Jets-Patriots Game Preview (12/27)

Little reviews too, would be nice. Yeah, because I know people are listening all across the nation, maybe around the globe as well overseas. I'm sure we have a couple overseas listeners, no doubt, I would say more than a few. But so yeah, rate us, tell us what you think, tell us what you want to hear. Yeah, and the off season season goes by quickly, but a long days. Um, this is not the season in the New York Jets

or the fan base wanted. With that being said, uh, you have a quarterback that is developing right in front of your very eyes. Sam Donald's playing awfully while down the stretch and went toe to toe with Aaron Rodgers last week, and this was what this season was really all about. When you turn the football over to the number three overall pick in the two thousand and eighteen draft, you wanted to see his development and him taking steps,

and that's certainly happening right now. That makes me awfully excited and optimistic about the off season and what is ahead. Well, I think you hit the nail on the head when you look back on it really wasn't the year of Sam Donald and his growth. And I think it's a little bit bitter sweet, only because towards the end of the year, these past couple of games, since he's returned from injury, the offense has really seemed to find a stride. And so of course You're mine is gonna wonder as

wander too. Okay, well, what if he played like that a little bit earlier? Could this be a different situation. But regardless, it's all positive here knowing that Sam Donald has taken these steps forward. I point back to Week eight in Chicago when Olivia Landis caught up with Tony Romo and he not that he called it, but he he said, as most players do in their first to second years, improved, But he said, you know, maybe he'll see him take off towards the end of two thousand

and eighteen. And I think Sunday against the Packers was a prime example of that. He had a career high three forty one yards three touchdowns on rating. I mean, he was really phenomenal Sunday. He's been very efficient with the football, didn't turn it over. Like you mentioned, the Jets are extending drives. They didn't have the third down success Sunday against the Packers, but put up a lot

of points. And you're seeing the continued development of Robby Anderson and Chris Herndon, and those guys are gonna be around, saying Donald for two thousand nineteen and likely beyond, especially Herndon. We'll to see what happens with Robbie Anderson's contract and enumber of these other guys. But these are young players who the chemistry is growing. And Donald is playing really well inside the pocket. He's stepping off, he's going through

his reads. Uh, he's also using his feet at times and uh, you know, he continues to be awfully accurate on the move, and that is that's a really unique skill. I mean, we watched Patrick Mahomes and say he can do things like that, but there aren't a lot of guys in the league, I think who are as accurate as Donald is, either rolling to the left or right and he squares his shoulders too. That's that's taking years

of training and he's really adopted it. I think we've seen or we saw flashes in the preseason, well exactly what you're talking about, rolling right, rolling left, being accurate on the run. Remember him hitting Andre Roberts rolling left early in the preseason game and you just kind of take a second and said, Okay, well that that was really nice. And now you're seeing it come to fruition in live game actions when it counts. So I wonder what Christa Hearn is ceiling and it's just watching him.

Over the last couple of games, I think he had eighty two yards receiving against the Pack six catches, that one handed catch where Donald actually misfired on it, but that catch was phenomenal by the way, for him to stick his hand out, catch the ball and then absorbed contact. I mean it was it was really an impressive catch. Yeah. Yeah, I just think that the Jets, I just we just got up from the locker room. We're taping the sound Wednesday.

I just talked to Spencer Long about what's happening here, and he's been very impressed with Donald, his growth and the steps he's taken. And he said he's always been the same. He said that the same kind of personality, the tomper nothing's really changed with him. But I also asked him about this week in particular, how do you guys go approaching this game knowing that New England could

be the number one seed. We discussed this earlier. We didn't know if the Patriots could be the number one seed, but in fact they can, yes. And the Jets meanwhile on the other side of the coin, and they did, they can finish five and eleven, and Spencer said, were piste off. We're better right now because over the last four games, the Jets have had fourth quarter leads in every one of them and they've only been able to win the one game when they come and then when

they came from behind against the Buffalo Bills. But you think about Tennessee, they the sixteen nothing lead, that was a game they should have won. You think about Houston on a Saturday night where Eli McGuire's touched on in the fourth quarter, gave this team a lead after our fantastic Donald lad drive, and then last week you gotta put on away your advantage in a fourth quarter. That's

a fifteen point doctor fit. And I don't think the referees had a great game either, But I don't think any of those guys in the locker room are saying we shouldn't have finished. And I think the guys are still better, and I would anticipate Green's they're gonna come out and play well against Patriots. You mentioned Eli McGuire's

touchdown run against the Texans. I actually spoke to Calvin Beachum earlier today and I asked him about Eli McGuire because if you recall, Eli was really forced to the top of the depth chart because of two injuries, one to Blow Powell and then to Isaiah Crowell, both on injured reserve, So that left Eli at the top of

the depth chart only in a second year. And Calvin Beacham said that last year, when Eli was starting to get a little more reps and saw him, they they thought internally, wow, this guy could be a pretty special player and do some good things for us. And he was really excited to have Powell Crowell and McGuire all there once. Obviously that didn't happen because Balal got hurt and then while Eli McGuire was on ire and then

he got called up and blow went down. So it was a little bit of a revolving door at running back. But I think it's a matter of time before elib breaks one um and maybe it happens Sunday against the Patriots. I'm gonna be very interested to see how the Patriots try to defend the Jets because Bill Belichick over the years has been, hey, i'm gonna make you play Leftana,

I'm gonna take away what you do best. Well right now, over the last few weeks, offensively, the Jets have been doing a lot of things while they've been sticking with the Ron sam Donolds has been playing awfully while taking

those eight four mentioned stuff that we're talking about. But I would imagine Robby Anderson is going to see a lot of safety coverage over the top and also gonna be interested to see it now with Chris hernon continue to develop what the Patriots gonna try to do there, and especially considering the Jets injuries that wide receiver head coach saw Bowl said that Quincy Noon has a slim

chance to play in week seventeen. And then Jermaine Cursed did not practice Wednesday with an achilles injury, and the Jets are thin at receiver right now. So we'll see what happens on Sunday and who steps up. But did you see the Patriots right on the other side of the ball. Like I said, the Jets gotta finish and then you mean on offense, well, they gotta finish defensively

what we really think about. So the Patriots, UH did not throw the ball very well last week against the Buffalo Bills, but they turned around and said, Okay, we're gonna pound a football. We'll have to see how they come out firing uh this week obviously dealing with some issues in their own Josh Gordon taking an extend to leave absence. UM. So they're changing on a fly. But Patriots will be back in the playoffs again. I don't think they're going to the super Bowl. I don't see it.

I feel like every week, every week you have a new zing for the Patriots. That's the thing I would tell maybe not a zing, but there's always a little little chab at old um. I don't think their past game is what has been in the past. He is a good quarterback. He cannot defy. H Gregkowski has beaten up. How about Week twelve when the Jets and Patriots first played. Sam Donald did not play that game. Josh McCown did. Sam Donald had gotten hurt a couple of weeks prior

to that with a strained right foot. But James White is really their primary offensive weapon. And James White only had one catch against the Jets for five yards in Week twelve. So the Jets did a great job against White, and they're gonna need to do it again if they want to be competitive in this game. Because James White leads the Patriots and receptions and yards and he's their second running back to Sony Michelle. The rookie had a

Georgia and he has a total of eleven touchdowns. He's really their offensive weapon, utility player, do it all, jack of all trades, however you want to phrase it, however you want to, whatever you want to call James White, that's what he is. For Tony Mitchell one yards so far rushing on the season. He's average about four and a half a clip um with the big day against

the Jets. He could have reached the thousand yards as rookie season, but like you mentioned, you got James White who also he's averaging four point four yards to carry himself. They viewed us Patterson as a rusher, as we know Edelman is the guy who is um I think you with from a yards perspective. He's leading the team. And then the second was Josh Gordon. So again they're gonna have to make some adjustments here as we uh going to the playoffs. And Chris Hogan, I don't know what's

happened there. He's still averaging sixteen point one yards a reception, but he's only got twenty nine receptions this season. That jumps out at you and ground missed a few games. He's got four receptions this season. No matter how way, no matter how we try to describe the Patriots and talk about their issues this year compared to last year or years before, or what you may know or remember from the Patriots are still a very good team and have an opportunity to lock up a number one seed.

And I think that this is gonna be a tough matchup for the Jets to be the number one thing. Alright, no doubt. Yeah, they're meaning the Chiefs are at home. Yeah, I think the Chiefs are gonna be the number one seed for sure. They have to win and they're the one seed, as simple as that. Yes, then Kansas City will be the number one seed. Yeah, So what I did? I did pick the Raiders to beat the Broncos on

Monday night. Would you say that? What would you say if New England with the two when they want to Kansas City the f C Championship game, Well, that'd be a tough matchup. Well, when we crossed that bridge the Official Jets Podcast, we come to it. Well, but I know you're answer, well, I would take Magic Mahomes and that at home. Now, if New England gets the one seed, that might change everything for me. But I gotta be honestly, I think Jets have they got a decent shot and

winning this game. It would be an upset. But with the way Donald's playing right now, again, this is not that explosive offense that we've seen in years past. I think this is one possession game in the fourth quarter. Again, I would enjoy that very much, especially considering the last two years the Jets have not bodd They've not fared well in Foxboro. Now let me ask you this one. Uh So, right now, the Jets are tied for fourteenth and sex in the National Football League, with Jordan Jenkins

and Henry Anderson leading the way with seven apiece. Who do you have winning the sack race on the Jets this season? I think you. I think it's a tie. Oh, you think it's gonna end up a tie. I think because the Patriots don't give up too many sacks. I think so, yeah, that's what I think. Think it's gonna be time. I think the Goose gets in there, gets one. That's not a knock on Jordan either, because he's got to find season himself. But he's been banged up a

little bit later, Yeah, with an ankle injury. And if you think about the Goose Henry Anderson. That's the other trade with the Colts that doesn't really get as much publicity as, of course, the Sam Donald trade when the Jets traded up from six to three. But then the Jets and Colts struck again in the end of the draft when the Jets sent the two overall selection for what could be their sack leader in two thousand eight.

This has been and then brand Boy and company. We do we give the special teams an awful because Bill Belichick said this is the best unit we faced all year. Did he said that? She ud that in five storylines Jets Patriots in New York just dot com. But what I will tell you is that this has been one

of the best special teams seasons I've ever seen. Andre Roberts no yards against the Packers for the touchdown when they needed to play late kickoff return all the way to the Green Bay Packers thirty Yeah, you thought he was gone. You started standing up. It was in your first box seat. I was excited. Hey, brand Boy, are calling the fake punt? I love that. Well, if you're Joe Philbin and the Packers, why are you kicking on

Roberts again? I wouldn't then't. I guess they were wanted to make it fun for Aaron Rodgers, got Aaron Rodgers. I give Aaron rodd with a lot of credit, don't you. Yeah, he was he was awesome, He was good. The up closing experience was something else. He did show a lot of leadership out there. I'll tell you what, because he could have packed it in, but he didn't. No pun intended. Now he was out there, he was a gamer and he Wow, he made a couple of throws out there.

It was like, oh, yeah, he's a great player, but Donald twenty one years old, you look pretty good himself. He did. I'm excited to see what how he plays Sunday because when he came back from the injury, he played against Buffalo on the road. That's been the only road game he's played since returning from injury, and he

didn't throw all over the yard. Yes, the Jets one, and he he was clutch when the team needed him to be, but he didn't have quite the performance he did in Buffalo against then he did against the Texans and the Packers. So I'm very interested to see how he plays in a hustle environment in Foxboro because he's gonna have to get used to playing in fox I didn't predict the opposite. I'm just saying I think it's

gonna be a one possession game late. I really do, um But listen, you gotta look at it from a realistic perspective. Patriots have not lost at home this year, and the Jets have won one game away from home. They should have won that road game in two games to they should have three at least because the Tennessee game. But you could go what it should have, could have whatever, and that I liked what Tod Bol said this week.

He said that I don't live and you know, maybes or kudos or clothes or whatever and things like that, and you can't in the National Football League. But they've been there. They've been there in the last month of the season because you didn't know how this team was gonna finish after Buffalo came in here forty one time at Montlife Stadium and Matt Barkley and company, and like, what's happening here? But you know, they've showed some resiliency and some fighting. But the Top Bowls is like listen,

no moral victories. But I don't know. I just look at that the Patriots, they beat the Bills by twelve. I think this is the one possession game in the fourth and I want I love to see Donald having the ball in his hands, you know, down six maybe in the game or something like that, to forty on the clock for time outs. Do you have a nice holiday? It was great. That was convincing, That was really convinced. It was great. I'm just thinking about Andre Roberts and

we're all over the map. Well, how are you gonna have a podcast and not discuss these guys making a Pro Bowl? We absolutely ca so Andre Roberts and Jason Wires in the Pro Bowl. That was big. Yeah you were quite happy about that. Yeah, I was because I really didn't think I thought the odds were stacked against them, even though they both were more than deserving. You cannot make the argument that know that a return in the National Football you said a better year than Antre Robberts

because it just would be factually incorrupt. Whereas Myers had a few guys who I didn't realize until we saw we started looking at the stats. As far as kicking stats, there are a few guys in the National Football League this season fan pretty good years. And Jason Meyers did not practice Wednesday with a left hip injury. Did seven guys from New York Jets not practice on Wednesday? It's a banged up group right now. Yeah. And Drewmaine Johnson

did not practice Wednesday, not injury related. He said it was something between him and the headman that they talked it out. Do you think the headman is Todd Bowles or Christopher Johnson. That is definitely top bowls. That's what I thought he said. He said he expects the place on day though. Yeah, he expects to practice Thursday in place Sunday. Yes, Uh so Tremaine Johnson be out there on the field. Um, but you wenttioned James White before getting back to that as we go, it was we

pick our spots here and throw darts against the wall. Uh, Darrenly was in that game. So no Darrenly this week for the Jets. This is the fourth and final game I was mentioned, Yes it is. Yes, So I'm very interested because I think Neville he has played well in Lee's absence, but I don't think he's faced a dynamic running back like uh, James White. That's it's really a very much so a dual threat out of the backfield. Lamar Miller got hurt early against the Jets. So did

Lashawn McCoy. Yeah, that's true. Lashawn McCoy Exeter and Aaron Jones. And Aaron Jones did not play for the Green Bay Packers, so he National Football League Jury league. So the Jets saw Jamal Williams last week. So we'll see what what to see what happens. Hopefully they keep Sony, Michelle and check here this week. And you know Jamal always gets up for these opportunities against big Gronk. Oh yeah, this is all about respect for thirty three. That right. Yeah.

I wonder if he's gonna say anything more about their respect thing, because he made it to the Pro Bowl so so clearly the respect is there. He has it. But I don't know what's been said on the field between those white lines, but I know thirty three gets Oh do you think he's going shirtless again? It depends how cold it is. If it's like forty, he won't, but if it's minus twenty he will. I don't know.

That's kind of the madness you get. I don't know the forecast for Sunday, but you need that Cat will be ready to go. So forget about your draft scenarios. Everybody, Jamal is coming out there ready and rolling him. I can't believe people. I get it from a fan perspective. I get it. You always want to be the top and everything, so that includes the draft board. But these guys want to win, and Justin Herbert's going back to Oregon. As we learned Wednesday, the Jets. They have their quarterback.

They got him from the Pack twelve as well, Yes they did. Who's the top quarterback in the draft right now, Dwayne Haskins Ohio State. Do you believe that? Do I believe he is the best right out of the group right now? Yeah? Sure for sure? No, No, sure, I think that changes before the draft. No, because I think Dwayne Haskins is gonna test very well. Do you like his out of the pocket skills? I don't think it's a good year for if you need a quarterback, let's

put it that way. Well, a lot of people like Daniel Jones at a duke though, Well, he's supposed to be the third guy. He learned from one of the master's, an old cut cut cliff down there. Yeah, this is enough draft talk for now, because it's still the regular season. The podcast is gonna roll. Well, my point on this is that the Jets got their guy, and we're coming

full circle here. We started this podcast about this is not the season the Jets wanted, but you did want to see development from a young quarterback and you wanted to see signs that this guy was going to be your answer. Well, this guy's twenty one years old. The team they're playing this week, the New England Patriots, have won the last ten consecutive FC East championships. Tom Brady

is a five time Super Bowl winner. He is I believe a four times Super Bowl m v P. He is a three time NFL m v P. He could be the greatest ever to play the position. But Green's he is forty one years old. He talked about this week that he plans on plane in two thousand nineteen and beyond the beyond, it doesn't go forever. Bro I think, I think you need to find Brady's number, and why you're you're passionate about it. I just I think that

there is going to be Aaron Rodgers. Did you read what Aaron Rodgers said about Sam Donald after the game. He said he thinks this next crop, well, this is the next crop of quarterbacks. And he was very complimentary of Sam Donald. So that's the second consecutive week where guys who are going into the Hall of Fame at some point. J. J. Watt and then Aaron Rodgers were very complimentary about the twenty one year old quarterback who

is leading the New York Jets. All right, that's how we wrap up the two thousand eighteen regular season of the official I don't know why you say it's a singer that I am taking shots against the Patriots. I think they've been the model organization. They've won five championships. Tom Brady, I would not argue against anybody's saying he's the greatest player of all time. My point is Green's as you stare into my gray hair, is that you cannot to five aging. It's not going to It's not

gonna happen forever. And this offense, it's not as explosive as it has been in the past, and the Jets have to add a number of pieces in the offseason. I'm not saying that, but the most important position in professional sports is quarterback, and the Jets have a young one that they're going to build around. And if you're not happy about that, you're crazy. And the other point is the season ends on December, and you know what happens. There are twelve teams in the National Football You got

a thirty two who make the postseason. So for twenty teams, their seasons are over. So wipe that record off the board. Whatever the Jets finished four and twelve or five and eleven. It is over for thirty on Sunday, okay, and we fast forward on the two thousand nineteen I like it, Okay. That's how we closed up shop here in the regular season the Official Jets Podcast. We're gonna rolling though throughout the off season. We'll have position reviews. I think we're

gonna do that that we did last year. We'll see, well, we got some position reviews, team review that. Of course, the draft stuff and everything that you need to know. And beyond Sam Donald. You gotta like what you've seen from Robbie Anderson. You gotta like what you see from Herndon. I like the way the offensive line is really you talked about Eli McGuire before, and Jamally Adams is a cornerstone piece on defense. You gotta had a couple more

pieces here and there and things like that. But things are starting to look a little bit different, don Verse. We'll see in two thousand nine.