{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/09/23/rex_burkhead_092219.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW: TGIF. Thank God it’s football. The Patriots and their fanbase spent 11 days holding their collective nose, hoping the on-field magnificence of Antonio Brown would offset his toxicity off of it. Didn’t work. As O.J. Simpson so eloquently said on Twitter, “In any event, I don’t have to worry about that anymore. He’s gone.” So the Patriots are back where they were on the Friday before their season opener. Incredibly deep and talented on defense. Shallow at wideout and tight end.

REVIEW: The post-Antonio cleansing that should have come with a dominating win over the Jets didn’t actually occur. One last round of mudslinging first thing in the morning from Brown — the most incendiary tweets sent at Robert Kraft — was the clincher. Signing Brown was not what was “best for the football team.” Long faces are still in place because he won’t be helping on the field and the Patriots could use it. But keeping the guy from melting down and lacerating the coach, quarterback or another teammate was going to be a full-time coddling job and — in the end — he was going to do it anyway. And that’s beside the fact — and it is a fact — that he’s not a “pillar in the community” to borrow a phrase from a Bill Belichick press conference in the summer of 2013. He’ll keep sending drone strikes in the form of tweets and Instagram posts. The Patriots will go on without him, relying on their defense to choke the life out of any team’s chances for an upset.

"},{"index":3,"title":"When the Patriots Ran","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/09/23/sony_michel_vs_jets_092219.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW: The Patriots ground game hasn’t been great the first two weeks. They ran for 99 on 29 carries in Week 1 and 124 on 35 carries last week. They are averaging 3.5 yards per carry and lead back Sony Michel hasn’t shaken loose yet. This week, it’s going to be tough. The Patriots are without fullback James Develin. They’re still shorthanded at tight end without Benjamin Watson and will be relying on Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse. The Jets have been very solid against the run except for four carries by the Bills’ Devin Singletary in the opener which went for 20, 23, 12 and 15. In defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ 3-4, the Jets have Leonard Williams, Steve McClendon and Henry Anderson across the front. ADVANTAGE: Jets

REVIEW: The Patriots running backs carried 22 times for 56 yards. Sony Michel still isn’t getting much space to operate and he’s not excelling at seeking holes when there’s trash in the anticipated hole. He had a 5-yard touchdown run on his first carry and carried eight times for 6 yards after that. The absence of James Develin played a role as did the potency of the Jets front. It will improve — things the Patriots struggle with almost always get fixed — but there’s plenty of room for improvement at the moment. ADVANTAGE: Jets

"},{"index":5,"title":"When the Jets Ran","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/09/23/usatsi_13398287.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW: The Patriots have been absolutely stifling against the run and it will be fascinating to see them deal with Le'Veon Bell on Sunday because New York really isn’t going to threaten much through the air. Bell has 38 for 128 in two games against the Bills and Browns. He’s going to have big issues finding running room against a Patriots defense allowing 2.6 YPC. ADVANTAGE: Patriots

REVIEW: For an opposing offensive coordinator, watching what the Patriots defense is doing to running games has to be jarring. Nobody can get anything. Le'Veon Bell got 35 yards on 18 carries. A week ago, Kenyan Drake had 6 for 19 as the Dolphins lead back. In the opener, James Conner had 10 for 21. The gap discipline and fundamental soundness is there but maybe more important is the tackling. First contact is resulting in takedowns or, at least, a slowdown that allows help to swarm. They are playing with patient aggressiveness, not some breakneck, rip-your-face off attack style that has them overrunning and out of position. It’s easier to stop the run when there’s no threat of a quarterback going off but it’s still impressive to see. ADVANTAGE: Patriots

"},{"index":7,"title":"When the Patriots Passed","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/09/23/tom_brady_closeup_throwing.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW: The issues along the offensive line and Brown’s exit are going to have a domino effect on the Patriots passing game. The Patriots still have high-end talent at wideout with Julian Edelman and a physical option in Josh Gordon. They still have one of the hardest offenses in the league to defend against schematically because of the formations, motions, personnel groupings and versatility. They use their backs in the passing game as well as anyone. But they have no proven tight end option (though LaCosse sparked optimism last week) and the blitzing style of Gregg Williams’ defense means the Patriots will need to keep some extra bodies in to protect. ADVANTAGE: Jets

REVIEW: Tom Brady started the game going 14 for 17 for 220 yards on the Patriots first three drives. The rest of the way, he was 14 for 25 for 86 yards. Yes, the game was in hand. Yes, there was a time when the highest interest was to keep the clock moving along. No, there is no way they’re looking for their passing game to become that ineffective. Speaking on WEEI Monday, Tom Brady said, "Our offense has a lot of work to do . . . We're gonna need to get some healthy bodies out there. We're gonna need some experienced players. It's just too hard, football, to put a bunch of new players in there and think we're going to be spectacular. I love the way that guys are trying to contribute. Guys are working really hard — all the guys that played yesterday. But the last three quarters we're gonna have to do a lot better than that." Whether he agrees with the decision to release Brown or not, he is not doing cartwheels about the way things are with the offense now that Brown’s gone. And the injury to Julian Edelman is going to put even more pressure on Josh Gordon, Phillip Dorsett and Jakobi Meyers. ADVANTAGE: Patriots (narrowly)

"},{"index":9,"title":"When the Jets Passed","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/09/23/luke_falk_dejected_sidelines.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW: The Jets were 2 for 16 on third and fourth down on Monday against the Browns. The Patriots are allowing 18.5 percent third down conversions (and you can go back to the Super Bowl and see that they were at the same clip in that game, so it’s not just the opponent). With Luke Falk at the controls and the Patriots probably inclined to dial up pressure, the ball will come out quickly and in the direction of Bell and slot receiver Jamison Crowder. Robbie Anderson, who got a little lippy about Stephon Gilmore’s penchant for holding this week, is the Jets best outside threat. You get a free subscription to our website if Falk throws for more than 200 by the end of the third quarter. ADVANTAGE: Patriots

REVIEW: That’s as dominating a defensive performance against the pass as you’ll see in 2019. It came against a kid just trying not to despoil the game completely rather than actually win, but damn … 12 for 22 for 98 yards and five sacks (felt like 15 by the way). If it weren’t for the sneaky receptions for Braxton Berrios (23 yards) and Jamison Crowder (15), the numbers could have been even uglier. Feeding frenzy every time he dropped back. ADVANTAGE: Patriots

"},{"index":11,"title":"Special Teams","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/09/23/stephen_gostkowski_no_helmet.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW: Stephen Gostkowski missed three kicks last week. A 48-yarder and two PATs. It was probably his worst game as a pro and he needs a bounceback for his own peace of mind and that of the team. Jake Bailey’s been solid so far after taking over for Ryan Allen. The Jets cycled through kickers until settling on Sam Ficken who made his lone attempt last week in his first game with the team. Braxton Berrios is the Jets punt returner. ADVANTAGE: Patriots

REVIEW: Stephen Gostkowski missed another PAT on Sunday. He made his next three and a 37-yard field goal. Missed extra points are always jarring because they feel like free throws. Or easier. Three of them in two weeks — to both sides of the uprights — and a very, very pushed field goal attempt from 48 last week has people on edge. Jake Bailey punted his posterior off. Before shanking his last punt, he averaged 48.4, allowed no returns and dropped five punts inside the 20. Gunner Olszewski, who looked incredibly composed fielding the first 17 punts of his career, butchered No. 18. Less than ideal. But anyone who thinks he’s been “bad” is leaving the room on fourth down. ADVANTAGE: Patriots

"},{"index":13,"title":"Line and Prediction","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/2019/09/23/super-bowl-betting-1-28-2015.jpg","caption":"

PREVIEW: Patriots 20, Jets 6
Patriots favored by 22.5. Total 43.5.

REVIEW: Patriots 30, Jets 14
Jets cover in painful fashion for Pats backers. It goes over your total. So I gave you the side and just missed on the total. So far this season, I’m 2-1 on the side and 2-1 on the total.

PAST PICKS
Week 1: Patriots 16, Steelers 13
Week 2: Patriots 30, Dolphins 0
Week 3: Patriots 20, Jets 6

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Tom E. Curran's Patriots-Jets Preview/Review: Not a dominant win