most explosive guy in the Jets backfield. He flashed some of that game-breaking ability in a 93-yard performance a couple weeks ago in an overtime win against the Jaguars. He has some burst and some wiggle. He’s also made terrific strides exercising patience on outside- and inside- zone runs. He has good hands, so he could be a factor in the passing game as well. Veteran Matt Forte will be back after missing a couple games with a turf toe, but McGuire is the guy to keep an eye on. He could be a surprising difference maker. He’ll probably have to be for the Jets to have a realistic chance at pulling off the upset.

3. What is the biggest weakness on the Jets’ offense you expect the Patriots to try and exploit?

The pass protection has shown cracks at different points this season. The Patriots defense hasn’t exactly instilled fear in many folks this season, but Matt Patricia might (should?) be able to scheme up something get to Josh McCown, who has taken a beating in recent weeks. (Full disclosure: the o-line did a poor job opening holes in the run game last week too).

4. What’s the biggest weakness on the Jets’ defense you expect the Patriots to try and exploit?

Tom Brady might have a field day against the Jets cornerbacks. Former Cowboy Morris Claiborne has been Bowles’ most reliable corner, but the others are vulnerable. Very vulnerable. Buster Skrine, Juston Burris and Darryl Roberts could be in for a rough day if the Jets defensive line doesn’t generate consistent pressure on Brady. (Burris and Roberts are each coming off injuries that kept them out of last week’s win in Cleveland). Will the Jets dare blitz Tom Brady? Bowles has had some success with corner and safety blitzes, but facing DeShone Kizer and Blake Bortles is a little bit different than facing Brady.

5. The Jets win Sunday if…

They hit Brady early and often. It’ll be incumbent upon Leonard Williams and Co. to bring heat against the Patriots’ shaky offensive line. Easier said than done, of course. Williams, dealing with a nagging wrist injury, has a grand total of zero sacks. Mo Wilkerson, also a member of the goose-egg sack company, is questionable after missing practice all week with shoulder and toe injuries. Even if he plays, what can you realistically expect out of him? (Spoiler: Not much). Former Patriot Kony Ealy (shoulder) will play in their pressure packages that feature four-man fronts. The Patriots have threatened defenses vertically more often this year, but I suspect that might be dialed down a bit given Brady’s shoulder injury.

Manish's Pick

The Jets are feeling good about their three-game winning streak, but they’ll get a healthy dose of reality against The Evil Empire. Bill Belichick’s team has looked vulnerable before only to fool us all. Sure, New England’s defense has been shaky, but the Jets offense doesn’t exactly strike fear in opponents. I cannot envision Brady & Co. scoring fewer than 30 points, either.

Patriots 34, Jets 20