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One of the keys to the New England Patriots blowout win over Las Vegas was their pressure packages on defense, consistently sending too many players for the Raiders to block.
“They did a good job in their blitz packages,” said Raiders coach Klint Kubiak after the game.
Considering the the Patriots were without both their starting cornerbacks, Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis in this game, the fact that they were able to get home with so many blitzes was a Godsend for their defense, because the backup corners didn’t have to hold up that long on many plays.
Considering that Geno Smith has been sacked 16 times in the last four games, and the Jets have struggled with switch off blocks on stunts and blitzes at times, expect New England DC Zak Kuhr to dial up a lot of pressure this week, especially at Gillette Stadium with the home crowd making it hard for the visiting team to communicate.
Jets need to be careful with the B Gap in-between the LG and LT, which was a problem against Detroit and Chicago, at times, on blitzes.
Two examples:
In Chicago, in the second quarter, Geno Smith threw an out to the left sideline that initially looked like it was picked by CB Dominique Stevenson, but he could not hold on. A blitzer shot into the B Gap, was no picked up, and Smith had to rush his throw.
In Detroit, with the Jets down 31-24, and driving late, just outside the red zone, that same gap was problematic, on a blitz/strip sack by safety Chuck Clark, abnd the fumble was recovered by LB Jack Campbell, to ice the Lions win. Nobody picked up Clark.
This kind of miscommunication isn’t going to cut it at Gillette Stadium if the Jets hope to hope to upset the Patriots . . .
The canonization of rookie defensive linemen David Bailey and Darrell Jackson in the media continues.
Look, they both played well in the Jets win over Cleveland, but the first four games were uneven, which is understandable for rookies, but it might be wise to pump the breaks on the “they have arrived narrative,” based on one game against a suspect O-Line, and an indecisive QB who didn’t handle the Jets pressure packages well.
Let’s not forget two weeks ago, the Jets defensive line played poorly in Chicago, giving up 232 yards rushing, and not providing much pass rush (1 sack), with the Bears starting a third-string left tackle.
Jets DC Brian Duker was asked to the key to Bailey’s breakout performance against Cleveland, amassing three sacks.
You could argue a big key was facing backup right tackle Dewand Jones quite a bit.
Or Jackson facing rookie guard Austin Barber, who was a college offensive tackle playing guard for the first time.
This league is so much about match-ups.
Bailey and Jackson did a great job taking advantage of their matchups, no doubt, but before we put either in Canton, let’s see if they can continue this level up play in the coming games.
Look, maybe Bailey and Jackson have turned the corner, but that Chicago game, less than two weeks ago, was ugly for them, and many other Jets defenders.
The narratives change week to week in this league to a degree that is borderline absurd . . .
During a press conference on Thursday, Minkah Fitzpatrick was asked about Drake Maye’s turnaround the last couple of weeks, after struggling earlier in the season.
Fitpatrick praised the QB for how he’s playing, and in the middle of the answer, said about the QB’s early season struggles – “He played some really good defenses.”
In the first three weeks, the Patriots played Seattle, Pittsburgh and Jacksonville, and Maye play wasn’t great, especially in a 35-6 drubbing by the Jaguars.
The reason I picked up on that one line from Fitzpatrick is because some people feel, and I’m not talking about the Jets’ safety, that Maye has struggled during his career against top-shelf defenses, and made hay against below average units.
Last year, the Patriots, en route to a Super Bowl appearance, played one of the easiest regular season schedules in NFL history. Their opponents went 113-176, a .391 winning percentage.
And then, when the Pats had to step up in competition in the playoffs, Maye didn’t play well, and had a bad Super Bowl.
Then early this season, right out of the gate, he faced three very good defenses, like in the playoffs last year, and continued his struggles.
So playing well against Buffalo and Las Vegas the last two weeks, kind of plays into the narrative, that he thrives against below average defenses.
What kind of defense do the Jets have? It’s been kind of up and down.
They were good against Tennessee, okay against Green Bay, bad against Detroit and Chicago, and then solid against Cleveland.
We will find out a lot more on Sunday about the Jets defense, using the Maye Meter. If Maye has a great game against them, based on his history, that will tell you a lot about how good this Jets unit is . . .
October 15, 2026
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