New England is a big home favorite, and after 45 points that makes sense. The Patriots aren't as healthy as the score suggests, though. Left tackle Will Campbell (knee) and rookie back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) were both ruled out during the Raiders game. Cornerback Charles Woods left with a shoulder injury. That happened with Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Karon Prunty and Channing Canada already inactive. This week's practice reports matter more than usual for a team that just won by 28.
Neither team has been steady. The Patriots lost 35-6 in Jacksonville, then won in Buffalo and blew out Las Vegas. Their first back-to-back wins came this week. The Jets have played 4 one-score-ish games out of 5, and the defense has kept them in most of them. Minkah Fitzpatrick had 16 tackles and an interception against Chicago, and Jamien Sherwood, Dane Belton and Demario Davis all piled up double-digit tackles that day. That's a busy defense, and it's busy because the offense keeps punting.
Kickoff is 1:00 PM ET at Gillette on Sunday, October 18, and the early forecast is 44 degrees and clear with a 12 mph wind. That's October football that won't hurt Maye much, but it won't help a Jets passing game that has struggled to throw the ball downfield. If New York is going to make this a game, it will look like the Browns win: Allen carrying it, Fitzpatrick and the linebackers swarming, and a takeaway or special-teams break. If the Patriots' offensive line holds up without Campbell, Maye has shown he can pull away quickly.